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HISTORY 


OF 


KNOX  COUNTY 


ILLINOIS; 


TOGETHER  WITH  SKETCHES  OF  THE  CITIES,  VILLAGES  AND  TOWNSHIPS  ;  RECORD 

OF  ITS  VOLUNTEERS  IN  THE  LATE  WAR;  EDUCATIONAL,  RELIGIOUS,  CIVIL 

AND    POLITICAL    HISTORY;    PORTRAITS   OF   PROMINENT   PERSONS 

AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS  ; 

HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS,  ABSTRACTS  OF  THE 

STATE  LAWS,  ETC.,  ETC.,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


BY  CHAS.  C.  CHAPMAN  &  CO. 


CHICAGO : 

BLAKELY,   BROWN   &  MARSH,   PRINTERS, 

155  AND  157  DEARBORN  STREET. 

1878. 


i  ff 


PREFACE. 


Over  a  half  century  has  rolled  its  years  away  since  this  section  of  Illinois 
was  first  .chosen  for  a  home  by  the  white  man.  The  trials,  sufferings  and 
struggles  that  were  experienced  in  converting  even  this  fertile  land  from  its  vir- 
gin wildness  into  the  luxuriant  and  densely  populated  country  now  existing  can 
never  be  fully  portrayed.  Although,  as  in  many  frontier  settlements,  the 
ground  was  not  consecrated  by  the  blood  of  pioneers  and  their  families,  yet  hu- 
man tongue  or  pen  can  never  accurately  'picture  the  vicissitudes  and  trials  of 
the  advanced  guard  of  civilization  who  pitched  their  tents  in  Knox  county. 
Their  labors  were  as  trying  to  their  mind  as  to  the  body.  Physical  and  mental 
strength  waste  together,  and  the  memory  of  names,  dates  and  events  becomes 
lost  by  the  confusion  of  accumulating  years.  Events  that  were  fresh  in  mem- 
ory ten  to  twenty  years  after  their  occurrence  are  almost  if  not  entirely  for- 
gotten when  fifty  years  have  passed.  If  not  entirely  obliterated  from  mem- 
ory's tablet,  they  have  become  so  dim  that  when  we  call  for  information  con- 
cerning the  past  it  is  often  given  with  many  doubtings  and  much  hesitancy  ; 
while  others  were  positive  and  often  as  immovable  as  to  their  correctness  as 
Gibralter.  For  instance,  one  man  insisted  that  the  Black  Hawk  war  was  in 
1830.  Again,  we  were  informed  that  Michael  Fraker  came  to  Lynn  township 
in  1828.  The  information  came  from  reliable  sources,  yet  from  other  facts  we 
had  deemed  the  date  incorrect  and  set  about  a  careful  investigation  ;  and  after 
weeks  of  patient  labor  found  the  date  of  his  settlement  to  be  1830.  We  refer 
to  these  to  show  how  apt  people  are  to  let  their  memories  betray  them.  The 
best  memories  will  differ  in  the  particulars  of  past  events,  some  seizing  upon 
one  detail  and  some  on  another ;  hence  often  arises  honest  difference.  Many 
may  question  the  dates  given  in  this  work.  Indeed  it  is  more  than  likely  some 
are  wrong,  for  it  is  not  expected  that  it  is  so  perfect  as  to  be  above  criticism, 
for  the  book  is  yet  to  be  published  that  can  justly  claim  perfection  ;  but  it  is 
the  Publishers'  hope,  as  it  is  their  belief,  that  it  will  be  found  measurably  cor- 
rect and  generally  accurate  and  reliable.  Industrious  and  studied  care  has 
been  exercised  to  make  it  a  standard  book  of  reference  as  well  as  of  interest 
to  the  general  reader.  If  in  such  a  multiplicity  of  names,  dates,  etc.,  some 
errors  are  not  detected  it  will  be  strange  indeed. 

It  may  be  claimed  that  many  important  events  of  early  history  are  omitted, 
or  but  casually  mentioned.  For  this  we  can  say  we  are  not  at  fault.  For  weeks 
and  months  we  btgged  for  information.  In  the  very  incipiency  of  our  labor  no 
pains  were  spared  to  interest  the  people  of  all  parts  of  the  county  in  the  work. 
We  published  25,000  copies  of  the  Historic  Record  and  sent  them  broadcast 
over  the  county ;  appeals  were  made  through  the  various  papers ;  beside  these, 
hundreds  of  letters  have  been  written  and  hundreds  of  journeys  made.  We 
have  been  willing  and  anxious  to  get  every  important  scrap  of  history.  The 
items  gleaned  from  public  records  are  full,  complete  and  correct.  We  doubt 
if  the  public  journals  will  ever  be  read  more  carefully  than  the  perusal  we 
gave  them.  From  July  7,  1830,  the  date  of  the  opening  of  the  first  record,  to 
the  present  time,  every  page  of  the  many  musty  old  volumes  was  carefully 
read.  The  chain  of  official  events  was  followed  from  the  first. 


IV  PREFACE. 

Kvery  item  given  we  were  careful  to  have  correct,  and  not  being  satisfied  with 
our  own  knowledge  of  facts  had  the  various  articles  read  by  responsible  parties 
who  were  known  to  be  acquainted  with  particular  events.  We  have  had  much 
of  the  early  history  read  and  corrected  by  Major  Thomas  McKee,  who  every 
one  knows  is  perhaps  the  best  posted  man  in  the  county  on  pioneer  history. 
We  have  also  had  Hon.  W.  Selden  Gale,  State's  Attorney  J.  J.  Tunnicliff, 
County  School  Superintendent  Miss  Mary  Allen  West,  and  many  others  of  well 
known  authority,  read  manuscript  and  proof  and  make  needed  corrections  and 
suggestions. 

Our  soldiers'  list  is  full  and  was  very  carefully  compiled.  Months  of  labor 
were  bestowed  upon  this  one  item  ;  and  should  there  be  a  soldier  whose  name 
is  not  recorded  here  we  believe  the  omission  not  our  oversight ;  and  investiga- 
tion will  show  him  credited  to  some  other  county.  It  was  impossible  to  obtain 
the  correct  spelling  of  some  of  the  names. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  work — the  educational  and  religious  history  and 
sketches  of  cities  and  towns — we  were  compelled  to  condense  more  than  we 
would  have  done  could  it  have  been  avoided.  As  it  is  we  give  to  our  subscri- 
bers a  book  of  750  pages  instead  of  one  of  600  pages,  which  is  as  large  as  we 
ever  promised  to  any  one.  By  additional  pages  and  smaller  type  we  have 
increased  the  amount  of  matter  by  at  least  one-half.  From  comparison 
with  other  county  histories  we  believe  it  to  be  more  full  and  com- 
plete than  any  similar  work  published  in  the  State,  and  trust,  with  all  of 
its  imperfections,  it  will  prove  satisfactory  to  all.  In  this  confident 
belief  we  submit  to  the  enlightened  judgment  of  those — our  subscri- 
bers— for  whose  benefit  it  has  been  prepared,  in  the  assurance  that  it 
will  be  kindly  received. 

We  have  avoided  indulging  in  general  reflections  or  mere  speculations, 
excepting  such  as  naturally  rose  out  of  the  subject  under  consideration,  prefer- 
ring to  give  a  minute  narrative,  omitting  no  particular  that  was  characteristic  of 
the  persons,  the  events  or  the  times,  and  endeavoring  to  place  every  fact  in 
such  a  point  of  view  that  the  reader  might  see  the  county  in  all  its  various 
stages  of  progression.  We  have  labored  faithfully  and  conscientiously,  with 
no  thought  of  swindling  or  humbugging  the  people,  as  we  believe  our  work 
will  show. 

In  conclusion  we  extend  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  innumerable  favors  to  MA- 
JOR THOMAS  McKEE,  PROP.  GEO.  CHURCHILL,  PROF.  M.  L.  COMSTOCK,  PROF. 
J.  V.  N.  STANDISH,  GEO.  DAVIS,  HON.  W.  S.  GALE,  DAVID  SANBORN,  R.  L. 
HANNAMAN,  MAYOR  JOHN  C.  STEWART,  Galesburg,  HON.  0.  F.  PRICE,  and  the 
county  officials,— Judge  DENNIS  CLARK,  County  Clerk  JOHN  S.  WINTER,  Cir- 
cuit Clerk  GEO.  L.  HANNAMAN,  State's  Attorney  J.  J.  TUNNICLIFF,  School 
Superintendent  Miss  MARY  ALLEN  WEST,  Sheriff  A.  W.  BERGGREN  and 
Treasurer  J.  L.  BURKHALTER  ;  also  to  Miss  EkMA  EVEREST,  T.  LESLIE 
McGiRR,  M.  J.  A.  MEADOWS,  and  to  the  various  newspaper  editors  of  the 
county. 

Before  closing  we  wish  to  vindicate  ourselves  in  the  statement  made  at  the 
beginning,— that  "  we  would  publish  no  more  books  than  we  had  actual  and  re- 
hable  subscriptions  for."  This  we  have  scrupulously  adhered  to  ;  and  by  re- 
ferring to  our  biographical  sketches  of  subscribers,  the  list  will  be  found  to 
contain  a  large  proportion  of  the  people  who  comprise  the  life,  enterprise  and 
intelligence  of  Knox  county. 

CHAS.  C.  CHAPMAN  &  CO. 
GALESBURG,  Nov.  1878. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

I-     EARLY  SETTLEMENT,  -      100 

First  Settlers,  100 — Knox  County,  106— Prairie  Fires,  110— The  Big  Snow,  116 
—Going  to  Market,  117 — Money,  119— First  Celebration,  120— Militia,  121— 
Bee-Hunting,  121— Courts,  125. 

II.     IMPORTANT  LABORS  OF  THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT,  128 

Organization,  128 — First  Meetings  of  the  Court,  129 — Circuit  Court,  132 — Rev- 
enue, 133 — First  Court  House,  133 — County  Seat,  137 — Judicious  and  Liberal 
Commissioners,  137 — School  Commissioner,  139 — Log  Jail,  140 — Knoxville 
Named,  141 — Licenses,  141 — Brick  Court-House,  143— Jail  at  Knoxville,  145— 
Escape  of  Prisoners,  145 — Horse-Thieves,  146 — Last  Meeting,  146. 

III.  BLACK  HAWK  WAR,  149 

IV.  GEOLOGY  OF  KNOX  COUNTY,  161 
Surface  Geology,  161 — Economical  Geology;  Stone  for  Building,  165 — Lime- 
stone for  Lime,  166— Coal,  166. 

V.  ZOOLOGY  AND  BOTANY,  168 
Quadrupeds,  168— Birds,  168— Fishes,  175— Trees  and  Shrubs,  176— Vines,  180 

— Herbaceous  Plants,  180. 

VI.  ARCHAEOLOGY,  185 

VII.  PIONEER  LIFE,  -       188 
Log   Cabins,    188 — Selections  of   Homes,  189 — Milling,  190 — Native  Animals, 
193— Cooking,    197— Implements,    197— Women's    Work,    199— Pleasures  of 
Pioneer  Life,  200. 

VIII.  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD,        -  201 
Black  Laws,  201— Mode  of  Running  the  U.  G.  R.  R.,  202— Aunt  Sukey,  203— 
Bill   Casey,    206— Galesburg   Station,    210— Ontario   Station,    211— Hitchcock 
Station,  211 — Arrest  of  the  Rev.  John  Cross,  212 — Rev.  John  Cross  Again,  213. 

IX.  RAILROADS,         -  216 

X.  CRIMINAL  RECORD,  .  227 
First    Murder,    227— Other  Murders,    228-233  — Gilson    Murder,    233— Horse 
Stealing,  240. 

XL     OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION,  241 

XII.  IMPORTANT  LABORS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS,  247 
County    Court,    247 — Township    Organization,    249— Alms-house,     253— War 
Record,  262. 

XIII.  THE  WAR— AT  HOME,  274 
The  Tocsin  of  War,  274— Liberality  of  Those  at  Home,  281— Soldiers'  Aid 
Society,  289— The  Close,  302. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER.  PAGK. 

XIV.     THE  WAR— IN  THE  FIELD,  305 

The  War,  305— Stone  River,  305— Prison  Life,  306 — Incidents  of  Enlisting,  308 
— The  102d,  309 — Knox  County  Volunteers,  312-379— The  4th  Regiment, 
I.  N.  G.,  379— Band,  381— Regimental  Officers,  382— Drum  Corps,  382 — Com- 
pany A,  382 — Company  B,  383 — Company  C,  383 — Members  of  Battery,  384. 

XV.     RESOURCES  OF  THE  COUNTY,  .  385 

XVI.     POLITICAL,  404 

XVII.    PERSONAL  INCIDENTS  AND  MISCELLANY,    -  422 

Historical  Items  from  Rev.  Wright's  Journal,  422— Indian  Boy  Killed,  427— 
Big  Storms,  427— Sudden  Changes.  429— Cold  Weather,  429— Wet  Season,  430 
—A  Ferocious  Dog,  430— Lost  Children,  431— Race  to  Quincy,  433— Early  Mill- 
ing, 437— Canada  Thistles,  438  —Bee-Raising,  439— Pop-Corn  and  Mustard,  440 
— Prizes  for  Hogs,  441 — Matrimonial,  442 — Catamount,  448 — Wolves,  448 — 
His  First  Trip,  448— An  Old  Hatter,  449— Aerolite,  449— Table  of  Distances, 
450— County  Funds,  450— First  Things,  450. 

XVIII.     THE  BAK  AND  OFFICIALS  OF  THE  COUNTY,  .  452 

The  Bar,  452 — County  Commissioners,  460 — Treasurers,  462 — County  Clerks, 
463 — Circuit  Clerks,  463— Sheriffs,  County  Judges,  County  School  Superin- 
tendents, Coroners,  Surveyors,  464. 

XIX.     TEMPERANCE,  465 

XX.    TOWNSHIP  HISTORIES,  479 

Indian  Point,  479— Cedar,  480— Galesburg,  483— Henderson,  484— Rio,  484— 
Chestnut,  486— Orange,  486— Knox,  486— Sparta,  487— Ontario,  495— Maquon, 
496— Haw  Creek,  497— Persifer,  498— Copley,  500— Walnut  Grove,  501— Salem, 
502— Elba,  503— Truro,  504— Victoria,  507— Lynn,  508. 

XXI.    BLOODED  STOCK,  ...  _  512 

XXII.    MANUFACTORIES,  516 

Frost  Manufacturing  Company,  516— The  Steel  Plow,  519— The  Novelty  Ma- 
chine Works,  521— Brown's  Corn-Planter  Works,  521— Broom  Factory,  529— 
Hemstreet  Carriage  Manufactory,  530— Marble  Works,  530— May  Brothers' 
Windmill,  530— Cheese  Factories,  531. 

XXIII.  THE  PRESS,  533 
Newspapers  of  Galesburg,  534— Knoxville  Papers,  537-Abingdon  Papers,  540 

— Oneida  and  Maquon  Papers,  543. 

XXIV.  EDUCATION,  -     N  .  .  544 
Early  Schools,    544-Holiday  Treating,   548— The   Loud   School,  551— Knox 
College,  553— Cherry  Grove  Seminary,  563— Lombard  University,  563— Abing- 
don  College,   571— Hedding  College,   579— St.   Mary's  School,  585— Western 
Business  College,  595— Ansgari  College,  596— Knox  Agricultural  School,  598— 
Galesburg  Public  Schools,  602. 

XXV.    RELIGIOUS,  -  604 

Old  School  Baptists,  604— Methodist  Episcopal,  604— Christian,  609— Presbyte- 
rian, 610— First  Church,  Galesburg,  611— Baptist,  614— Congregational.  617— 
Lutheran,  618— Christian  of  Christian  Connection,  618— Universalist,  619— 
Catholic,  619— Protestant  Episcopal,  619-  United  Brethren,  620— Protestant 
Methodist,  620— United  Presbyterian,  620— Swedish  Independent,  620— 
Galesburg  City  Mission,  620. 


CONTENTS. 


VII 


CIIAPTBK  PAGE. 

XXVI.     CITIES  AND  TOWNS,  622 

Knoxville,  622— Henderson,  623— Galesburg,  623— Maquon,  640— Hermon,  641 
— Abingdon,  641— Union  Town,  642— Victoria,  643— Oneida,  643— Altona,  644 
— Wataga,  644— St.  Augustine,  645— Summit,  645— Gil  son,   645— Yates  City, 
645— Rio,  646. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  647 

HISTORY  OF 


Mound-Builders, , 17 

Indians, 18 

French  and  English  Rule, 23 

County  of  Illinois, 26 

Territory  of  Illinois, 27 

Illinois  as  a  State 27 

State  Bank 32 

Early  Governors, 33 

BlackHawk  War, 37 

Martyr  for  Liberty, 40 

Mormon  War, 43 


Mexican  War, 46 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion, 47 

Senators, 50 

Governors, 51 

Dress  and  Manners, 51 

Physical  Features  of  Illinois, 54 

Agriculture, 57 

Chicago, 61 

Massacre  of  Fort  Dearborn, 62 

The  Great  Fire, 66 

Commerce  of  Chicago 69 


ABSTRACT  OF  STATE  I.AWS. 


Jurisdiction  of  Courts, 73 

County  Courts, 73 

Commissioners  of  Highways, -  73 

Fences, 75 

Eminent  Domain, 77 

Drainage, - 77 

Trespass  of  Stock, 77 

Estrays 78 

Horses, 79 

Marks  and  Brands, 80 

Articles  of  Agreement,. . .  80 

General  Formjof  Agreement, 80 

Deeds, 81 

Wills, 82 

Adoption  of  Children 84 

Notes, 84 

Judgment  Notes, 85 

Interest, 85 


Days  of  Grace, 86 

Limitation  of  Action, 87 

Receipts, 87 

Exemptions  from  Forced  Sale, 87 

Landlords  and  Tenants, 88 

Criminal  Law, 89 

Millers,   90 

Paupers, 91 

Public  and  Private  Conveyances, ...  92 

Wagers  and  Stakeholders, 93 

Sunday, 93 

Definition  of  Commercial  Terms, ...  94 

Legal  Weights  and  Measures, 9^ 

Game, 94 

Bees, 95 

Dogs 95 

Cruelty  to  Animals, 95 


ITXITED  STATES  MAItS. 


U.S.Mails 96 

Rates  of  Postage, 97 

Third-Class  Matter, 98 


Registered  Matter, 99 

Money  Orders, 99 


PORTRAITS. 


Allen,  S.  W., 135 

Bateman,  Newton,   559 

Berggren,  A.  W 303 

Blair,  Dr.  J.  L., 291 


Blanchard,  J., 183 

Brown,  G.  W., 523 

Bruner,  F.  M., 573 

Burkhalter,  J.  L., 351 


VIII 


CONTENTS. 


Butler,  J.  W., 411 

Churchill,  Geo 327 

Clark,  Dennis, 279 

Clark,  Gen.  Geo.  R., 21 

Colton.C.  S., 493 

Cooper,  Dr.  E.  S 171 

Hannaman,  Geo.  L, 555 

Hannaman,  R.  L., 243 

Henderson,  David, 387 

Hitchcock,  H., 219 

Holyoke,  J.  M., 207 

Housh,  David, 147 

Jones,  Conley, 399 

Knox,  James, 599 

Latimer,  J.  F 363 


Lefflngwell,  C.  W., 593 

Lewis,  J.  H., 159 

May,  H.  H., 505 

Me  Kee,  Thomas 123 

Peck,  G.  W., 615 

Perkins,  I.  S 339 

Reynolds,  W.  H 375 

St.  Clair,  Gen.  A., 29 

Stilson,  J.F., 469 

Tunnicliff ,  J.  J 231 

Turner,  Israel, 435 

West,  Miss  M.  A 549 

Wetmore,  I.  M 195 

Winter,  John  S 445 


I  I.L.USTR  ATIOtf  S. 


Abingdon  College, 570 

Ansgari  College, 596 

Hedding  College, 581 

Knox  College, 555 

Knox  Seminary, 555 

Lombard  University, 565 

St.  Mary's  School, 589 

Knoxville  High  School, 481 

Oneida  High  School, 315 

Wataga  High  School, 423 

Pontiac, 35 

Black  Hawk, 41 

Old  Kinzie  House, 55 


Fort  Dearborn,  .     59 

Chicago  Exposition, 67 

Chicago  Water  Works, 71 

La  Salle  Street  Tunnel 11 1 

Alms  House, 255 

First  Jail, 267 

Knox  County  Jail, 267 

Frost  Factory, , 517 

Brown's  Works, 527 

M.  E.  Church,  Galesburg, 605 

Union  Hotel,  Galesburg, 637 

Frontispiece, 

Knox  County  Map, 


r 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

MOUND-BUILDERS. 

Antiquarians  claim  that  three  distinct  races  of  people  lived  in 
North  America  prior  to  its  occupation  by  the  present  population. 
Of  these,  the  builders  of  the  magnificent  cities  whose  remains  are 
found  in  Central  America  were  the  most  civilized.  The  second  race, 
as  determined  by  the  character  of  their  civilization,  were  the  Mound- 
Builders,  the  remains  of  whose  works  constitu-te  the  most  interesting 
class  of  antiquities  found  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
Like  the  ruins  of  Central  America,  they  antedate  the  most  ancient 
records.  They  consist  of  the  remains  of  what  were  apparently  vil- 
lages, altars,  temples,  idols,  cemeteries,  monuments,  camps,  fortifica- 
tions, pleasure  grounds,  etc.,  etc.  Their  habitations  must  have  been 
tents,  structures  of  wood,  or  some  other  perishable  material;  other- 
wise their  remains  must  have  been  numerous.  If  the  Mound- 
Builders  were  not  the  ancestors  of  the  Indians,  who  were  they?  The 
oblivion  which  has  closed  over  them  is  so  complete  that  only  con- 
jecture can  be  given  in  answer  to  the  question.  Those  who  do  not 
believe  in  the  common  parentage  of  mankind  contend  that  they  were 
an  indigenous  race  of  the  western  hemisphere;  others,  with  more 
plausibility,  think  they  came  from  the  East,  and  imagine  that  they 
can  see  coincidences  in  the  religion  of  the  Hindoos  and  southern 
Tartars  and  the  supposed  theology  of  the  Mound-Builders.  They 
were,  no  doubt,  idolaters,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that  the  sun 
was  an  object  of  adoration.  The  mounds  were  generally  built  in  a 
situation  affording  a  view  of  the  rising  sun;  when  inclosed  with  walls, 
their  gateways  were  toward  the  east.  The  caves  in  which  they  were 
occasionally  found  buried  always  opened  in  the  same  direction. 
Whenever  a  mound  was  partially  inclosed  by  a  semi-circular  pave- 
ment, it  was  on  the  east  side;  when  bodies  were  buried  in  graves,  as 
was  frequently  the  case,  they  lay  in  an  eastern  and  western  direction ; 
and,  finally,  medals  have  been  found  representing  the  sun  and  his 
rays  of  light. 

At  what    period  they  came  to  this  country  is  likewise  a  matter  of 
speculation.     From  the  comparatively  rude  state  of  the  arts  among 
them,  it  has  been  inferred  that   the  time  was  very  remote.     Their 
2 


Jg  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

axes  were  of  stone  ;  their  raiment,  judging  from  fragments  which 
have  been  discovered,  consisted  of  the  barks  of  the  trees  interwoven 
with  feathers;  and  their  military  works  were  such  as  a  people  would 
erect  who  had  just  passed  from  the  hunter  to  the  pastoral  state  of 

society. 

What  finally  became  of  them  is  another  query  which  has  been 
extensively  discussed.  The  fact  that  their  works  extend  into  Mexico 
and  Peru  has  induced  the  belief  that  it  was  their  posterity  that 
dwelt  in  these  countries  when  they  were  first  visited  by  the 
Spaniards.  The  Mexican  and  Peruvian  works,  with  the  exception 
of  their  greater  magnitude,  are  similar.  Relics  common  to  all 
of  them  have  been  occasionally  found,  and  it  is  believed  that 
the  religious  uses  which  they  subserved  were  the  same.  If,  in- 
deed, the  Mexicans  and  Peruvians  were  the  progeny  of  the  more 
ancient  Mound- Builders,  the  Spanish  rapacity  for  gojd  was  the 
cause  of  their  overthrow  and  final  extermination. 

A  thousand  other  queries  naturally  arise  respecting  these  nations 
which  now  repose  under  the  ground,  but  the  most  searching  investi- 
gation can  only  give  us  vague  speculations  for  answers.  No  historian 
has  preserved  the  names  of  their  mighty  chieftains,  or  given  an 
account  of  their  exploits,  and  even  tradition  is  silent  respecting  them. 


INDIANS. 


The  third  race,  which,  according  to  the  ethnologists,  has  inhabited 
North  America,  is  the  present  Indians.  "When  visited  by  early 
European  pioneers  they  were  without  cultivation,  refinement  or 
literature,  and  far  behind  their  predecessors,  the  Mound-Builders,  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  arts.  The  question  of  their  origin  has  long 
interested  archaeologists,  and  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  they  have 
been  called  on  to  answer.  One  hypothesis  is  that  they  are  an  original 
race. indigenous  to  the  western  hemisphere.  Those  who  entertain 
this  view  think  their  peculiarities  of  physical  structure  preclude  the 
possibility  of  a  common  parentage  with  the  rest  of  mankind.  Prom- 
inent among  those  distinctive  traits  is  the  hair,  which  in  the  red  man 
is  round,  in  the  white  man  oval,  and  in  the  black  man  flat. 

A  more  common  supposition,  however,  is  that  they  are  a  deriva- 
tive race,  and  sprang  from  one  or  more  of  the  ancient  peoples  of 
Asia.  In  the  absence  of  all  authentic  history,  and  when  even  tradi- 
tion is  wanting,  any  attempt  to  point  out  the  particular  location  of 
their  origin  must  prove  unsatisfactory.  Though  the  exact  place  of 
origin  may  never  be  known,  yet  the  striking  coincidence  of  physical 
organization  between  the  Oriental  type  of  mankind  and  the  Indians 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  19 

point  unmistakably  to  some  part  of  Asia  as  the  place  whence  they 
emigrated.  Of  the  several  great  branches  of  North  American  Indi- 
ans as  determined  by  sameness  of  language  and  mental  and  physical 
type,  the  only  ones  entitled  to  consideration  in  Illinois  history  are  the 
Algonquin  and  Iroquois. 

The  Illinois  confederacy  was  composed  of  five  tribes:  theTamoroas, 
Miehigana,  Kaskaskias,  Cahokas  and  Peorias.  The  definition  of  the 
Indian  word  Illinois  is  real,  or  superior  men,  and  is  derived  from  the 
Delaware  word  Illini.  The  termination  of  the  word  as  it  is  now 
used  is  of  French  origin.  As  early  as  1670,  the  priest,  Father  Mar- 
quette,  mentions  frequent  visits  made  by  individuals  of  this  confed- 
eracy to  the  missionary  station  of  St.  Esprit,  near  the  western  extrem 
ity  of  Lake  Superior.  Joliet  and  Marquette,  in  1673,  descended  the 
Mississippi,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin,  on  their  famous 
voyage  of  discovery,  and  met  with  a  band  of  them  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  river.  The  principal  chief  treated  them  with  great  hospitality, 
gave  them  a  calumet  as  a  pass  dowrn  the  river,  and  bid  them  a  friendly 
farewell.  The  same  explorers,  on  their  return  voyage  up  the  Illinois 
river,  discovered  and  stopped  at  the  principal  town  of  the  confederacy, 
situated  on  the  banks  of  the  river  seven  miles  below  the  present  town 
of  Ottawa.  It  was  then  called  Kaskaskia.  Marqnette  returned  to 
the  village  in  the  spring  of  1675,  and  established  the  mission  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  the  oldest  in  Illinois.  When,  in  1679,  La 
Salle  visited  the  town,  it  had  greatly  increased,  numbering  460  lodges, 
and  at 'the  annual  assembly  of  the  different  tribes,  from  6,000  to  8,000 
souls. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes,  who  have  figured  extensively  in  the  history  of 
Illinois,  dwelt  in  the  northwestern  portion^of  the  State.  Though  still 
retaining  separate  tribal  names,  they  had,  by  long  residence  together 
and  intermarriage,  become  substantially  one  people.  Drake,  in  his 
"Life  of  Black  Hawk,"  speaks  of  these  tribes  as  follows:  "The  Sacs 
and  Foxes  fought  their  way  from  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
Green  Bay,  and  after  reaching  that  place  not  only  sustained  themselves 
against  hostile  tribes,  but  were  the  most  active  and  courageous  in 
the  subjugation,  or  rather  the  extermination,  of  the  numerous  and 
powerful  Illinois  confederacy.  They  had  many  wars,  offensive  and 
defensive,  with  the  Sioux,  the  Pawnees,  the  Osages,  and  other  tribes, 
some  of  which  are  ranked  among  the  most  fierce  and  ferocious  war- 
riors of  the  whole  continent;  and  it  does  not  appear  that  in  these 
conflicts,  running  through  a  long  period  of  years,  they  were  found 
wanting  in  this,  the  greatest  of  all  savage  virtues.  In  the  late  war 
with  Great  Britain,  a  party  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  fought  under  the 


20  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

British  standard  as  a  matter  of  choice;  and  in  the  recent  conflict 
between  a  fragment  of  these  tribes  and  the  United  States,  although 
defeated  and  literally  cut  to  pieces  by  an  overwhelming  force,  it  is 
very  questionable  whether  their  reputation  as  braves  would  suffer  by 
a  comparison  with  that  of  their  victors.  It  is  believed  that  a  careful 
review  of  their  history  will  lead  the  inquirer  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes  are  a  truly  courageous  people,  shrewd,  politic  and 
enterprising."  These  tribes,  at  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  were, 
divided  into  twenty  families,  twelve  of  which  were  Sacs  and  eight 
Foxes.  The  following  were  other  prominent  tribes  occupying  Illinois : 
the  Kickapoos,  Shawnees,  Mascoulins,  Piaukishaws,  Potawattomies, 
Chippewas.  and  Ottawas. 

The  art  of  hunting  not  only  supplied  the  Indian  with  food,  but, 
like  that  of  war,  was  a  means  of  gratifying  his  love  of  distinction. 
The  male  children,  as  soon  as  they  acquired  sufficient  age  and  strength, 
were  furnished  with  a  bow  and  arrow  and  taught  to  shoot  birds  and 
other  small  game.  Success  in  killing  large  quadrupeds  required  years 
of  careful  study  and  practice,  and  the  art,  was  as  sedulously  inculcated 
in  the  minds  of  the  rising  generation  as  are  the  elements  of  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic  in  the  common  schools  of  civilized  communi- 
ties. The  mazes  of  the  forest  and  the  dense  tall  grass  of  the  prairies 
were  the  best  fields  for  the  exercise  of  the  hunter's  skill.  No  feet 
could  be  impressed  in  the  yielding  soil  but  they  were  the  objects  of 
the  most  searching  scrutiny,  and  revealed  at  a  glance  the  animal  that 
made  them,  the  direction  it  was  pursuing,  and  the  time  that  had 
elapsed  since  it  had  passed.  In  a  forest  country  he  selected  the 
valleys,  because  they  were  most  frequently  the  resort  of  game.  The 
most  easily  taken,  perhaps,  of  all  the  animals  of  the  chase  was  the 
deer.  It  is  endowed  with  a  curiosity  which  prompts  it  to  stop  in  its 
flight  and  look  back  at  the  approaching  hunter,  who  always  avails 
himself  of  this  opportunity  to  let  fly  the  fatal  arrow. 

Their  general  councils  were  composed  of  the  chiefs  and  old  -men. 
When  in  council,  they  usually  sat  in  concentric  circles  around  the 
speaker,  and  each  individual,  notwithstanding  the  fiery  passions  that 
rankled  within,  preserved  an  exterior  as  immovable  as  if  cast  in 
bronze.  Before  commencing  business  a  person  appeared  with  the 
sacred  pipe,  and  anotheY  with  fire  to  kindle  it.  After  being  lighted, 
it  was  first  presented  to  heaven,  secondly  to  the  earth,  thirdly  to  the 
presiding  spirit,  and  lastly  to  the  several  councilors,  each  of  whom 
took  a  whiff.  These  formalities  were  observed  with  as  much  scrupu- 
lous exactness  as  state  etiquette  in  civilized  courts. 


GEN.  GEORGE  RODGERS  CLARK 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  23 

FRENCH    AND    ENGLISH    RULE. 

After  a  long  contest  between  the  French  and  English  for  the  pos- 
session of  the  Northwest,  the  latter  was  finally  victorious;  and  on  the 
10th  of  October,  1T65,  the  ensign  of  France  was  replaced  on  the  ram- 
parts of  Fort  Chartres  by  the  flag  of  Great  Britain.  This  fort  was 
the  depot  of  supplies  and  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  united 
forces  of  the  French.  At  this  time  the  colonies  of  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board were  assembled  in  preliminary  congress  at  New  York,  dreaming 
of  liberty  and  independence  for  the  continent;  and  Washington,  who 
led  the  expedition  against  the  French  for  the  English  king,  in  less 
than  ten  years  was  commanding  the  forces  opposed  to  the  English 
tyrant.  Illinois,  besides  being  constructively  a  part  of  Florida  for 
over  one  hundred  years,  during  which  time  no  Spaniard  set  foot  upon 
her  soil,  or  rested  his  eyes  upon  her  beautiful  plains,  for  nearly  ninety 
years  had  been  in  the  actual  occupation  of  the  French,  their  puny 
settlements  slumbering  quietly  in  colonial  dependence  on  the  far-off 
waters  of  the  Kaskaskia,  Illinois  and  Wabash. 

The  Northwest  Territory  was  now  entirely  under  the  English  rule; 
and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  held  every 
post  of  importance  in  the  "West;  and  while  the  colonists  of  the  East 
were  maintaining  a  fierce  struggle  with  the  armies  of  England,  their 
western  frontiers  were  ravaged  by  merciless  butcheries  of  Indian 
warfare.  The  jealousy  of  the  savage  had  been  aroused  to  action  by 
the  rapid  extension  of  American  settlement  westward  and  the  improper 
influence  exerted  by  a  number  of  military  posts  garrisoned  by  British 
troops.  To  prevent  indiscriminate  slaughters  arising  from  these 
causes,  Illinois  became  the  theater  of  some  of  the  most  daring  exploits 
connected  with  American  history.  The  hero  of  these  achievements 
by  which  this  beautiful  land  was  snatched  as  a  gem  from  the  British 
Crown,  was  George  Rogers  Clark,  of  Virginia.  He  had  closely 
watched  the  movements  of  the  British  throughout  the  Northwest,  and 
understood  their  whole  plan ;  he  also  knew  the  Indians  were  not  unan- 
imously in  accord  with  the  English,  and  therefore  was  convinced  that, 
could  the  British  be  defeated  and  expelled  from  tho  Northwest,  the 
natives  might  be  easily  awed  into  neutrality.  Having  convinced  him- 
self that  the  enterprise  against  the  Illinois  settlement  might  easily 
succeed,  he  repaired  to  the  capital  of  Virginia,  arriving  November  5. 
While  he  was  on  his  way,  fortunately,  on  October  17 ,  1777,  Bur- 
goyne  was  defeated,  and  the  spirits  of  the  colonists  thereby  greatly 
encouraged.  Patrick  Henry  was  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  at  once 
entered  heartily  into  Clark's  plans;  and  after  satisfying  the  Virginia 


24-'  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

leaders  of  the  feasibility  of  his  project,  received  two  sets  of  instruc- 
tions—one secret,  the  other  open.  The  latter  authorized  him  to 
'proceed  to  enlist  seven  companies  to  go  to  Kentucky,  and  to  serve 
three  months  after  their  arrival  in  the  West.  The  secret  order 
authorized  him  to  arm  these  troops,  to  procure  his  powder  and  lead 
of  General  Hand,  at  Pittsburg,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  subjugate 

the  country. 

With  these  instructions  Col.  Clark  repaired  to  Pittsburg,  choosing 
rather  to  raise  his  men  west  of  the  mountains,  as  he  well  knew  all 
were  needed  in  the  colonies  in  the  conflict  there.  He  sent  Colonel 
W.  B.  Smith  to  Holstein  and  Captains  Helm  and  Bowman  to  other 
localities  to  enlist  men;  but  neither  succeeded  in  raising  the  required 
number.  The  settlers  in  these  parts  were  afraid  to  leave  their  own 
firesides  exposed  to  a  vigilant  foe.  With  these  companies  and  several 
private  volunteers,  Clark  commenced  his  descent  of  the  Ohio,  which 
he  navigated  as  far  as  the  falls,  where  he  took  possession  of  and 
fortified  Corn  Island,  a  small  island  between  the  present  cities  of 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  New  Albany,  Ind.  Here,  after  having  completed 
his  arrangements  and  announced  to  the  men  their  real  destination,  he 

o 

left  a  small  garrison;  and  on  the  24th  of  June,  during  a  total  eclipse 
of  the  sun,  which  to  them  augured  no  good,  they  floated  down  the 
river.  His  plan  was  to  go  by  water  as  far  as  Fort  Massac,  and  thence 
inarch  direct  to  Kaskaskia.  Here  he  intended  to  surprise  .the  gar- 
rison, and  after  its  capture,  go  to  Cahokia,  then  to  Yincennes,  and 
lastly  to  Detroit.  Should  he  fail,  he  intended  to  march  directly  to 
the  Mississippi  river  and  cross  it  into  the  Spanish  country.  Before 
his  start,  he  received  good  items  of  information:  one  that  the  alliance 
had  been  formed  between  France  and  the  United  States,  and  the  other, 
that  the  Indians  throughout  the  Illinois  country  and  the  inhabitants 
at  the  various  frontier  posts  had  been  led  by  the  British  believe  to 
that  the  "  Long- Knives,"  or  Virginians,  were  the  most  fierce,  blood- 
thirsty and  cruel  savages  that  ever  scalped  a  foe.  With  this  impression 
on  their  minds,  Clark  saw  that  proper  management  would  cause  them 
to  submit  at  once  from  fear,  if  surprised,  and  then  from  gratitude 
•would  become  friendly,  if  treated  with  unexpected  leniency.  The 
march  to  Kaskaskia  was  made  through  a  hot  July  sun,  arriving  on 
the  evening  of  the  4th  of  July,  17T8.  They  captured  the  fort  near  the 
village,  and  soon  afterward  the  village  itself,  by  surprise,  and  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  man  and  without  killing  any  of  the  enemy.  After 
sufficiently  working  on  the  fears  of  the  natives,  Clark  told  them  they 
were  at  perfect  liberty  to  worship  as  they  pleased,  and  to  take  which- 
ever side  of  the  great  conflict  they  would;  also  he  would  protect  them 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  25 

against  any  barbarity  from  British  or  Indian  foe.  This  had  the 
desired  effect;  and  the  inhabitants,  so  unexpectedly  and  so  gratefully 
surprised  by  the  unlooked-for  turn  of  aifairs,  at  once  swore  allegiance 
to  the  American  arms;  and  when  Clark  desired  to  go  to  Cahokia  on 
the  6th  of  July,  they  accompanied  him,  and  through  their  influence 
the  inhabitants  of  the  place  surrendered  and  gladly  placed  themselves 
under  his  protection. 

In  the  person  of  M.  Gibault,  priest  of  Kaskaskia,  Clark  found  a 
powerful  ally  and  generous  friend.  Clark  saw  that,  to  retain  posses- 
sion of  the  northwest,  and  treat  successfully  with  the  Indians,  he  must 
establish  a  government  for  the  colonies  he  had  taken.  St.  Vincent, 
the  next  important  post  to  Detroit,  remained  yet  to  be  taken  before 
the  Mississippi  valley  was  conquered.  M.  Gibault  told  him  that  he 
would  alone,  by  persuasion,  lead  Vincennes  to  throw  off  its  connec- 
tion with  England.  Clark  gladly  accepted  this  offer,  and  on  the  14th 
of  July,  in  company  with  a  fellow- townsman,  Gibault  started  on  his 
mission  of  peace.  On  the  1st  of  August  he  returned  with  the  cheer- 
ful intelligence  that  everything  was  peaceably  .adjusted  at  Vincennes 
in  favor  of  the  Americans.  During  the  interval,  Colonel  Clark  estab- 
lished his  courts,  placed  garrisons  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  success- 
fully re-enlisted  his  men,  sent  word  to  have  a  fort  (which  proved  the 
germ  of  Louisville)  erected'  at  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  and  dispatched 
Rocheblave,  who  had  been  commander  at  Kaskaskia,  as  a  prisoner  of 
war  to  Kichmond. 

While  the  American  commander  was  thus  negotiating  with  the 
Indians,  Hamilton,  the  British  Governor  of  Detroit,  heard  of  Clark's 
invasion,  and  was  greatly  incensed  because  the  country  which  he  had 
in  charge  should  be  wrested  from  him  by  a  few  ragged  militia.  He 
therefore  hurriedly  collected  a  force,  and  marching  by  way  of  the 
Wabash,  appeared  before  the  fort  at  Yincennes.  The  inhabitants 
made  an  effort  to  defend  the  town,  and  when  Hamilton's  forces 
arrived,  Captain  Helm  and  a  man  of  the  name  of  Henry  were  the 
only  Americans  in  the  fort.  These  men  had  been  sent  by  Clark;  the 
latter,  charging  a  cannon,  placed  it  in  the  open  gateway,  and  the 
Captain  standing  by  it  with  a  lighted  match  cried  out,  as  Hamilton 
came  in  hailing  distance,  u  Halt!  "  The  British  officer,  not  knowing 
the  strength  of  the  garrison,  stopped,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of 
the  fort.  Helm  exclaimed,  "  No  man  shall  enter  here  till  I  know 
the  terms."  Hamilton  responded,  "You  shall  have  the  honors  of 
war."  The  entire  garrison  consisted  of  one  officer  and  one  private. 

Hamilton,  not  realizing  the  character  of  the  men  with  whom  he  was 
contending,  gave  up  his  intended  campaign  for  the  winter,  sent  his  four 


26  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

hundred  Indian  warriors  to  prevent  troops  from  coming  down  the 
Ohio,  and  to  annoy  the  Americans  in  ail  ways,  and  sat  quietly  down 
to  pass  the  winter.  Information  of  all  these  proceedings  having 
reached  Clark,  he  saw  that  immediate  and  decisive  action  was  neces- 
sary, and  that  unless  he  captured  Hamilton,  Hamilton  would  cap- 
ture him.  Clark  received  the  news  on  the  29th  of  January,  1779,  and 
on  February  5th  set  out  for  Vincennes;  arid  after  incredibly  hard 
marching  through  much  mud,  the  ground  being  thawed  by  the  inces- 
sant rains,  on  the  22d  he  reached  the  fort,  and  at  once  commenced 
the  attack.  The  aim  of  the  American  backwoodsman  was  unerring, 
and  on  the  24th  the  garrison  surrendered.  The  French  were  treated 
with  great  kindness,  and  gladly  renewed  their  allegiance  to  Virginia. 
Hamilton  was  sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  kept  in 
close  confinement.  During  his  command  of  the  British  frontier  forts 
he  offered  prizes  to  the  Indians  for  all  the  scalps  of  the  Americans 
they  could  bring  him,  and  earned  in  consequence  thereof  the  title 
"Hair-buyer  General,"  by  which  he  was  ever  afterwards  known. 

Detroit  was  now  without  doubt  within  easy  reach  of  the  enterpris- 
ing Virginian,  could  he  but  raise  the  necessary  force.  Governor 
Henry,  being  apprised  of  this,  promised  him  the  needed  reinforce- 
ments, and  Clark  concluded  to  wait  until  he  could  capture  and  suffi- 
ciently garrison  the  posts.  Had  Clark  failed  in  this  bold  under- 
taking, and  Hamilton  succeeded  in  uniting  the  western  Indians  for 
the  next  spring's  campaign,  the  West  would  indeed  have  been  swept 
from  the.  Mississippi  to  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and  the  great  blow 
struck  which  had  been  contemplated  by  the  British  from  the  com- 
mencement. Had  it  not  been  for  this  small  army  of  fearless  Virgin- 
ians, the  union  of  all  the  tribes  from  Maine  to  Georgia  against  the 

O  «* 

colonies  might  have  been  effected,  and  the  whole  current  of  our 
history  changed. 

COUNTY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

In  October,  1778,  after  the  successful  campaign  of  Colonel  Clark, 
the  assembly  of  Virginia  erected  the  conquered  country,  embracing 
all  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  into  the  County  of  Illi& 
nois.  It  embraced  all  that  part  of  Virginia  north  of  the  Ohio  river, 
and  was  doubtless  the  largest  county  in  the  world,  exceeding  in  its 
dimensions  the  whole  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  To  speak  more 
definitely,  it  embraced  the  territory  included  in  the  great  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  On  the  12th  of 
December,  5778,  John  Todd  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Commandant 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  27 

of   this  county  by  Patrick  Henry,   then  governor  of  Virginia,  and 
accordingly  was  also  the  first  governor  of  Illinois. 

TERRITORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Illinois  continued  to  form  a  part  of  Virginia  until  March  1,  1784, 
when  that  State  ceded  the  Northwestern  Territory  to  the  United 
States.  Immediately  the  general  government  proceeded  to  establish 
a  form  of  government  for  the  settlers  in  the  territories  thus  ceded. 
The  government  of  this  county  as  then  established  continued  until 
the  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  for  the  government  of  the  North- 
western Territory. 

On  October  5,  Major  General  Arthur  St.  Olair  was,  by  Congress, 
elected  governor  of  this  vast  territory.  St.  Glair  was  born  in  Scotland, 
and  emigrated  to  America  in  1755.  He  served  in  the  French  and 
British  war,  and  was  major-general  in  the  Revolution.  In  1786  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  and  chosen  president  of  that  body. 

After  the  division  of  this  territory,  Illinois  became  one  of  the 
counties  of  the  Territory  of  Indiana,  from  which  it  was  separated  by 
an  act  of  Congress  February  3, 1809,  forming  the  Territory  of  Illinois, 
with  a  population  estimated  at  9,000.  It  was  divided,  at  that  time, 
into  two  counties — St.  Clair  and  Randolph.  John  Boyle,  of  Ken- 
tucky, was  appointed  Governor  by  the  President,  James  Madison,  but 
declining,  Ninian  Edwards,  of  the  same  State,  was  then  appointed, 
and  served  with  distinction;  and  after  the  formation  of  Illinois  as 
a  State,  he  served  in  the  same  capacity,  being  the  third  governor  of 
the  State. 

ILLINOIS   AS   A    STATE. 

The  Territory  of  Illinois  was  formed  into  a  State  by  an  act  of  Con- 
gress April  18,  1818.  In  July  and  August  of  the  same  year,  a  con- 
vention was  held  at  Kaskaskia  for  the  purpose  of  drafting  a  constitu- 
tion. This  constitution  was  not  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people 
for  their-approval  or  rejection,  it  being  well  known  that  they  would 
approve  it.  It  was  about  the  first  organic  law  of  any  State  in  the 
Union  to  abolish  imprisonment  for  debt.  The  first  election  under  the 
constitution  was  held  on  the  third  Thursday  and  the  two  succeeding 
days  in  September,  1818.  Shadrach  Bond  was  elected  Governor,  and 
Pierre  Menard  Lieutenant  Governor.  Their  term  of  office  extended 
four  years.  December  3,  1818,  Congress  by  a  resolution  declared 
Illinois  to  be  "  one  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  admitted 
into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  States  in  all 
respects."  At  this  time  the  State  was  divided  into  fifteen  counties, 


28  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

the  population  being  about  40,000.  Of  this  number  by  far  the  lar- 
ger portion  was  from  the  Southern  States.  The  salary  of  the  Governor 
was  $1,000,  while  that  of  the  Treasurer  was  $500.  The  Legislature 
re-enacted,  verbatim,  the  Territorial  Code,  the  penal  ties  of  which  were 
unnecessarily  severe.  "Whippings,  stocks  and  pillory  were  used  for 
minor  oifenses,  and  for  arson,  rape,  horse-stealing,  etc.,  death  by  hang- 
ing was  the  penalty.  These  laws  however  were  modified  in  1821. 

The  Legislature  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  the  ancient  seat  of  empire 
for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  both  for  the  French  and 
Americans.  Provisions  were,  however,  made  for  the  removal  of  the 
seat  of  government  by  this  Legislature.  A  place  in  the  wilderness  on 
the  Kaskaskia  river  was  selected  and  named  Yandalia.  From  Yan- 
dalia  it  was  removed  to  Springfield  in  the  year  1837. 

In  1820  occurred  the  first  duel  ever  fought  in  Illinois.  This  took 
place  in  St.  Clair  county  between  Alphonso  Stewart  and  William 
Bennett.  It  was  intended  to  be  a  sham  duel,  to  turn  ridicule  against 
Bennett,  the  challenging  party.  Stewart  was  in  the  secret,  but 
Bennett  was  left  to  believe  it  a  realty.  Their  guns  were  loaded  with 
blank  cartridges.  Bennett,  suspecting  a  trick,  put  a  ball  into  his  gun, 
without  the  knowledge  of  his  seconds.  The  word  "  fire  "  was  given, 
and  Stewart  fell  mortally  wounded.  Bennett  made  his  escape,  but 
was  subsequently  captured,  convicted  of  murder  and  suffered  the 
penalty  of  the  law  by  hanging. 

In  an  early  day,  when  the  great  lead  mines  of  Galena  were  being 
worked,  men  would  run  up  the  Mississippi  river  in  steamboats  in  the 
spring,  work  the  lead  mines,  and  in  the  fall  return,  thus  establishing, 
as  was  supposed,  a  similitude  between  their  migratory  habits  and 
those  of  the  fishy  tribe  called  "suckers."  For  this  reason  the  Illi- 
noisans  have  ever  since  been  called  "  Suckers." 

In  1831  the  criminal  code  was  first  adapted  to  penitentiary  punish- 
ment, ever  since  which  time  the  old  system  of  whipping  and  pillory 
for  the  punishment  of  criminals  has  been  disused. 

From  1818  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Black  Hawk  war. in  1832, 
little  occurred  beyond  the  ordinary  routine  of  events  in  a  newly 
settled  country.  The  most  prominent  of  these  were  the  treaties 
made  with  the  Indians  by  the  United  States,  by  which  the  whole  State 
of  Illinois  was  purchased  from  them.  In  tracing  wars  between  the 
Indians  and  the  whites  to  their  sources,  we  find  them  invariably 
originating  in  the  intrusion  of  the  latter  on  the  lands  of  the  former. 
This  was  the  cause  of  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  the  hostilities  of 
Little  Turtle,  the  battles  with  Tecumseh,  and  the  war  with  Black 
Hawk. 


GEN.  ARTHUR  ST.  CLAIR. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  31 

The  most  desperate  single-handed  combat  with  Indians  ever  fought 
on  the  soil  of  Illinois,  was  that  of  Tom  Higgins,  August  21,  1814. 
Higgins  was  25  years  old,  of  a  muscular  and  compact  build,  not  tall, 
but  strong  and  active.     In  danger  he  possessed  a  quick  and  discerning 
judgment,  and   was  without  fear.     He  was  a  member  of  Journey's 
rangers,  consisting  of  eleven  men,  stationed  at  Hill's  Fort,  eight  miles 
southwest  of  the  present  Greenville,  Putnam  county.     Discovering 
Indian  signs  near  the  fort,  the  company,  early  the  following  morning, 
started  on  the  trail.     They  had  not  gone  far  before  they  were  in  an 
ambuscade  of  a  larger  party.     At  the  first  fire  their  commander, 
Journey,  and  three  men  fell,  six  retreated  to  the  fort  in  flight,  but 
Higgins  stopped  to  "  have  another  pull  at  the  red-skins,"  and,  taking 
deliberate  aim    at  a   straggling   savage,  shot   him   down.     Higgins 
horse  had  been  wounded  at  the  first  fire,  as  he  supposed,  mortally; 
but  coming  to,  he  was  about  to  effect  his  escape,  when  the  familiar 
voice  of  Burgess  hailed  him  from  the  long  grass,  "  Tom,  don't  leave 
me."     Higgins  told  him  to  come  along,  but  Burgess  replied  that  his 
leg  was  smashed.     Higgins  attempted  to  raise  him  on  his  horse,  but 
the  animal  took  fright  and  ran  away.     Higgins  then  directed  Burgess 
to  limp  off  as  well  as  he  could;  and  by  crawling  through  the  grass  lie 
reached  the  fort,   while  the  former  loaded  his   gun   and  remained 
behind  to  protect  him  against  the  pursuing  enemy.     When  Burgess 
was  well  out  of  the  way,  Higgins  took  another  route,  which  led  by  a 
small  thicket,  to  throw  any  wandering  enemy  off  the  trail.     Here  he 
was  confronted   by   three  savages  approaching.     He  ran  to  a  little 
ravine  near  for  shelter,  but  in  the  effort  discovered  for  the  first  time 
that  he  was  badly  wounded  in  the  leg.     He  was  closely  pressed  by 
the  largest,  a  powerful  Indian,. who  lodged  a  ball  in  his  thigh.     He 
fell,  but  instantly  rose  again,  only  however  to  draw  the  fire  of  the 
other  two,  and  again  fell  wounded.     The  Indians  now  advanced  upon 
him  with  their  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives;  but  as  he  presented 
his  gun  first  at  one,  then  at  another,  from  his  place  in  the  ravine,  each 
wavered  in  his  purpose.     Neither  party  had  time  to  load,  and  the 
large  Indian,  supposing  finally  that  Higgins'  gun  was  empty,  rushed 
forward  with  uplifted  tomahawk  and  a  yell;  but  as   he   came  near 
enough,  was  shot  down.     At  this,  the  others  raised  the  war-whoop, 
and  rushed  upon  the  wounded  Higgins,  and  now  a  hand-to-hand  con- 
flict ensued.     They  darted  at  him  with  their  knives  time  and  again, 
inflicting  many  ghastly  flesh-wounds,  which  bled  profusely.     One  of 
the  assailants  threw  his  tomahawk  at  him  with  such  precision  as  to 
sever  his  ear  and  lay  bare  his  skull,  knocking  him  down.     They  now 
rushed  in  on  him,  but  he  kicked  them  off,  and  grasping  one  of  their 


32  IIISTOKY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

spears  thrust  at  him,  was  raised  up. by  it.  He  quickly  seized  his  gun, 
and  by  a  powerful  blow  crushed  in  the  skull  of  one,  but  broke  his 
rifle.  His  remaining  antagonist  still  kept  up  the  contest,  making 
thrusts  with  his  knife  at  the  bleeding  and  exhausted  Higgins,  which 
he  parried  with  his  broken  gun  as  well  as  he  could.  Most  of  this 
desperate  engagement  was  in  plain  view  of  the  fort;  but  the  rangers, 
having  been  in  one  ambuscade,  saw  in  this  fight  only  a  ruse  to  draw 
out  the  balance  of  the  garrison.  But  a  Mrs.  Pursely,  residing  at  the 
fort,  no  longer  able  to  see  so  brave  a  man  contend  unaided  for  his  life, 
seized  a  gun,  and  mounting  a  horse,  started  to  his  rescue.  At  this 
the  men  took  courage  and  hastened  along.  The  Indian,  seeing  aid 
coming,  fled.  Higgins,  being  nearly  hacked  to  pieces,  fainted  from 
loss  of  blood.  He  was  carried  to  the  fort.  There  being  no  surgeon, 
his  comrades  cut  two  balls  from  his  flesh:  others  remained  in.  For 
days  his  life  was  despaired  of;  but  by  tender  nursing,  he  ultimately 
regained  his  health,  badly  crippled.  He  resided  in  Fayette  county  for 
many  years  after,  and  died  in  1829. 


STATE    BANK. 


The  Legislature  during  the  latter  years  of  territorial  existence, 
granted  charters  to  several  banks.  The  result  was  that  paper  money 
became  very  abundant,  times  flush,  credit  unlimited,  and  everybody 
invested  to  the  utmost  limit  of  his  credit,  with  confident  expectation 
of  realizing  a  handsome  advance  before  the  expiration  of  his  credit, 
from  the  throng  of  immigrants  then  pouring  into  the  country.  By 
1819  it  became  apparent  that  a  day  of  reckoning  would  approach 
before  their  dreams  of  fortune  could  be  realized.  Banks  everywhere 
began  to  waver,  paper  money  became  depreciated,  and  gold  and  silver 
driven  out  of  the  country.  The  Legislature  sought  to  bolster  up  the 
times  by  incorporating  a  new  "  Bank  of  Illinois,"  which,  with  several 
branches,  was  created  by  the  session  of  1821.  This  bank,  being 
wholly  supported  by  the  credit  of  the  State,  was  to  issue  one,  two, 
three,  five,  ten  and  twenty-dollar  notes.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  bank 
to  advance,  upon  personal  property,  money  to  the  amount  of  $100, 
and  a  larger  amount  upon  real  estate.  All  taxes  and  public  salaries 
could  be  paid  in  such  bills;  and  if  a  creditor  refused  to  take  them  he 
had  to  wait  three  years  longer  before  he  could  collect  his  debt.  The 
people  imagined  that  simply  because  the  government  had  issued  the 
notes,  they  would  remain  at  par;  and  although  this  evidently  could 
not  be  the  case,  they  were  yet  so  infatuated  with  their  project  as 
actually  to  request  the  United  States  Government  to  receive  them  in 
payment  for  their  public  lands!  Although  there  were  not  wanting 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  33 

men  who,  like  John  McLean,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  ot  Represent- 
atives,  foresaw  the  dangers  and  evils  likely  to  arise  from  the  creation 
of  such  a  bank,  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  people  were  in  favor  of 
it.  The  new  bank  was  therefore  started.  The  new  issue  of  bills  by 
the  bank,  of  course,  only  aggravated  the  evil  theretofore  so  griev- 
ously felt,  of  the  absence  of  specie,  so  that  the  people  were  soon 
compelled  to  cut  their  bills  in  halves  and  quarters,  in  order  to  make 
small  change  in  trade.  Finally  the  paper  currency  so  rapidly  depre- 
ciated that  three  dollars  in  these  bills  were  only  considered  worth  one 
in  specie,  so  that  the  State  not  only  did  not  increase  its  revenue,  but 
lost  full  two-thirds  of  them,  and  expended  three  times  the  amount 
required  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  State  government. 

EARLY  GOVERNORS. 

In  the  year  1822  the  term  of  office  of  the  first  governor,  Shadrach 
Bond,  expired.  Two  parties  sprung  up  at  this  time, — one  favorable, 
the  other  hostile,  to  the  introduction  of  slavery,  each  proposing  a 
candidate  of  its  own  for  governor.  Both  parties  worked  hard  to 
secure  the  election  of  their  candidate;  but  the  people  at  large  decided, 
as  they  ever  have  been  at  heart,  in  favor  of  a  free  State.  Edward  Coles, 
an  anti-slavery  man,  was  elected,  although  a  majority  of  the  Legisla- 
ture were  opposed  to  him.  The  subject  of  principal  interest  during 
his  administration  was  to  make  Illinois  a  slave  State.  The  greatest 
effort  being  made  in  1824,  the  proposition  was  defeated  at  the  polls 
by  a  majority  of  1,800.  The  aggregate  vote  polled  was  11,612,  being 
about  6,000  larger  than  at  the  previous  State  election.  African  slaves 
were  first  introduced  into  Illinois  in  1720  by  Renault,  a  Frenchman. 

Senator  Duncan,  afterwards  governor,  presented  to  the  Legislature 
of  1824-5  a  bill  for  the  support  of  schools  by  a  public  tax;  and 
William  S.  Hamilton  presented  another  bill  requiring  a  tax  to  be 
used  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  and  repairing  the  roads, — both  of 
which  bills  passed  and  became  laws.  But  although  these  laws  con- 
ferred an  incalculable  benefit  upon  the  public,  the  very  name  of  a  tax 
was  so  odious  to  the  people  that,  rather  than  pay  a  tax  of  the  smallest 
possible  amount,  they  preferred  working  as  they  formerly  did,  five 
days  during  the  year  on  the  roads,  and  would  allow  their  children  to 
grow  up  without  any  instruction  at  all.  Consequently  both  laws 
were  abolished  in  1826. 

In    the   year  1826  the   office   of  governor  became  again  vacant. 

Ninian  Edwards,  Adolphus  F.  Hubbard  and  Thomas  C.   Sloe  were 

candidates.     Edwards  had   made  himself  many  enemies  by  urging 

strict  inquiries  to  be  made  into  the  corruption  of  the  State  bank,  so 

3 


34  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

that  had  it  not  been  for  his  talents  and  noble  personal  appearance  he 
would  most  probably  not  have  been  elected.  Hubbard  was  a  man  of 
but  little  personal  merit.  Of  him  tradition  has  preserved,  among 
other  curious  sayings,  a  speech  on  a  bill  granting  a  bounty  on  wolf- 
scalps.  This  speech,  delivered  before  the  Legislature,  is  as  follows: 
"  Mr.  Speaker, — I  rise  before  the  question  is  put  on  this  bill,  to  say  a 
word  for  my  constituents.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  never  seen  a  wolf.  1 
cannot  say  that  I  am  very  well  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  habits 
of  wolves.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  said  that  I  had  never  seen  a  wolf; 
but  now  I  remember  that  once  on  a  time,  as  Judge  Brown  and  I  were 
ridino-  across  the  Bonpas  prairie,  we  looked  over  the  prairie  about 
three  miles,  and  Judge  Brown  said,  '  Hubbard,  look!  there  goes  a 
wolf;'  and  I  looked,  and  I  looked,  and  I  looked,  and  I  said,  'Judge, 
where?'  and  he  said,  'There!'  And  I  looked  again,  and  this  time  in 
the  edge  of  a  hazel  thicket,  about  three  miles  across  the  prairie,  I 
think  I  saw  the  wolf's  tail.  Mr.  Speaker,  if  I  did  not  see  a  wolf  that 
time,  I  think  I  never  saw  one;  but  I  have  heard  much,  and  read 
more,  about  this  animal.  I  have  studied  his  natural  history. 

"By  the  bye,  history  is  divided  into  two  parts.  There  is  first  the 
history  of  the  fabulous;  and  secondly,  of  the  non-fabulous,  or  un- 
known age.  Mr.  Speaker,  from  all  these  sources  of  information,  I 
learn  that  the  wolf  is  a  very  noxious  animal;  that  he  goes  prowling 
about,  seeking  something  to  devour;  that  he  rises  up  in  the  dead  and 
secret  hours  of  night,  when  all  nature  reposes  in  silent  oblivion,  and 
then  commits  the  most  terrible  devastation  upon  the  rising  generation 
of  hogs  and  sheep. 

"Mr.  Speaker, I  have  done;  and  I  return  my  thanks  to  the  house  for 
their  kind  attention  to  my  remarks." 

The  primitive  naivete  and  wonderful  ingenuity  as  displayed  in  this 
remarkable  speech,  show  better  than  anything  else  the  state  of  civili- 
zation then  existing  in  Illinois. 

The  Indians  became  troublesome  in  1827.  The  Winnebagoes,  Sacs 
and  Foxes  and  other  tribes  had  been  at  war  for  more  than  a  hundred 
years.  In  the  summer  of  1827  a  war  party  of  the  Winnebagoes  sur- 
prised a  party  of  Chippeways,  and  killed  8  of  them.  Four  of  the 
murderers  were  arrested  and  delivered  to  the  Chippeways,  by  whom 
they  were  immediately  shot.  This  was  the  first  irritation  of  the  Win- 
nebagoes. Red  Bird,  a  chief  of  this  tribe,  in  order  to  avenge  the 
execution  of  the  four  warriors  of  his  own  people,  attacked  the 
Chippeways,  but  was  defeated;  and  being  determined  to  satisfy  his 
thirst  for  revenge  by  some  means,  surprised  and  killed  several  white 
men.  Upon  receiving  intelligence  of  these  murders,  the  whites  who 


PONTIAC,  THE  OTTAWA  CHIEF. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  37 

were  working  the  lead  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  Galena  formed  a  body 
of  volunteers,  and,  re-inforced  by  a  company  of  regular  United  States 
troops,  marched  into  the  country  of  the  Winnebagoes.  To  save  their 
nation  from  the  miseries  of  war,  Red  Bird  and  six  other  men  of  his 
nation  voluntarily  surrendered  themselves.  Some  of  the  number 
were  executed,  some  of  them  imprisoned,  and  destined^like  Red  Bird, 
ingloriously  to  pine  away  within  the  narrow  confines  of  a  jail,  when 
formerly  the  vast  forests  had  proven  too  limited  for  them. 

In  August,  1830,  another  gubernatorial  election  was  held. '  The 
candidates  were  William  Kinney,  then  lieutenant  governor,  and  John 
Reynolds,  formerly  an  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  both 
Jackson  democrats.  The  opposition  brought  forward  no  candidate,  as 
they  were  in  a  hopeless  minority.  Reynolds  was  the  successful  can- 
didate, and  under  his  administration  was  the  famous 

BLACK  HAWK   WAR. 

In  the  year  1804  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  States 
and  the  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations.  One  old  chief  of  the  Sacs, 
however,  called  Black  Hawk,  who  had  fought  with  great  bravery  in  the 
service  of  Great  Britain  during  the  war  of  1812,  had  always  taken 
exceptions  to  this  treaty,  pronouncing  it  void.  In  1831  he  established 
himself,  with  a  chosen  band  of  warriors,  upon  the  disputed  territory, 
ordering  the  whites  to  leave  the  country  at  once.  The  settlers  com- 
plaining, Governor  Reynolds  dispatched  General  Gaines,  with  a 
company  of  regulars  and  1.500  volunteers,  to  the  scene  of  action. 
Taking  the  Indians  by  surprise,  the  troops  burnt  their  villages,  and 
forced  them  to  conclude  a  treaty,  by  which  they  ceded  all  lands  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  agreed  to  remain  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river.  Necessity  had  compelled  the  proud  spirit  of  Black  Hawk  into 
submission,  which  made  him  more  than  ever  determined  to  be 
avenged  upon  his  enemies.  Having  rallied  around  him  the  warlike 
braves  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations,  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  in  the 
spring  of  1832.  Upon  hearing  of  the  invasion,  Governor  Reynolds 
hastily  collected  a  body  of  1,800  volunteers,  placing  them  under  the 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside. 

The  army  marched  to  the  Mississippi,  and  having  reduced  to  ashes 
the  Indian  village  known  as  "  Prophet's  Town,"  proceeded  for  several 
miles  up  the  river  to  Dixon,  to  join  the  regular  forces  under  General 
Atkinson.  They  found  at  Dixon  two  companies  of  volunteers,  who, 
sighing  for  glory,  were  dispatched  to  reconnoiter  the  enemy.  They 
advanced  under  command  of  Major  Stillman,  to  a  creek  afterwards 
called  "Stillman's  run;"  and  while  encamping  there,  saw  a  party  of 


38  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

mounted  Indians  at  the  distance  of  a  mile.  Several  of  Stillman's 
party  mounted  their  horses  and  charged  the  Indians,  killing  three  of 
them;  but,  attacked  by  the  main  body  under  Black  Hawk,  they  were 
routed,  and  by  their  precipitate  flight  spread  such  a  panic  through 
the  camp  that  the  whole  company  ran  off  to  Dixon  as  fast  as  their 
legs  could  carry  them.  On  their  arrival  it  was  found  that  there  had 
been  eleven  killed.  A  regiment  sent  to  spy  out  the  country  between 
Galena  and  Rock  Island,  was  surprised  by  a  party  of  seventy  Indians, 
and  Was  on  the  point  of  being  thrown  into  disorder  when  General 
Whiteside,  then  serving  as  a  private,  shouted  out  that  he  would  shoot 
the  first  man  who  should  turn  his  back  to  the  enemy.  Order  being 
restored,  the  battle  began.  At  its  very  outset  General  Whiteside  shot 
the  leader  of  the  Indians,  who  thereupon  commenced  a  hasty  retreat. 

In  June,  1832,  Black  Hawk,  with  a  band  of  150  warriors,  attacked 
the  Apple  River  Fort,  near  Galena,  defended  by  25  men.  This 
fort,  a  mere  palisade  of  logs,  was  erected  to  afford  protection  to 
the  miners.  For  15  consecutive  hours  the  garrison  had  to  sustain 
the  assault  of  the  savage  enemy;  but  knowing  very  well  that  no 
quarter  would  be  given  them,  they  fought  with  such  fury  and  desper- 
ation that  the  Indians,  after  losing  many  of  their  best  warriors,  were 
compelled  to  retreat. 

Another  party  of  11  Indians  murdered  two  men  near  Fort  Ham- 
ilton. They  were  afterwards  overtaken  by  a  company  of  twenty  men 
and  every  one  of  them  was  killed. 

A  new  regiment,  under  the  command  of  General  Atkinson,  assem- 
bled on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  Major 
Dement,  with  a  small  party,  was  sent  out  to  reconnoiter  the  move- 
ments of  a  large  body  of  Indians,  whose  endeavors  to  surround  him 
made  it  advisable  for  him  to  retire.  Upon  hearing  of  this  engage- 
ment, General  Atkinson  sent  a  detachment  to  intercept  the  Indians, 
while  he,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  moved  north  to  meet  the 
Indians  under  Black  Hawk.  They  moved  slowly  and  cautiously  through 
the  country;  and  having  passed  through  Turtle  village,  marched  up 
along  Rock  river.  On  their  arrival  news  was  brought  of  the  discov, 
ery  of  the  main  trail  of  the  Indians.  Considerable  search  was  made, 
but  they  were  unable  to  discover  any  vestige  of  Indians  save  two  who 
had  shot  two  soldiers  the  day  previous. 

Clearing  that  Black  Hawk  was  encamped  on  Rock  river,  at  the  Mani- 
ton  village,  they  resolved  at  once  to  advance  upon  the  enemy;  but  in 
the  execution  of  their  design  they  met  with  opposition  on  the  part  of 
their  officers  and  men.  The  officers  of  General  Henry  handed  to  him 
a  written  protest;  but  he,  a  man  equal  to  any  emergency,  ordered  the 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  39 

officers  to  be  arrested  and  escorted  to  General  Atkinson.  Within  a 
lew  minutes  after  the  stern  order  was  given,  the  officers  all  collected 
around  the  General's  quarters,  many  of  them  with  tears  in  their  eyes, 
pledging  themselves  that  if  forgiven  they  would  return  to  duty  and 
never  do  the  like  again.  The  General  rescinded  the  order,  and  they  at 
once  resumed  duty. 

General  Henry  marched  on  the  loth  of  July  in  pursuit  of  the 
Indians,  reaching  Rock  river  after  three  days'  journey,  where  he 
learned  Black  Hawk  was  encamped  further  up  the  river.  On  July  19th 
the  troops  were  ordered  to  commence  their  march.  After  having 
made  oO  miles,  they  were  overtaken  by  a  terrible  thunder-storm, 
which  lasted  all  night.  Nothing  cooled,  however,  in  their  courage 
and  zeal,  they  marched  again  50  miles  the  next  day,  encamping  near 
the  place  where  the  Indians  had  encamped  the  night  before.  Hurry- 
ing along  as  fast  as  they  could,  the  infantry  keeping  up  an  equal  pace 
with  the  mounted  force,  the  troops  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  crossed 
the  river  connecting  two  of  the  four  lakes,  by  which  the  Indians  had 
been  endeavoring  to  escape.  Finding,  on  their  way,  the  ground 
strewn  with  kettles  and  articles  of  baggage,  which  the  hurry  of  their 
retreat  had  obliged  the  Indians  to  throw  away,  the  troops,  inspired 
with  new  ardor,  advanced  so  rapidly  that  at  n,oon  they  fell  in  with  the 
rear  guard  of  the  Indians.  The  troops,  who  closely  pursued  them, 
were  saluted  with  a  sudden  fire  of  musketry  by  a  body  of  Indians 
who  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  high  grass  of  the  prairie.  A 
most  desperate  charge  was  made  upon  the  Indians,  who,  unable  to 
resist,  retreated  obliquely,  in  order  to  out-flank  the  volunteers  on  the 
right;  but  the  latter  charged  the  Indians  in  their  ambush,  and  expell- 
ing them  from  their  thickets  at  the  point  of  the  oayonet,  dispersed 
them.  Night  set  in  and  the  battle  ended,  having  cost  the  Indians 
68  of  their  bravest  men,  while  the  loss  of  the  Illinoisans  amounted 
to  but  one  killed  and  8  wounded. 

Soon  after  this  battle  Generals  Atkinson  and  Henry  joined  their 
forces  and  pursued  the  Indians.  General  Henry,  having  struck  the 
main  trail,  left  his  horses  behind,  and  formed  an  advance  guard  of 
eight  men,  he  marched  forward  upon  their  trail.  When  these  eigh 
men  had  come  within  sight  of  the  river,  they  were  suddenly  fired 
upon  and  five  of  them  killed,  the  remaining  three  maintaining  their 
ground  till  General  Henry  came  up,  when  the  Indians,  charged  upon 
with  the  bayonet,  fell  back  upon  their  main  force.  The  battle  now 
became  general;  the  Indians  fought  with  desperate  valor,  but  were 
furiously  assailed  by  the  volunteers  with  their  bayonets,  cutting  many 
of  the  Indians  to  pieces  and  driving  the  rest  into  the  river.  Those 


40  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

who  escaped  from  being  drowned  took  refuge  on  an  island.  On 
hearing  the  frequent  discharge  of  musketry,  indicating  a  general 
engagement,  General  Atkinson  abandored  the  pursuit  of  the  20 
Indians  under  Black  Hawk  himself,  and  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action, 
where  he  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in  the  battle.  He  immediately 
lorded  the  river  w7ith  his  troops,  the  water  reaching  up  to  their  necks, 
and  landed  on  the  island  where  the  Indians  had  secreted  themselves. 
The  soldiers  rushed  upon  the  Indians, killing  several  of  them,  taking 
others  prisoners,  and  chasing  the  rest  into  the  river,  where  they  were 
either -drowned  or  shot  before  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  Thus 
ended  the  battle,  the  Indians  losing  300,  besides  50  prisoners;  the 
whites  but  17  killed  and  12  wounded. 

Black  Hawk,  with  his  twenty  men,  retreated  up  the  Wisconsin  river 
The  Winnebagoes,  desirous  of  securing  the  friendship  of  the  whites, 
went  in  pursuit  and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  General  Street, 
the  United  States  Indian  Agent.  Among  the  prisoners  were  the  son 
of  Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet  of  the  tribe.  These,  with  Black  Hawk, 
were  taken  to  Washington,  D.  C.  By  order  of  the  President,  they 
were  set  free  on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1833.  Black  Hawk  died  on  the 
3d  of  October,  1840,  at  the  age  of  80  years,  and  was  buried  on 
the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  where  he  had  spent  his  life  which  had 
been  so  dear  to  him. 

MARTYR    FOR    LIBERTY. 

At  the  general  election  of  1834  Joseph  Duncan  was  elected  gov- 
ernor. His  principal  appointment  was  ex-Lieutenant  Governor  Kin- 
ney.  Duncan  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  The  year  1837, 
under  Duncan's  administration,  is  memorable  for  the  death  of  the  first 
martyr  for  liberty  in  the  State.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy  was  shot  by  a  mob 
in  Alton,  on  the  night  of  the  7th  of  November  of  that  year.  He  was 
at  the  time  editor  of  the  Alton  Observer,  and  advocated  anti-slavery 
principles  in  its  columns.  For  this  practice  three  of  his  presses  had 
been  destroyed,  and  it  was  in  connection  with  the  arrival  of  a  fourth 
that  the  tragedy  occurred  which  cost  him  his  life.  In  anticipation 
of  its  arrival,  a  series  of  meetings  were  held  in  which  the  friends  botli 
of  freedom  and  of  slavery  were  represented.  The  object  was  to 
effect  a  compromise,  but  it  was  one  in  which  liberty  was  to 
make  concessions  to  oppression.  In  a  speech  made  at  one  ot 
these  meetings  Lovejoy  said:  "I  plant  myself  down  on  my  un- 
questionable rights,  and  the  question  to  be  decided  is,  whether  I  shall 
be  protected  in  those  rights.  You  may  hang  me,  as  the  mob  hung 
the  individuals  at  Vicksburg;  you  may  burn  me  at  the  stake,  as  they 


BLACK  HAWK.  THE  SAC  CHIEF. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  43 

did  old  Mclntosh  at  St.  Louis;  or,  you  may  tar  and  feather  me,  or 
throw  me  into  the  Mississippi  as  you  have  threatened  to  do;  but  you 
cannot  disgrace  me.  I,  and  I  alone  can  disgrace  myself,  and  the 
deepest  of  all  disgrace  would  be  at  a  time  like  this  to  deny  my  Maker 
by  forsaking  his  cause.  He  died  for  me,  and  I  were  most  unworthy 
to  bear  his  name  should  I  refuse,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  him."  Im- 
mediately after,  Mr.  Lovejoy  was  shot;  his  brother  Owen,  being  pres- 
ent on  the  occasion,  kneeled  down  on  the  spot  beside  the  corpse,  and 
sent  up  to  God,  in  the  hearing  of  that  very  mob.  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  prayers  ever  listened  to  by  mortal  ear.  He  was  bold  enough 
to  pray  God  to  take  signal  vengeance  on  the  infernal  institution  of 
slavery,  arid  he  then  and  there  dedicated  himself  to  the  work  of  over- 
throwing it,  and  hoped  to  see  the  day  when  slavery  existed  no  more 
in  this  nation.  He  died,  March  24,  1864,  nearly  three  months  after 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  took  effect. 
Thus  he  lived  to  see  his  most  earnest  and  devout  prayer  answered. 
But  few  men  in  the  nation  rendered  better  service  in  overthrowing 
the  institution  of  slavery  than  Elijah  P.  and  Owen  Lovejoy. 

Thomas  Carlin,  democrat,  was  elected  governor  in  1838,  over 
Cyrus  Edwards,  whig.  In  1842  Adam  W.  Snyder  was  nominated 
for  governor  on  the  democratic  ticket,  but  died  before  election. 
Thomas  Ford  was  placed  in  nomination,  and  was  elected,  ex-Gov- 
ernor Duncan  being  his  opponent.  During  Ford's  administration 
occurred  the 

MORMON    WAR. 

In  April,  1840,  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints,"  or  Mormons,  came  in 
large  numbers  to  Illinois  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  Here  they  commenced  building  the  city  of  Nauvoo.  A 
more  picturesque  or  eligible  site  for  a  city  could  not  have  been 
selected. 

The  origin,  rapid  development  and  prosperity  of  this  religious  sect 
are  the  most  remarkable  and  instructive  historical  events  of  the  pres- 
ent century.  That  an  obscure  individual,  without  money,  education, 
or  respectability,  should  persuade  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  to 
believe  him  inspired  of  God,  and  cause  a  book,  contemptible  as  a  lit- 
erary production,  to  be  received  as  a  continuation  of  the  sacred  reve- 
lation, appears  almost  incredible;  yet  in  less  than  half  a  century,  the 
disciples  of  this  obscure  individual  have  increased  to  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands ;  have  founded  a  State  in  the  distant  wilderness,  and  compelled  the 
government  of  the  United  States  practically  to  recognize  them  as  an 
independent  people. 


44  HISTORY   OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  founder  of  Morraonism  was  Joseph  Smith,  a  native  of  Yerrnont, 
who  emigrated  while  quite  young  with  his  father's  family  to  western 
New  York.  Here  his  youth  was  spent  in  idle,  vagabond  life,  roaming 
the  woods,  dreaming  of  buried  treasures,  and  exerting  himself  to  learn 
the  art  of  finding  them  by  the  twisting  of  a  forked  stick  in  his  hands, 
or  by  looking  through  enchanted  stones.  Both  he -and  his  father  be- 
came famous  as  "  water  wizards,"  always  ready  to  point  out  the  spot 
where  wells  might  be  dug  and  water  found.  Such  was  the  character 
of  the  young  profligate  when  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Sidney 
Rigdon,  a  person  of  considerable  talent  and  information,  who  had 
conceived  the  design  of  founding  a  new  religion.  A  religious 
romance  written  by  a  Presbyterian  preacher  of  Ohio,  then  dead,  sug- 
gested the  idea,  and  finding  in  Smith  the  requisite  duplicity  and  cun- 
ning to  reduce  it  to  practice,  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  act  as 
prophet;  and  the  two  devised  a  story  that  gold  plates  had  been  found 
buried  in  the  earth  containing  a  record  inscribed  on  them  in  unknown 
characters,  which,  when  deciphered  by  the  power  of  inspiration,  gave 
the  history  of  the  ten  lost  tribes  of  Israel. 

After  their  settlement  in  Hancock  county,  great  depredations  were 
committed  by  them  on  the  "  Gentiles."  The  Mormons  had  been  re- 
ceived from  Missouri  with  great  kindness  by  the  people  of  this  State, 
and  every  possible  aid  was  granted  them.  The  depredations  com- 
mitted, however,  soon  made  them  odious,  when  the  question  of  get- 
ting rid  of  them  was  agitated.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the  governor  of 
Missouri  made  a  demand  on  Governor  Carlin  for  the  arrest  and  deliv- 
ery of  Joe  Smith  as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  An  executive  warrant, 
issued  for  that  purpose  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  an  agent  to  be 
executed,  but  was  returned  without  being  complied  with.  Soon  after- 
ward the  governor  handed  the  same  writ  to  his  agent,  who  this  time 
succeeded  in  arresting  Joe  Smith.  He  was  however  discharged  by 
Judge  Douglas,  upon  the  grounds  that  the  writ  upon  which  he  had 
been  arrested  had  been  once  returned  before  it  had  been  executed, 
and  was  functus  officio.  In  1842  Governor  Carlin  again  issued  his 
writ,  Joe  Smith  was  arrested  again,  and  again  escaped.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  it  was  impossible  to  reach  and  punish  the  leader  of  this  people, 
who  had  b  ce  driven  from  Missouri  because  of  their  stealing,  mur- 
dering and  unjust  dealing,  and  came  to  Illinois  but  to  continue  their 
depredations.  Emboldened  by  success,  the  Mormons  became  more 
arrogant  and  overbearing.  Many  people  began  to  believe  that  they 
were. about  to  setup  a  separate  government  for  themselves  in  defiance 
of  the  laws  of  the  State.  Owners  of  property  stolen  in  other  counties 
made  pursuit  into  Nauvoo,  and  were  fined  by  the  Mormon  courts  for 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  45 

daring  to  seek  their  property  in  the  holy  city.  But  that  which  made 
it  more  certain  than  anything  else  that  the  Mormons  contemplated  a 
separate  government  was,  that  about  this  time  they  petitioned  Con- 
gress to  establish  a  territorial  government  for  them  in  jSTauvoo. 

To  crown  the  whole  folly  of  the  Mormons,  in  the  spring  of  1844 
Joe  Smith  announced  himself  as  a  candidate  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  many  of  his  followers  were  confident  he  would  be 
elected. 

Smith  soon  began  to  play  the  tyrant  over  his  people.  The  first  act 
of  this  sort  was  an  attempt  to  take  the  wife  of  William  Law,  one  of 
his  most  talented  disciples,  and  make  her  his  spiritual  wife.  He 
established,  without  authority,  a  recorder's  office,  and  an  office  to  issue 
marriage  licenses.  He  proclaimed  that  none  could  deal  in  real  estate 
or  sell  liquor  but  himself.  He  ordered  a  printing  office  demolished, 
and  in  many  ways  controlled  the  freedom  and  business  of  the  Mor- 
mons. 

Joe  Smith,  and  Hiram,  his  brother,  were  arrested  on  the  charge  of 
treason,  and  taken  to  Carthage,  Hancock  county,  and  confined  in  the 
jail  there.  The  citizens  assembled  from  Hancock,  Schuyler  and 
McDonongh  counties,  armed  and  ready  to  avenge  the  outrages  that 
had  been  committed  by  the  Mormons.  Great  excitement  prevailed 
at  Carthage.  The  force  assembled  at  that  place  amounted  to  1,200 
men,  and  about  500  assembled  at  Warsaw.  Nearly  all  were  anxious 
to  march  into  Nauvoo.  This  measure  was  supposed  to  be  necessary 
to  search  for  counterfeit  money  and  the  apparatus  to  make  it,  and  also 
to  strike  a  salutary  terror  into  the  Mormon  people  by  an  exhibition  of 
the  force  of  the  State,  and  thereby  prevent  future  outrages,  murders, 
robberies,  burnings,  and  the  like.  The  27th  of  June  was  appointed 
for  the  march;  but  Governor  Ford,  who  at  the  time  was  in  Carthage, 
apprehended  trouble  if  the  militia  should  attempt  to  invade  Nauvoo, 
and  disbanded  the  troops,  retaining  only  a  guard  to  the  jail. 

Governor  Ford  went  to  Nauvoo  on  the  27th.  The  same  morning 
about  200  men  from  Warsaw,  many  being  disguised,  hastened  to 
Carthage.  On  learning  that  one  of  the  companies  left  as  a  guard  had 
disbanded,  and  the  other  stationed  150  yards  from  the  jail,  while  eight 
men  were  left  to  guard  the  prisoners,  a  communication  was  soon  estab- 
lished between  the  Warsaw  troops  and  the  guard ;  and  it  was  arranged 
that  the  guard  should  have  their  guns  charged  with  blank  cartridges 
and  fire  at  the  assailants  when  they  attempted  to  enter  the  jail. 
The  conspirators  came  up,  jumped  the  fence  around  the  jail,  were 
fired  upon  by  the  guard,  which,  according  to  arrangement,  was  over- 
powered, and  the  assailants  entered  the  prison,  to  the  door  of  the  room 


46  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

where  the  two  prisoners  were  confined.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
break  open  the  door;  but  Joe  Smith,  being  armed  with  a  pistol,  fired 
several  times  as  the  door  was  bursted  open,  and  three  of  the  assailants 
were  wounded.  At  the  same  time  several  shots  were  fired  into  the 
room,  by  some 'of  which  John  Taylor,  a  friend  of  the  Smiths,  received 
four  wounds,  and  Hiram  Smith  was  instantly  killed.  Joe  Smith,  at- 
tempting to  escape  by  jumping  out  of  a  second-story  window,  was  so 
stunned  by  the  fall  that  he  was  unable  to  rise.  In  this  position  he 
was  despatched  by  balls  shot  through  his  body.  Thus  fell  Joe  Smith, 
the  most  successful  impostor  of  modern  times.  Totally  ignorant  of 
almost  every  fact  in  science,  as  well  as  in  law,  he  made  up  in  construc- 
tivenessand  natural  cunning  whatever  in  him  was  wanting  of  instruc- 
tion. 

After  the  holy  prophet  had  thus  met  his  untimely  fate,  the  govern- 
ment of  the  church  was  confided  to  the  twelve  apostles,  with  Brigham 
Young  at  their  head.  In  the  spring  of  1846  the  leaders,  satisfied  that 
it  would  not  do  for  the  Mormons  to  remain  any  longer  in  the  State, 
began  to  prepare  for  removal.  Bjr  the  middle  of  May  about  16,000 
Mormons  crossed  the  Mississippi  on  their  march  to  Utah,  having  made 
12,000  wagons  the  previous  winter  for  this  purpose.  Shortly  after, 
almost  the  entire  Mormon  population  was  driven  from  the  State. 

MEXICAN    WAR. 

During  the  month  of  May,  1846,  the  President  called  four  regi- 
ments of  volunteers  from  Illinois  for  the  Mexican  war.  This  was  no 
sooner  known  in  the  State  than  nine  regiments,  numbering  8,370  men, 
answered  the  call,  though  only  four  of  them,  amounting  to  3,720  men, 
could  be  taken.  These  regiments,  as  well  as  their  officers,  were  every- 
where foremost  in  the  American  ranks,  and  distinguished  themselves 
by  their  matchless  valor  in  the  bloodiest  battles  fought  throughout 
the  campaign.  General  Hardin,  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  attacked 
and  routed  a  body  of  Mexican  infantry  and  lancers  five  times  the  num- 
ber of  his  own,  deciding  by  his  gallant  charge  the  victory  for  the 
Americans,  which  was  won  at  the  expense  of  his  own  life  and  that  of 
many  of  his  bravest  men.  At  the  same  battle  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Weatherford,  with  his  men,  during  the  whole  day  stood  the  fire  of  the 
Mexican  artillery  without  being  allowed  to  advance  near  enough  to 
return  it.  Warren,  Trail,  Bissell  and  Morrison  distinguished  them- 
selves by  their  intrepid  valor  at  the  same  battle;  Shields,  Baker,  Har- 
ris and  Coffey  are  illustrious  names  indissolubly  connected  with  the 
glorious  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  not  less  famous  storming  of 
Cerro  Gordo.  In  this  latter  action,  when,  after  the  valiant  General 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  47 

Shields  had  been  placed  hors  de  combat,  the  command  of  his  force. 
consisting  of  three  regiments,  devolved  upon  Colonel  Baker.  This 
officer,  with  his  men,  stormed  with  unheard  of  prowess  the  last  strong- 
hold of  the  Mexicans,  sweeping  everything  before  them.  Such,  in- 
deed, was  the  intrepid  valor  and  daring  courage  exhibited  by  Illinois 
volunteers  during  the  Mexican  war  that  their  deeds  should  live  in 
the  memory  of  their  countrymen  until  those  latest  times  when  the 
very  name  of  America  should  have  been  forgotten. 

In  1846  the  democratic  candidate  for  governor,  Augustus  C. 
French,  won  an  easy  victory  over  the  whig  nominee,  Thomas  M. 
Kilpatrick.  The  office  having  expired  by  the  adoption  of  the  new 
constitution  of  1848,  French  was  re-elected,  and  went  out  of  office  in 
January,  1853. 

In  1852,  at  the  November  election,  Joel  A.  Matteson,  democrat, 
was  chosen  governor  over  the  whig  candidate,  E.  B.  Webb. 

From  1852  to  1856  the  republican  party  was  organized.  In  the 
latter  year  they  elected  W.  II.  Bisself  over  W.  A.  Richardson,  demo- 
crat. 

During  the  year  1858  occurred  the  memorable  contest  between  Lin- 
coln and  Douglas  for  the  senate,  and  which  secured  for  them  the  nom- 
inations for  President  two  years  later. 

In  1860  the  "  War  Governor,"  Richard  Yates,  was  elected  by  the 
republican  party.  His  opponents  were  J.  C.  Allen,  democrat; 
Thomas  M.  Hope.  Breckinridge,  democrat;  and  John  T.  Stuart,  of 
the  Bell-Everett  party.  He  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 
most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history,  and  discharged  his  duty 
with  patriotic  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  the  nation. 

THE    WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  President  of  the  United  States 
in  1861.  At  the  time  of  his  accession  to  power  several  members  of 
the  Union  claimed  they  had  withdrawn  from  it,  and  styling  them- 
selves the  "Confederate  States  of  America,"  they  organized  a  separate 
government.  This  action,  and  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter ,  rendered 
it  necessary  to  call  for  troops  to  suppress  this  outbreak  and  open  re- 
bellion. Accordingly^  call  was  issued  by  the  President.  Simultane- 
ously with  the  call  enlistments  commenced  in  this  State,  and  within 
ten  days  10,000  volunteers  offered  service,  and  the  sum  of  $1,000,000 
was  tendered  by  patriotic  citizens.  Of  the  volunteers  who  offered 
their  services,  only  six  regiments  could  be  accepted  under  the  quota 
of  the  State.  These  were  designated  by  numbers,  commencing  with 
seven,  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  six  regiments  which  had  served  in 


48  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

the  Mexican  war.  Illinois  put  into  her  own  regiments  for  the  United 
States  government  256,000  men,  and  into  the  army  through  other 
States  enough  to  swell  the  number  to  290,000.  This  far  exceeds  all 
the  soldiers  of  the  federal  government  in  all  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Her  total  years  of  service  were  over  600,000.  She  enrolled 
men  from  18  to  45  years  of  age,  when  the  law  of  Congress  in  1864 — the 
test  time — only  asked  for  those  from  20  to  45.  Her  enrollments  were 
otherwise  excessive.  Her  people  wanted  to  go,  and  did  not  take  the 
pains  to  correct  the  enrollment;  thus  the  basis  of  fixing  the  quota  was 
too  great,  and  the  quota  itself,  at  least  in  the  trying  time,  was  far 
above  any  other  State.  The  demand  on  some  counties,  as  Monroe, 
for  example,  took  every  able-bodied  man  in  the  county,  and  then  did 
not  have  enough  to  fill  the  quota.  Moreover,  Illinois  sent  20,844  men 
for  100  days,  for  whom  no  credit  was  asked.  She  gave  to  the 
country  73,000  years  of  service  above  all  calls.  With  one-thirteenth 
o  the  population  of  the  loyal  States,  she  sent  regularly  one-tenth  of 
all  the  soldiers,  and  in  the  perils  of  the  closing  calls,  when  patriots 
were  few  and  weary,  she  sent  one-eighth  of  all  that  were  called  for  by 
her  loved  and  honored  son  in  the  white  house.  Of  the  brave  boys 
Illinois  sent  to  the  front,  there  were  killed  in  action,  5,888;  died  of 
wounds,  3,032;  of  disease,  19,496;  in  prison,  967;  lost  at  sea,  205; 
aggregate,  29,588.  As  upon  every  field  and  upon  every  other  page 
of  the  history  of  this  war,  Illinois  bore  her  part  of  the  suffering  in 
the  prison  pens  of  the  South.  More  than  800  names  make  up  the 
awful  column  of  Illinois's  brave  sons  who  died  in  the  rebel  prison 
of  Andersonville,  Ga.  Who  can  measure  or  imagine  the  atrocities 
which  would  be  laid  before  the  world  were  the  panorama  of  sufferings 
and  terrible  trials  of  these  gallant  men  but  half  unfolded  to  view? 
But  this  can  never  be  done  until  new  words  of  horror  are  invented 
and  new  arts  discovered  by  which  demoniacal  fieudishness  can  be 
portrayed,  and  the  intensest  anguish  of  the  hu-man  soul  in  ten  thou- 
sand forms  be  painted. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1864,  after  the  destruction  of  Atlanta, 
and  the  railroads  behind  him,  Sherman,  with  his  army,  began  his  march 
to  the  sea-coast.  The  almost  breathless  anxiety  with  which  his  prog- 
ress was  watched  by  the  loyal  hearts  of  the  nation,  and  the  trembling 
apprehension  with  which  it  was  regarded  by  all  who  hoped  for  rebel 
success,  indicated  this  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  events  of  the 
war;  and  so  it  proved.  Of  Sherman's  army,  45  regiments  of  infant- 
ry, 3  companies  of  artillery,  and  1  of  cavalry  were  from  this  State. 
Lincoln  answered  all  rumors  of  Sherman's  defeat  with,  "  It  is  impos- 
sible: there  is  a  mighty  sight  of  fight  in  100,000  western  men." 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  49 

Illinois  soldiers  brought  home  300  battle  flags.  The  first  United 
States  flag  that  floated  over  Richmond  was  an  Illinois  flag.  She 
sent  messengers  and  nurses  to  every  field  and  hospital  to  care  tor 
her  sick  and  wounded  sons. 

Illinois  gave  the  country  the  great  general  of  the  war,  U.  S.  Grant. 

One  other  name  from  Illinois  comes  up  in  all  minds,  embalmed  in 
all  hearts,  that  must  have  the  supreme  place  in  this  sketch  of  our 
glory  and  of  our  nation's  honor:  that  name  is  Abraham  Lincoln. 
The  analysis  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  character  is  difficult  on  account  of  its 
symmetry.  In  this  age  we  look  with  admiration  at  his  uncompro- 
mising honesty;  and  well  we  may,  for  this  saved  us.  Thousands 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  country,  who  knew  him  only 
as  "Honest  Old  Abe,"  voted  for  him  on  that  account;  and  wisely  did 
they  choose,  for  no  other  man  could  have  carried  us  through  the 
fearful  night  of  war.  When  his  plans  were  too  vast  for  our  compre- 
hension, and  his  faith  in  the  cause  too  sublime  for  our  participation; 
when  it  was  all  night  about  us,  and  all  dread  before  us,  and  all  sad  and 
desolate  behind  us;  when  not  one  ray  shone  upon  our  cause;  when 
traitors  were  haughty  and  exultant  at  the  South,  and  fierce  and  blas- 
phemous at  the  North ;  when  the  loyal  men  seemed  almost  in  the 
minority;  when  the  stoutest  heart  quailed,  the  bravest  cheek  paled; 
when  generals  were  defeating  each  other  for  place,  and  contractors 
were  leeching  out  the  very  heart's  blood  of  the  republic;  when  every- 
thing else  had  failed  us,  we  looked  at  this  calm,  patient  man  standing 
like  a  rock  in  the  storm,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Lincoln  is  honest,  and  we 
can  trust  him  still."  Holding  to  this  single  point  with  the  energy  of 
faith  and  despair,  we  held  together,  and  under  God  he  brought  us 
through  to  victory.  His  practical  wisdom  made  him  the  wonder  of 
all  lands.  With  such  certainty  did  Mr.  Lincoln  follow  causes  to  their 
ultimate  effects,  that  his  foresight  of  contingencies  seemed  almost 
prophetic.  He  is  radiant  with  all  the  great  virtues,  and  his  memory 
will  shed  a  glory  upon  this  age  that  will  fill  the  eyes  of  men  as  they 
look  into  history.  Other  men  have  excelled  him  in  some  points;  but, 
taken  at  all  points,  all  in  all,  he  stands  head  and  shoulders  above 
every  other  man  of  6,000  years.  An  administrator,  he  saved  the 
nation  in  the  perils  of  unparalleled  civil  war;  a  statesman,  he  justi- 
fied his  measures  by  their  success;  a  philanthropist,  he  gave  liberty 
to  one  race  and  salvation  to  another;  a  moralist,  he  bowed  from  the 
summit  of  human  power  to  the  foot  of  the  cross;  a  mediator,  he 
exercised  mercy  under  the  most  absolute  obedience  to  law;  a  leader, 
he  was  no  partisan;  a  commander,  he  was  untainted  with  blood;  a 
ruler  in  desperate  times,  he  was  unsullied  with  crime;  a  man,  he  has 
4 


50  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

left  no  word  of  passion,  no  thought  ot  malice,  no  trick  of  craft,  no 
act  of  jealousy,  no  purpose  of  selfish  ambition.  Thus  perfected, 
without  a  model  and  without  a  peer,  he  was  dropped  into  these 
troubled  years  to  adorn  and  embellish  all  that  is  good  and  all  that  is 
great  in  our  humanity,  and  to  present  to  all  coming  time  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  divine  idea  of  free  government.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  awav  down  in  the  future,  when  the  republic  has  fallen 

«/  •/ 

from  its  niche  in  the  wall  of  time;  when  the  great  war  itself  shall 
have  faded  out  in  the  distance  like  a  mist  on  the  horizon;  when  the 
Anglo-Saxon  shall  be  spoken  only  by  the  tongue  of  the  stranger, 
then  the  generations  looking  this  way  shall  see  the  great  President  as 
the  supreme  figure  in  this  vortex  of  history. 

The  rebellion  was  ended  with  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  his  army, 
and  Johnston  and  his  command,  in  April,  1865.  Our  armies  at  the 
time  were  up  to  their  maximum  strength,  never  so  formidable,  never 
so  invincible;  and,  until  recruiting  ceased  by  order  of  Secretary 
Stanton,  were  daily  strengthening.  The  necessity,  however,  for  so 
vast  and  formidable  numbers  ceased  with  the  disbanding  of  the  rebel 
forces,  which  had  for  more  than  four  years  disputed  the  supremacy  of 
the  government  over  its  domain.  And  now  the  joyful  and  welcome 
news  was  to  be  borne  to  the  victorious  legions  that  their  work  was 
ended  in  triumph,  and  they  were  to  be  permitted  "  to  see  homes  and 
friends  once  more." 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  governor  in  1864  by  the  republican 
party,  in  opposition  to  James  C.  Robinson,  democrat.  In  1868  John 
M.  Palmer  won  an  easy  victory  over  John  R.  Eden,  democrat. 
Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  again  elected  in  1872,  and  in  1876  Shelby  M. 
Cullom,  republican,  was  elected,  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

SENATORS. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  all  the  persons  that  have  repre- 
sented this  State,  since  its  organization,  in  the  United  States  Senate: 

Tears. 

Jisse  B.  Thomas 181g  to  1829 

Ninian  Echvard? jgjg  u  jgij4 

John  McLean.. . .  1824  «  jgg^ 

K.  K.  Kane 1835  «  1835 

John  McLean 18-^()  «>  i83o 

D.J.  Baker 1830   1   mo 

J.  M.  Robinson.   .  1880  to  J84l 

W.  L.  D.  Ewing 1835  „  1837 

R.  M.  Young ]837  „  ]843 

S.  McRoberts 1841 

James  Semple j843 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  51 

Sidney  Breese 1843  to  1849 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 1847  "  1861 

James  Shields 1849  "  1855 

Lyman  Trumbull 1855  "  1873 

O.  H.  Browning 1861  "  1863 

William  A.  Richardson 1863  "  18J5 

Richard  Yates 1865  "  1871 

John  A.  Logan 1871  "  1877 

Richard  J.  Oglesby 1873  "  1879 

David  Davis 1877  "  1883 

GOVERNORS. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  all  the  Governors  of  the  State: 

Tears. 

Shadrach  Bond 1818  to  1822 

Edward  Coles 1822  "  1826 

Ninian  Edwards  (formerly  Governor  of  the  Territory) 1826  "  1830 

John  Reynolds 1830  "  1834 

Joseph  Duncan 1834  "  1838 

Thomas  Carlin 1838  "  1842 

Thomas  Ford 1842  "  1846 

Augustus  C.  French 1846  "  1853 

The  office  having  expired  by  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution 
of  1848,  he  was  re-elected,  and  went  out  of  office  in  January,  1853. 

Joel  A.  Matteson January,  1856  to  1857 

William  H.  Bissell,  died  while  in  office 1857  "  1860 

Lieut.-Gov.  John  Wood I860  "  1861 

Richard  Yates 1861  -  1865 

Richard  J.  Oglesby. 1865  "  1869 

John  M.  Palmer 1869  "  1873 

Richard  J." Oglesby  (elected  United  States  Senator)  «  1873 

John  L.  Beveridge,  vice  Oglesby 1873  "  1877 

Shelby  M.  Cullom,  present  incumbent 1877  "  1881 

DRESS    AND    MANNERS. 

The  dress,  habits,  etc.,  of  a  people  throw  so  much  light  upon  their 
conditions  and  limitations  that  in  order  better  to  show  the  circum- 
stances surrounding  the  people  of  the  State,  we,  will  give  a  short 
exposition  of  the  manner  of  life  of  our  Illinois  people  at  different 
epochs.  The  Indians  themselves  are  credited  by  Charlevoix  with 
being  "  very  laborious," — raising  poultry,  spinning  the  wool  of  the 
buffalo  and  manufacturing  garments  therefrom.  These  must  have 
been,  however,  more  than  usually  favorable  representatives  of  their 
race. 

"  The  working  and  voyaging  dress  of  the  French  masses,"  says 
Reynolds,  "was  simple  and  primitive;  The  French  were  like  the 


UBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


52  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

lilies  of  the  valley  [the  Old  Kanger  was  not  always  exact  in  his 
quotations],— they  neither  spun  nor  wove  any  of  their  clothing,  but 
purchased  it  from  the  merchants.  The  white  blanket  coat,  known  as 
the  capot,  was  the  universal  and  eternal  coat  for  the  winter  with  the 
masses.  A  cape  was  made  of  it  that  could  be  raised  over  the  head 
in  cold  weather." 

"  In  the  house,  and  in  good  weather,  it  hung  behind,  a  cape  to  the 
blanket  coat.  The  reason  that  I  know  these  coats  so  well  is,  that  I 
have  worn  many  in  my  youth,  and  a  working  man  never  wore  a  better 
garment.  Dressed  deer-skins  and  blue  cloth  were  worn  commonly  in 
the  winter  for  pantaloons.  The  blue  handkerchief  and  the  deer-skin 
moccasins  covered  the  head  and  feet  generally  of  the  French  Creoles. 
In  1800,  scarcely  a  man  thought  himself  clothed  unless  he  had  a  belt 
tied  around  his  blanket  coat,  and  on  one  side  was  hung  the  dressed 
skin  of  a  pole-cat,  filled  with  tobacco,  pipe,  flint  and  steel.  On  the 
other  side  was  fastened,  under  the  belt,  the  butcher-knife.  A  Creole 
in  this  dress  felt  like  Tarn  O'Shanter  filled  with  usquebaugh:  he  could 
face  the  devil.  Checked  calico  shirts  were  then  common,  but  in 
winter  flannel  was  frequently  worn.  In  the  summer  the  laboring 
men  and  the  voyagers  often  took  their  shirts  off  in  hard  work  and  hot 
weather,  and  turned  out  the  naked  back  to  the  air  and  sun. 

"Among  the  Americans,"  he  adds,  "home-made  wool  hats  were 
the  common  wear.  Fur  hats  were  not  common,  and  scarcely  a  boot 
was  seen.  The  covering  of  the  feet  in  winter  was  chiefly  moccasins 
made  of  deer-skins,  and  shoe  packs  of  tanned  leather.  Some  wore 
shoes,  but  not  common  in  very  early  times.  In  the  summer  the  greater 
portion  of  the  young  people,  male  and  female,  and  many  of  the  old, 
went  barefoot.  The  substantial  and  universal  outside  wear  was  the 
blue  linsey  hunting-shirt.  This  is  an  excellent  garment,  and  I  have 
never  felt  so  happy  and  healthy  since  I  laid  it'  off.  It  is  made  of 
wide  sleeves,  open  before,  with  ample  size  so  as  to  envelop  the  body 
almost  twice  around.  Sometimes  it  had  a  large  cape,  which  answers 
well  to  save  the  shoulders  from  the  rain.  A  belt  is  mostly  used  to 
keep  the  garment  close  around  the  person,  and,  nevertheless,  there  is 
nothing  tight  about  it  to  hamper  the  body.  It  is  often  fringed,  and 
at  times  the  fringe  is  composed  of  red,  and  other  gay  colors.  The 
belt,  frequently,  is  sewed  to  the  hunting-shirt.  The  vest  was  mostly 
made  of  striped  linsey.  The  colors  were  made  often  with  alum, 
copperas  and  madder,  boiled  with  the  bark  of  trees,  in  such  a  man- 
ner and  proportions  as  the  old  ladies  prescribed.  The  pantaloons  of 
the  masses  were  generally  made  of  deer-skin  and  linsey.  Coarse  blue 
cloth  was  sometimes  made  into  pantaloons. 


HISTORY    OF   ILLINOIS.  53 

"  Linsey,  neat  and  fine,  manufactured  at  home,  composed  generally 
the  outside  garments  of  the  females  as  well  as  the  males.  The  ladies 
had  linsey  colored  and  woven  to  suit  their  fancy.  A  bonnet,  com- 
posed of  calico,  or  some  gay  goods,  was  worn  on  the  head  when  they 
were  in  the  open  air.  Jewelry  on  the  pioneer  ladies  was  uncommon; 
a  gold  ring  was  an  ornament  riot  often  seen." 

In  1820  a  change  of  dress  began  to  take  place,  and  before  1830, 
according  to  Ford,  most  of  the  pioneer  costume  had  disappeared. 
"The  blue  linsey  hunting-shirt,  with  red  or  white  fringe,  had  given 
place  to  the  cloth  coat.  [Jeans  would  be  more  like  the  fact.]  The 
raccoon  cap,  with  the  tail  of  the  animal  dangling  down  behind,  had 
been  thrown  aside  for  hats  of  wool  or  fur.  Boots  and  shoes  had  sup- 
plied the  deer-skin  moccasins;  and  the  leather  breeches,  strapped  tight 
around  the  ankle,  had  disappeared  before  unmentionables  of  a  more 
modern  material.  The  female  sex  had  made  still  greater  progress  in 
dress.  The  old  sort  of  cotton  or  woolen  frocks,  spun,  woven  and  made 
with  their  own  fair  hands,  and  striped  and  cross-barred  with  blue  dye 
and  turkey  red,  had  given  place  to  gowns  of  silk  and  calico.  The 
feet,  before  in  a  state  of  nudity,  now  charmed  in  shoes  of  calf-skin  or 
slippers  of  kid;  and  the  head,  formerly  unbonneted,  but  covered  with 
a  cotton  handkerchief,  now  displayed  the  charms  of  the  female  face 
under  many  forms  of  bonnets  of  straw,  silk  and  leghorn.  The  young 
ladies,  instead  of  walking  a  mile  or  two  to  church  on  Sunday,  carry- 
ing their  shoes  and  stockings  in  their  hands  until  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  the  place  of  worship,  as  formerly,  now  came  forth  arrayed 
complete  in  all  the  pride  of  dress,  mounted  on  fine  horses  and  at- 
tended by  their  male  admirers." 

The  last  half  century  has  doubtless  witnessed  changes  quite  as  great 
as  those  set  forth  by  our  Illinois  historian.  The  chronicler  of  to-day, 
looking  back  to  the  golden  days  of  1830  to  1840,  and  comparing  them 
with  the  present,  must  be  struck  with  the  tendency  of  an  almost 
monotonous  uniformity  in  dress  and  manners  that  comes  from  the 
easy  inter-communication  afforded  by  steamer,  railway,  telegraph  and 
newspaper.  Home  manufacturers  have  been  driven  from  the  house- 
hold by  the  lower-priced  fabrics  of  distant  mills.  The  Kentucky 
jeans,  and  the  copperas-colored  clothing  of  home  manufacture,  so 
familiar  a  few  years  ago,  have  given  place  to  the  cassimeres  and  cloths 
of  noted  factories.  The  ready-made-clothing  stores,  like  a  touch  of 
nature,  make  the  whole  world  kin,  and  may  drape  the  charcoal  man 
in  a  dress-coat  and  a  stove-pipe  hat.  The  prints  and  silks  of  Eng- 
land and  France  give  a  variety  of  choice,  and  an  assortment  of  colors 
and  shades  such  as  the  pioneer  women  could  hardly  have  dreamed  of. 


54  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Godey,  and  Demorest,  and  Harper's  Bazar  are  found  in  our  modern 
farm-houses,  and  the  latest  fashions  of  Paris  are  sometimes  brought 
into  queer  contrast  with  the  garments  of  the  older  mode  in  some  of 
our  more  remote  communities. ' 

PHYSICAL    FEATURES    OF    ILLINOIS. 

In  area  the  State  has  55,410  square  miles  of  territory.  It  is  about 
150  miles  wide  and  400  miles  long,  stretching  in  latitude  from  Maine 
to  North  Carolina.  The  climate  varies  from  Portland  to  Richmond. 
It  favors  every  product  of  the  continent,  including  the  tropics,  with 
less  than  half  a  dozen  exceptions.  It  produces  every  great  food 
of  the  world  except  bananas  and  rice.  It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say 
that  it  is  the  most  productive  spot  known  to  civilization.  With  the  soil 
full  of  bread  and  the  earth  full  of  minerals;  with  an  upper  surface  of 
food  and  an  under  layer  of  fuel;  with  perfect  natural  drainage,  and 
abundant  springs, and  streams,  and  navigable  rivers;  half  way  between 
the  forests  of  the  North  and  the  fruits  of  the  South;  within  a  day's 
ride  of  the  great  deposits  of  iron,  coal,  copper,  lead  and  zinc;  and  con- 
taining and  controlling  the  great  grain,  cattle,  pork  and  lumber  mar- 
kets of  the  world,  it  is  not  strange  that  Illinois  has  the  advantage 
of  position. 

There  are  no-  mountains  in  Illinois;  in  the  southern  as  well  as  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State  there  are  a  few  hills;  near  the  banks 
of  the  Illinois,  Mississippi,  and  several  other  rivers,  the  ground  is 
elevated,  forming  the  so-called  bluffs,  on  which  at  the  present  day 
may  be  found,  uneifaced  by  the  hand  of  Time,  the  marks  and  traces 
left  by  the  water  which  was  formerly  much  higher;  whence  it  may 
be  safe  to  conclude  that,  where  now  the  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois  ex- 
tend, and  the  rich  soil  of  the  country  yields  its  golden  harvests,  must 
have  been  a  vast  sheet  of  water,  the  mud  deposited  by  which  formed 
the  soil,  thus  accounting  for  the  present  great  fertility  of  the  country. 

Illinois  is  a  garden  400  miles  long  and  150  miles  wide.  Its  soil  is 
chiefly  a  black,  sandy  loam,  from  6  inches  to  GO  feet  thick.  About  the 
old  French  towns  it  has  yielded  corn  for  a  century  and  a  half  without 
rest  or  help.  She  leads  all  other  States  in  the  number  of  acres  actu- 
ally under  plow.  Her  mineral  wealth  is  scarcely  second  to  her  agri- 
cultural power.  She  has  coal,  iron,  lead,  zinc,  copper,  many  varieties 
of  building  stone,  marble,  tii'e  clay,  curna  clay,  common  brick  clay, 
sand  of  all  kinds,  gravel,  mineral  paint,— in  fact,  everything  needed 
for  a  high  civilization. 


OLD    KINZIE    HOUSE. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  57 

AGRICULTURE. 

If  any  State  of  the  Union  is  adapted  for  agriculture,  and  the  other 
branches  of  rural  economy  relating  thereto,  such  as  the  raising  of 
cattle  and  the  culture  of  fruit  trees,  it  is  pre-eminently  Illinois,  whose 
extremely  fertile  prairies  recompense  the  farmer  at  less  trouble  and 
expense  than  he  would  be  obliged  to  incur  elsewhere,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  same  results.  Her  rich  soil,  adapted  by  nature  for  imme- 
diate culture,  only  awaits  the  plow  and  the  seed  in  order  to  mature, 
within  a  few  months,  a  most  bountiful  harvest.  A  review  of  statistics 
will  be  quite  interesting  to  the  reader,  as  well  as  valuable,  as  showing 
the  enormous  quantities  of  the  various  cereals  produced  in  our  prairie 
State: 

In  1876  there  was  raised  in  the  State  130,000,000  of  bushels  ol 
corn, — twice,  as  much  as  any  other  State,  and  one-sixth  of  all  the  corn 
raised  in  the  United  States.  It  would  take  375,000  cars  to  transport 
this  vast  amount  of  corn  to  market,  which  would  make  15,000  trains 
of  25  cars  each.  She  harvested  2,747,000  tons  of  hay,  nearly  one- 
tenth  of  all  the  hay  in  the  Republic.  It  is  not  generally  appreciated, 
but  it  is  true,  that  the  hay  crop  of  the  country  is  worth  more  than  the 
cotton  crop.  The  hay  of  Illinois  equals  the  cotton  of  Louisiana.  Go 
to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  see  them  peddling  handfuls  of  hay  or  grass, 
almost  as  a  curiosity,  as  we  regard  Chinese  gods  or  the  cryolite  of 
Greenland;  drink  your  coffee  and  condensed  milk;  and  walk  back 
from  the  coast  for  jnauy  a  league  through  the  sand  and  burs  till  you 
get  up  into  the  better  atmosphere  of  the  mountains,  without  seeing  a 
waving  meadow  or  a  grazing  herd;  then  you  will  begin  to  appreciate 
the  meadows  of  the  Prairie  State. 

The  value  of  her  farm  implements  was,  in  1876,  $211,000,000,  and 
the  value  of  live  stock  was  only  second  to  New  York.  The  same  year 
she  had  25,000,000  hogs,  and  packed  2,113,845,  about  one-half  of  all 
that  were  packed  in  the  United  States.  She  marketed  $57,000,000 
worth  of  slaughtered  animals, — more  than  any  other  State,  and  a 
seventh  of  all  the  States. 

Illinois  excels  all  other  States  in  miles  of  railroads  and  in  miles  of 
postal  service,  and  in  money  orders  sold  per  annum,  and  in  the  amount 
of  lumber  sold. 

Illinois  was  only  second  in  many  important  matters,  taking  the 
reports  of  1876.  This  sample  list  comprises  a  few  of  the  more 
important':  Permanent  school  fund;  total  income  for  educational 
purposes;  number  of  publishers  of  books,  maps,  papers,  etc.;  value 
of  farm  products  and  implements,  and  of  live  stock;  in  tons  of  coal 
mined. 


58  HIST.OKY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  shipping  of  Illinois  was  only  second  to  New  York.  Out  of 
one  port  during  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navigation  she 
sent  forth  a  vessel  every  nine  minutes.  This  did  not  include  canal- 
boats,  which  went  one  every  five  minutes. 

No  wonder  she  was  only  second  in  number  of  bankers  or  in  physi- 
cians and  surgeons. 

She  was  third  in  colleges,  teacher  sand  schools;  also  in  cattle,  lead, 
hay,  flax,  sorghum  and  beeswax. 

She  was  fourth  in  population,  in  children  enrolled  in  public  school?, 
in  law  schools,  in  butter,  potatoes  and  carriages. 

She  was  fifth  in  value  of  real  and  personal  property,  in  theological 
seminaries,  and  colleges  exclusively  for  women,  in  milk  sold,  and  in 
boots  and  shoes  manufactured,  and  in  book-binding. 

She  was  only  seventh  in  the  production  of  wood,  while  she  was  the 
twelfth  in  area.  Surely  that  was  well  done  for  the  Prairie  State. 
She  then  had,  in  1876,  much  more  wood  and  growing  timber  than  she 
had  thirty  years  before. 

A  few  leading  industries  will  justify  emphasis.  She  manufactured 
$205,000,000  worth  of  goods,  which  placed  her  well  up  toward  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania.  The  number  of  her  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments increased  from  1860  to  1870,  300  per  cent.;  capital  employed 
increased  350  per  cent.;  and  the  amount  of  product  increased  400  per 
cent.  She  issued  5,500,000  copies  of  commercial  and  financial  news- 
papers, being  only  second  to  New  York.  She  had  6,759  miles  of 
railroad,  then  leading  all  other  States,  worth  $636,458,000,  using  3,245 
engines,  and  67,712  cars,  making  a  train  long  enough  to  cover  one 
tenth  of  the  entire  roads  of  the  State.  Her  stations  were  only  five 
miles  apart.  She  carried,  in  1876,  15,795,000  passengers,  an  average 
of  36£  miles,  or  equal  to  taking  her  entire  population  twice  across  the 
State.  More  than  two-thirds  of  her  land  was  within  five  miles  of  a 
railroad,  and  less  than  two  per  cent,  was  more  than  fifteen  miles  away. 

The  State  has  a  large  financial  interest  in  the  Illinois  Central  rail- 
road. The  road  was  incorporated  in  1850,  and  the  State  gave  each 
alternate  section  for  six  miles  on  each  side,  and  doubled  the  price  of 
the  remaining  land,  so  keeping  herself  good.  The  road  received 
2,595,000  acres  of  land,  and  paid  to  the  State  one-seventh  of  the  gross 
receipts.  The  State  received  in  1877,  $350,000,  and  had  received  up 
to  that  year  in  all  about  $7,000,000.  It  was  practically  the  people's 
road,  and  it  had  a  most  able  and  gentlemanly  management  Add  to 
the  above  amount  the  annual  receipts  from  the  canal,  $111,000,,  and  a 
large  per  cent,  of  the  State  tax  was  provided  \\>r. 


OLD    FORT    DEARBORN,    1830. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  61 

CHICAGO. 

While  it  is  impossible  in  this  brief  space  to  give  more  than  a 
meager  sketch  of  such  a  city  as  Chicago,  yet  we  feel  the  history  of  the 
State  would  be  incomplete  without  speaking  of  its  metropolis,  the 
most  wonderful  city  on  the  globe. 

In  comparing  Chicago,  as  it  was  a  few  years  since,  with  Chicago  of 
to-day,  we  behold  a  change  whose  veritable  existence  we  would  be 
inclined  to  doubt,  were  it  not  a  stern,  indisputable  fact.  Rapid  as  is 
the  customary  development  of  places  and  things,  in  the  United  States, 
the  growth  of  Chicago  and  her  trade  stands  without  a  parallel.  The 
city  is  situated  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Chicago  river.  It  lies  14  feet  above  the  lake,  having  been  raised 
to  that  grade  entirely  b}7  the  energy  of  its  citizens,  its  site  having 
originally  been  on  a  dead  level  with  the  water  of  the  lake. 

The  city  extends  north  and  south  along  the  lake  about,  ten  miles, 
and  westward  on  the  prairie  from  the  lake  five  or  six  miles,  embracing 
an  area  of  over  40  square  miles.  It  is  divided  by  the  river  into  three 
distinct  parts,  known  as  the  North,  West  and  South  Divisions,  or 
"  Sides,"  as  the  popular  phrase  is.  These  are  connected  by  33  bridges 
and  two  tunnels.  The  first  settlement  of  Chicago  was  made  in  1804, 
during  which  Fort  Dearborn  was  built.  At  the  close  of  1830  Chicago 

o  o 

contained  12  houses,  with  a  population  of  about  100.  The  town  was 
organized  in  1833,  and  incorporated  as  a  city  in  1837.  The  first  frame 
building  was  erected  in  1832,  and  the  first  brick  house  in  1833.  The 
first  vessel  entered  the  harbor  June  11,  1834;  and  at  the  first  official 
census,  taken  July  1,  1837,  the  entire  population  was  found  to  be 
4,170.  In  1850  the  population  had  increased  to  29,963;  in  1860,  to 
112,172;  and  in  1870,  to  298,977.  According  to  the  customary  mode 
of  reckoning  from  the  number  of  names  in  the  City  Directory,  the 
population  of  1878  is  over  500,000. 

It  has  been  often  remarked  that  the  first  white  man  who  became  a 
resident  of  Chicago  was  a  negro.  His  name  was  Jean  Baptiste  Point 
au  Sable.  lie  settled  there  in  1796  and  built  a  rude  cabin  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  main  river,  and  laid  claim  to  a  tract  of  land  sur- 
rounding it.  He  disappeared  from  the  scene,  and  his  claim  was 
"jumped"  by  a  Frenchman  named  LeMai,  who  commenced  trading 
with  the  Indians.  A  few  years  later  he  sold  out  to  John  Kinzie,  who 
was  then  an  Indian  trader  in  the  country  about  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  and 
agent  for  the  American  Fur  Company,  which  had  traded  at  Chicago 
with  the  Indians  for  some  time;  and  this  fact  had,  probably  more  than 
any  other,  to  do  with  the  determination  of  the  government  to  estab- 


62  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

lish  a  fort  there.  The  Indians  were  growing  numerous  in  that  region, 
being  attracted  by  the  facilities  for  selling  their  wares,  as  well  as  be- 
ing pressed  northward  by  the  tide  of  immigration  setting  in  from  the 
South.  It  was  judged  necessary  to  have  some  force  near  that  point 
to  keep  them  in  check,  as  well  as  to  protect  the  trading  interests.  Mr. 
Kinzie  removed  his  family  there  the  same  year  Fort  Dearborn  was 
built,  and  converted  the  Jean  Baptiste  cabin  into  a  tasteful  dwelling. 
For  about  eight  years  things  rolled  along  smoothly.  The  garrison 
was  quiet,  and  the  traders  prosperous.  Then  the  United  States  be- 
came involved  in  trouble  with  Great  Britain.  The  Indians  took  the 
war-path  long  before  the  declaration  of  hostilities  between  the  two 
civilized  nations,  committing  great  depredations,  the  most  atrocious 
of  which  was  the 

MASSACRE    AT    FORT    DEARBORN. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  between  the  United  States  and  England, 
the  greatest,  as  well  as  the  most  revolting,  massacre  of  whites  that 
ever  occurred  in  Illinois,  wTas  perpetrated  by  the  Pottawatomie  Indi- 
dians  at  Fort  Dearborn.  This  fort  was  built  by  the  Government,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Chicago  river,  in  1804,  and  was  garrisoned  by 
54  men  under  command  of  Captain  Nathan  Herald,  assisted  by  Lieu- 
tenant Helm  and  Ensign  Ronan;  Dr.  Voorhees,  surgeon.  The  only 
residents  at  the  post  at  that  time  were  the  wives  of  officers  Herald 
and  Helm,  and  a  few  of  the  soldiers,  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family,  and 
a  few  Canadians.  The  soldiers  and  Mr.  Kinzie  were  on  the  most 
friendly  terms  with  the  Pottawatomies  and  Winnebagoes,  the  princi- 
pal tribes  around  them. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1812,  arrived  the  order  from  General  Hull, 
at  Detroit,  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn,  and  distribute  all  United  States 
property  to  the  Indians.  The  Indian  chief  who  brought  the  dispatch 
advised  Captain  Herald  not  to  evacuate,  and  if  he  should  decide  to  do 
so,  that  it  be  done  immediately,  and  by  forced  marches  elude  the  con- 
centration of  the  savages  before  the  news,  of  which  they  were  yet 
ignorant,  could  be  circulated  among  them.  To  this  most  excellent 
advice  the  Captain  gave  no  heed,  but  on  the  12th  held  a  council  with 
the  Indians,  apprising  them  of  the  orders  received,  and  offering  a 
liberal  reward  for  an  escort  of  Pottawatomies  to  Fort  Wayne.  The 
Indians,  with  many  professions  of  friendship,  assented  to  all  he  pro- 
posed, and  promised  all  he  required.  The  remaining  officers  refused 
to  join  in  the  council,  for  they  had  been  informed  that  treachery  had 
been  designed, — that  the  Indians  intended  to  murder  those  in  the 
council,  and  then  destroy  those  in  the  fort.  The  portholes  were 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  63 

open,  displaying  cannons  pointing  directly  upon  the  council.     This 
action,  it  is  supposed,  prevented  a  massacre  at  that  time. 

Mr.  Kinzie,  who  knew  the  Indians  well,  begged  Captain  Herald 
not  to  confide  in  their  promises,  or  distribute  the  arms  and  muni- 
tions among  them,  for  it  would  only  put  power  in  their  hands  to 
destroy  the  whites.  This  argument,  true  and  excellent  in  itself,  was 
now  certainly  inopportune,  and  would  only  incense  the  treacherous 
foe.  But  the  Captain  resolved  to  follow  it,  and  accordingly,  on  the 
night  of  the  13th,  after  the  distribution  of  the  other  property,  the 
arms  were  broken,  and  the  barrels  of  whisky,  of  which  there  was  a 
large  quantity,  were  rolled  quietly  through  the  sally-port,  their  heads 
knocked  in  and  their  contents  emptied  into  the  river.  On  that  dark 
night  the  lurking  red-skins  had  crept  near  the  fort,  and  discovered 
the  destruction  of  the  promised  booty  going  on  within.  The  next 
morning  the  powder  was  seen  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  river,  and 
the  Indians  asserted  that  such  an  abundance  of  "  fire-water "  had 
been  destroyed  as  to  make  the  river  taste  "groggy."  Many  of  them 
drank  freely  of  this. 

On  the  14th  the  desponding  garrison  was  somewhat  cheered  by  the 
arrival  of  Captain  Wells,  wTith  15  friendly  Miarnis.  He  had  heard  at 
Fort  Wayne  of  the  order  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn,  and  knowing  the 
hostile  intentions  of  the  Indians,  had  made  a  rapid  march  through 
the  wilderness  to  protect,  if  possible,  his  niece,  Mrs.  Herald,  and  the 
officers  and  the  garrison  from  certain  destruction.  But  he  came  too 
late.  Every  means  for  its  defense  had  been  destroyed  the  night 
before,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  leaving  the  fort  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning. 

The  fatal  morning  of  the  15th  at  length  dawned  brightly  on  the 
world.  The  sun  shone  in  unclouded  splendor  upon  the  glassy  waters 
of  Lake  Michigan.  At  9  A.  M.  the  party  moved  out  of  the  southern 
gate  of  the  fort,  in  military  array.  The  band,  feeling  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  struck  up  the  Dead  March  in  Saul.  Captain  Wells, 
with  his  face  blackened  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  led  the 
advance  guard  at  the  head  of  his  friendly  Miamis;  the  garrison  with 
loaded  arms,  and  the  baggage  wagons  with  the  sick,  the  women  and 
children,  followed,  while  the  Pottawatomie  Indians,  about  500  in 
number,  who  had  pledged  their  honor  to  escort  in  safety  to  Fort 
Wayne,  brought  up  the  rear.  The  party  took  the  road  along  the  lake 
shore.  On  reaching  the  range  of  sand-hills  separating  the  beach  from 
the  prairie,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  the  Indians  defiled 
to  the  right  into  the  prairie,  bringing  the  sand-hills  between  them  and 
the  whites.  This  divergence  had  scarcely  been  effected  when  Captain 


64  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Wells,  who  had  kept  in  the  advance  with  his  Indians,  rode  furiously 
buck  and  exclaimed,  "  They  are  about  to  attack  us;  form  instantly, 
and  charge  upon  them!  "  These  words  had  scarcely  been  uttered  be- 
fore a  volley  of  balls  from  Indian  muskets  was  poured  in  upon  them. 
The  troops  were  hastily  formed  into  line,  and  charged  up  the  bank. 
One  veteran  of  70  fell  as  they  ascended.  The  Indians  were  driven 
back  to  the  prairie,  and  then  the  battle  was  waged  by  54  soldiers, 
12  civilians,  and  three  or  four  women — the  cowardly  Miamis  having 
fled  at  the  outset — against  500  Indian  warriors.  The  whites  behaved 
gallantly,  and  sold  their  lives  dearly.  They  fought  desperately  until 
two- thirds  of  their  number  were  slain;  the  remaining  27  surrendered. 
And  now  the  most  heart-rending  and  sickening  butchery  of  this 
calamitous  day  was  committed  by  a  young  savage  who  assailed  one 
of  the  baggage  wagons  containing  12  children,  every  one  of  which  fell 
beneath  his  murderous  tomahawk.  When  Captain  Wells,  who  with 
the  others  had  become  prisoner,  beheld  this  scene  at  a  distance,  he 
exclaimed  in  a  tone  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  the  savages,  "  If  this 
be  your  game,  I  can  kill,  too;"  and  turning  his  horse,  started  for  the 
place  where  the  Indians  had  left  their  squaws  and  children.  The 
Indians  hotly  pursuing,  he  avoided  their  deadly  bullets  for  a  time. 
Soon  his  horse  was  killed,  and  he  severely  wounded.  With  a  yell  the 
young  braves  rushed  to  make  him  their  prisoner  and  reserve  him  for 
torture.  But  an  enraged  warrior  stabbed  him  in  the  back,  and  he  fell 
dead.  His  heart  was  afterwards  taken  out,  cut  in  pieces  and  dis- 
tributed among  the  tribes.  Billy  Caldwell.  a  half-breed  Wyandot, 
long  well  known  in  Chicago  afterward,  buried  his  remains  the  next 
day.  Wells  street,  in  Chicago,  perpetuates  his  memory.  In  this  fear- 
ful combat  women  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  A  wife  of  one  of  the 
soldiers  who  had  frequently  heard  that  the  Indians  subjected  their 
prisoners  to  tortures  worse  than  death,  and  resolving  not  to  be  taken 
alive,  continued  fighting  until  she  was  literally  cut  to  pieces.  Mrs. 
Herald  was  an  excellent  equestrian,  and  an  expert  in  the  use  of  the 
rifle.  She  fought  bravely,  receiving  several  wounds.  Though  faint 
from  loss  of  blood,  she  managed  to  keep  in  her  saddle.  A  savage 
raised  his  tomahawk  to  kill  her,  when  she  looked  him  full  in  the  face, 
and  with  a  sweet  smile  and  in  a  gentle  voice  said,  in  his  own  language, 
'•  Surely  you  will  not  kill  a  squaw."  The  arm  of  the  savage  fell,  and 
the  life  of  this  heroic  woman  was  saved. 

Mrs.  Helm  had  an  encounter  with  a  stalwart  Indian  who  attempted 
to  tomahawk  her.  Springing  to  one  side,  she  received  the  glancing 
blow  on  her  shoulder,  and  at  the  same  time  she  seized  the  savage 
round  the  neck,  and  endeavored  to  get  his  scalping-knife  which  hung 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  65 

in  a  sheath  at  his  breast.  While  she  was  thus  struggling,  she  was 
dragged  from  his  grasp  by  another  and  an  older  Indian.  The  latter 
bore  her,  struggling  and  resisting,  to  the  lake  and  plunged  her  in. 
She  soon  perceived  it  was  not  his  intention  to  drown  her,  because  he 
held  her  in  such  a  position  as  to  keep  her  head  out  of  the  water.  She 
recognized  him  to  be  a  celebrated  chief  called  the  Black  Partridge. 
When  the  firing  ceased,  she  was  conducted  up  the  sand-bank. 

The  prisoners  were  conducted  back  to  the  Indian  camp,  when  a  new 
scene  of  horror  was  enacted.  The  wounded  not  being  included  in  the 
terms  of  surrender,  as  it  was  interpreted  by  the  Indians,  and  the 
British  general,  Proctor,  having  oifered  a  liberal  bounty  for  Ameri- 
can scalps,  nearly  all  the  wounded  were  killed  and  scalped,  and  the 
price  of  the  trophies  was  afterwards  paid  by  the  British  general. 

That  evening,  about  sundown,  a  council  of  chiefs  was  held  to  decide 
the  fate  of  the  prisoners,  and  it  was  agreed  to  deliver  them  to  the 
British  commander  at  Detroit.  After  dark,  many  warriors  from  a 
distance  came  into  camp,  who  were  thirsting  for  blood,  and  were  deter- 
mined to  murder  the  prisoners  regardless  of  the  terms  of  surrender. 
Black  Partridge,  with  a  few  of  his  friends,  surrounded  Kinzie's  house 
to  protect  the  inmates  from  the  tomahawks  of  the  bloodthirst}*  sav- 
ages. Soon  a  band  of  hostile  warriors  rushed  by  them  into  the  house, 
and  stood  with  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives,  awaiting  the  signal 
from  their  chief  when  they  would  commence  the  work  of  death.  Black 
Partridge  said  to  Mrs.  Kinzie:  "  We  have  done  everything  in  our 
power  to  save  you,  but  all  is  now  lost;  you  and  your  friends,  together 
with  all  the  prisoners  of  the  camp,  will  now  be  slain. ••  At  that  mo- 
ment a  canoe  was  heard  approaching  the  shore,  when  Black  Partridge 
ran  down  to  the  river,  trying  in  the  darkness  to  make  out  the  new 
comers,  and  at  the  same  time  shouted,  "  Who  are  you? "  In  the  bow 
of  the  approaching  canoe  stood  a  tall,  manly  personage,  with  a  rifle 
in  his  hand.  He  jumped  ashore  exclaiming,  "I  am  Sau-qu-nash." 
"Then  make  all  speed  to  the  house;  our  friends  are  in  danger,  and 
you  only  can  save  them."  It  was  Billy  Caldwell,  the  half-breed 
Wyandot.  He  hurried  forward,  entered  the  house  with  a  resolute 
step,  deliberately  removed  his  accouterments,  placed  his  rifle  behind 
the  door,  and  saluted  the  Indians:  "  How  now,  my  friends!  a  good- 
day  to  you.  I  was  told  there  were  enemies  here,  but  am  glad  to  find 
only  friends."  Diverted  by  the  coolness  of  his  manner,  they  were 
ashamed  to  avow  their  murderous  purpose,  and  simply  asked  for 
some  cotton  goods  to  wrap  their  dead,  for  burial.  And  thus,  by  his 
presence  of  mind,  Caldwell  averted  the  murder  of  the  Kinzie  family 
and  the  prisoners. 

5 


(56  HISTORY    OF   ILLINOIS. 

THE    GREAT    FIRE. 

In  1837  Chicago  became  a  city,  and  from  that  period  to  the  date  of 
the  great  fire  the  onward  march  of  the- great  city  is  well  known  to  the 
world.  We  have  no  space  to  recount  its  marvelous  growth  in  popu- 
lation, wealth,  internal  resources  and  improvements,  and  everything 
that  goes  to  make  up  a  great  and  mighty  city.  Its  progress  aston- 
ished the  world,  and  its  own  citizens  stood  almost  appalled  at  the  work 
of  their  own  hands;  and  Chicago  was  great,  prosperous,  and  happy  when 
time  brought  that  terrible  October  night,  and  with  it  the  great  tire, 
memorable  as  the  greatest  fire  ever  occurring  on  earth.  The  sensa- 
tions conveyed  to  the  spectator  of  this  unparalleled  event,  either 
through  the  eye,  the  ear,  or  other  senses  or  sympathies,  can  not  be 
adequately  described,  and  any  attempt  to  do  it  but  shows  the  poverty 
of  language.  As  a  spectacle  it  was  beyond  doubt  the  grandest  as 
well  as  the  most  appalling  ever  offered  to  mortal  eyes.  From  any 
elevated  standpoint  the  appearance  was  that  of  a  vast  ocean  of  flame," 
sweeping  in  mile-long  billows  and  breakers  over  the  doomed  city. 

Added  to  the  spectacular  elements  of  the  conflagration— the  intense 
and  lurid  light,  the  sea  of  red  and  black,  and  the  spires  and  pyramids 
of  flame  shooting  into  the  heavens — was  its  constant  and  terrible  roar, 
drowning  even  the  voices  of  the  shrieking  multitude.  And  ever  and 
anon — for  awhile  as  often  as  every  half-minute — resounded  far  and 
wide  the  rapid  detonations  of  explosions,  or  falling  walls.  In  short, 
all  sights  and  sounds  which  terrify  the  weak  and  unnerve  the  strong 
abounded.  But  they  were  only  the  accompaniment  which  the  orches- 
tra of  nature  were  furnishing  to  the  terrible  tragedy  there  being 
enacted. 

The  total  area  burned  over,  including  streets,  was  nearly  three  and 
a  third  square  miles.  The  number  of  buildings  destroyed  was  17,450; 
persons  rendered  homeless,  98,500;  persons  killed,  about  200.  'Not 
including  depreciation  of  real  estate,  or  loss  of  business,  it  is  estimated 
that  the  total  loss  occasioned  by  the  fire  was  $190,000,000,  of  which 
but  $44,000,000  was  recovered  on  insurance.  The  business  of  the 
city  was  interrupted  but  a  short  time;  and  in  a  year  after  the  fire  a 
large  part  of  the  burned  district  was  rebuilt,  and  at  present  there  is 
scarcely  a  trace  of  the  terrible  disaster,  save  in  the  improved  char- 
acter of  the  new  buildings  over  those  destroyed,  and  the  general  better 
appearance  of  the  city, — now  the  finest,  in  an  architectural  sense,  in 
the  world. 

One  of  the  features  of  this  great  city  worthy  of  mention,  is  the 
exposition,  held  annually.  The  smoldering  ruins  were  vet  smoking 


5 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS.  69 

when  the  exposition  building  was  erected,  only  ninety  days  being 
consumed  in  its  construction.  The  accompanying  engraving  of  the 
building,  the  main  part  of  which  is  1,000  feet  long,  will  give  an  idea 
of  its  magnitude. 

COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

The  trade  of  Chicago  is  co-extensive  with  the  world.  Everywhere 
the  trade-marks  of  her  merchants  are  seen.  Everywhere  Chicago 
stands  prominently  identified  with  the  commerce  of  the  continent. 
A  few  years  ago  grain  was  hauled  to  the  place  in  wagons:  now 
more  than  10,000  miles  of  railroad,  with  hundreds  of  trains  heavily 
laden  with  the  products  of  the  land,  center  there.  Enormous 
elevators,  capable  of  holding  15,000.000  bushels  of  grain,  stand  as 
monuments  of  the  vastness  of  her  grain  trade.  The  cash  value  of  the 
produce  handled  in  a  year  is  $215,000,000,  and  the  produce  weighs 
7,000,000  tons,  or  would  make  700,000  car  loads.  This  handles 
thirteen  and  one-half  tons  each  minute  during  the  entire  year. 

As  far  as  regards  the  grain,  lumber  and  stock  trade,  Chicago  has 
surpassed  all  rivals,  and  to-day,  in  each  of  those  branches,  has  no 
peer  in  the  world.  Her  manufacturing  interest  has  grown  enor- 
mously. In  1^76  her  manufactories  employed  60,000  operators.  The 
products  manufactured  in  1875  amounted  to  $177,000,000.  In  re- 
viewing the  shipping  interests  of  Chicago  we  find  it  equally  enormous. 
So  considerable,  indeed,  is  the  commercial  navy  of  Chicago,  that  in  the 
season  of  navigation  one  vessel  .sails  every  nine  minutes  during  the 
business  hours;  add  to  this  the  canal-boats  that  leave  one  every  five 
minutes  during  the  same  time,  and  you  will  see  something  of  the 
magnitude  of  her  shipping. 

In  1852  the  commerce  of  the  city  reached  the  hopeful  sum  of  $20,- 
000,000;  since  then  one  firm  has  sold  that  amount  in  one  year.  In 
18TO  it  reached  $400,000,000.  In  1871  it  went  $450,000,000,  and  in 
1877  it  touched  nearly  double  that  amount. 

In  1831  the  mail  system  was  condensed  into  a  half-breed,  who  went 
on  foot  to  Niles,  Mich.,  once  in  two  weeks,  and  brought  back  what 
papers  and  news  he  could  find.  As  late  as  1846  there  was  often  but 
one  mail  a  week.  A  postoffice  was  established  in  Chicago  in  1833, 
and  the  postmaster  nailed  up  old  boot  legs  upon  one  side  of  his  shop 
to  serve  as  boxes.  It  has  since  grown  to  a  daily  average  of  7,000 
pounds. 

In  1844  the  quagmires  in  the  streets  were  first  pontooned  by  plank 
roads.  The  wooden-block  pavement  appeared  in  1857.  In  1840 
water  was  delivered  by  peddlers  in  car.sor  by  hand.  T. 1*311,  a  twenty- 


70  HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

five  liorse  power  engine  pushed  it  through  hollow  or  bored  logs  along 
the  streets  till  1854,  when  it  was  introduced  into  the  houses  by  new 
works.  The  first  tire-engine  was  used  in  1835,  and  the  first  steam 
fire-engine  in  1859.  Gas  was  utilized  for  lighting  the  city  in  1850. 
The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in  1858. 
Street  cars  commenced  running  in  1854.  The  museum  was  opened 
in  1863.  The  alarm  telegraph  adopted  in  1864.  The  opera-house  built 
in  1865. 

One  of  the  most  thoroughly  interesting  engineering  exploits  of  the 
city  is  the  tunnels  and  water- works  system,  the  grandest  and  most 
unique  of  any  in  the  world;  and  the  closest  analysis  fails  to  detect  any 
impurities  in  the  water  furnished.  The  first  tunnel  is  five  feet  two 
inches  in  diameter  and  two  miles  long,  and  can  deliver  50,000,000 
gallons  per  day.  The  second  tunnel  is  seven  feet  in  diameter  and  six 
miles  long,  running  four  miles  under  the  city,  and  can  deliver  100,- 
000,000  gallons  per  day.  This  water  is  distributed  through  410  miles 
of  water  mains. 

Chicago  river  is  tunneled  for  the  passage  of  pedestrians  and  vehi- 
cles from  the  South  to  the  West  and  North  divisions. 

There  is  no  grand  scenery  about  Chicago  except  the  two  seas,  one 
of  water,  the  other  of  prairie.  Nevertheless,  there  is  a  spirit  about  it, 
a  push,  a  breadth,  a  power,  that  soon  makes  it  a  place  never  to  be  for- 
saken. Chicago  is  in  the  field  almost  alone,  to  handle  the  wealth  of 
one-fourth  of  the  territory  of  this  great  republic.  The  Atlantic  sea- 
coast  divides  its  margins  between  Portland,  Boston,  New  York,  Phil- 
adelphia, Baltimore  and  Savannah,  but  Chicago  has  a  dozen  empires 
casting  their  treasures  into  her  lap.  On  a  bed  of  coal  that  can  run  all 
the  machinery  of  the  world  for  500  centuries;  in  a  garden  that  can  feed 
the  race  by  the  thousand  years;  at  the  head  of  the  lakes  that  give  her 
a  temperature  as  a  summer  resort  equaled  by  no  great  city  in  the 
land;  with  a  climate  that  insures  the  health  of  her  citizens;  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  great  deposits  of  natural  wealth  in  mines  and  for- 
ests and  herds,  Chicago  is  the  wonder  of  to-day,  and  will  be  the  city 
of  the  future. 


ABSTRACTS   OF    STATE    LAWS.  73 


ABSTRACTS  OP  STATE  LAWS. 

JURISDICTION  OF  COURTS. 

Justices  have  jurisdiction  in  all  civil  cases  on  contracts  for  the 
recovery  of  moneys  for  damages  for  injury  to  real  property,  or  taking, 
detaining,  or  injuring  personal  property;  for  rent;  for  all  cases  to 
recover  damages  done  to  real  or  personal  property  by  railroad  com- 
panies, in  actions  of  replevin,  and  in  actions  for  damages  for  fraud  in 
the  sale,  purchase,  or  exchange  of  personal  property,  when  the  amount 
claimed  as  due  is  not  over  $200.  They  have  also  jurisdiction  in  all 
cases  for  violation  of  the  ordinances  of  cities,  towns  or  villages.  A 
justice  of  the  peace  may  orally  order  an  officer  or  a  private  person  to 
arrest  any  one  committing  or  attempting  to  commit  a  criminal  oifense. 
He  also,  upon  complaint,  can  issue  his  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  any 
person  accused  of  having  committed  a  crime,  and  have  him  brought 
before  him  for  examination. 

COUNTY  COURTS 

Have  jurisdiction  in  all  matters  of  probate  (except  in  counties  hav- 
ing a  population  of  one  hundred  thousand  or  over),  settlement  of 
estates  of  deceased  persons,  appointment  of  guardians  and  conserva- 
tors, and  settlements  of  their  accounts;  all  matters  relating  to  appren- 
tices; proceedings  for  the  collection  of  taxes  and  assessments;  and  in 
proceedings  of  executors,  administrators,  guardians  and  conservators 
for  the  sale  of  real  estate.  In  law  cases  they  have  concurrent  juris- 
diction with  Circuit  Courts  in  all  cases  where  justices  of  the  peace 
now  have,  or  hereafter  may  have,  jurisdiction  when  the  amount 
claimed  shall  not  exceed  $1,000;  and  in  all  criminal  offenses  where 
the  punishment  is  not  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  or  death,  and 
in  all  cases  of  appeals  from  justices  of  peace  and  police  magistrates; 
excepting  when  the  county  judge  is  sitting  as  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
Circuit  Courts  have  unlimited  jurisdiction. 

COMMISSIONERS  OF  HIGHWAYS. 

The  commissioners  of  highways  in  the  different  towns  have  the 
care  and  superintendence  of  highways  and  bridges  therein.  They 
have  the  power  to  lay  out,  vacate,  regulate  and  repair  all  roads,  build 
and  repair  bridges,  and  divide  their  respective  towns  into  as  many 
road  districts  as  they  shall  think  convenient.  This  is  to  be  done 


74  ABSTKACT8    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

annually,  and  ten  days  before  the  annual  town  meeting.  In  addition 
to  the  above,  it  is  their  duty  to  erect  and  keep  in  repairs  at  the  forks 
or  crossing-place  of  the  most  important  roads,  post  and  guide-boards 
with  plain  inscriptions,  giving  directions  and  distances  to  the  most 
noted  places  to  which  such  roads  may  lead;  also  to  make  provisions 
to  prevent  thistles,  burdock,  cockle-burs,  mustard,  yellow  dock,  In- 
dian mallow,  and  jimson  weed  from  seeding,  and  to  extirpate  the 
same  as  far  as  practicable,  and  to  prevent  all  rank  growth  of  vegeta- 
tion on  the  public  highways,  so  far  as  the  same  may  obstruct  public 
travel;  and  it  is  in  their  discretion  to  erect  watering  places  for  public 
use,  for  watering  teams  at  such  points  as  may  be  deemed  advisable. 
Every  able-bodied  male  inhabitant,  being  above  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  and  under  fifty,  excepting  paupers,  idiots,  lunatics,  trustees  of 
schools  and  school  directors,  and  such  others  as  are  exempt  by  law, 
are  required  to  labor  on  highways  in  their  respective  road  districts, 
not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  three  days  in  each  year.  Three  days' 
notice  must  be  given  by  the  overseer  of  the  time  and  place  he 
requires  such  road  labor  to  be  done.  The  labor  must  be  performed 
in  the  road  district  in  which  the  person  resides.  Any  person  may 
commute  for  such  labor  by  paying  the  equivalent  in  money.  Any 
peroon  liable  for  work  on  highways,  who  has  been  assessed  two  days 
or  more  and  has  not  commuted,  may  be  required  to  furnish  team,  or  a 
cart,  wagon  or  plow,  with  a  pair  of  horses  or  oxen  and  a  man  to  man- 
age them,  for  which  he  will  be  entitled  to  two  days'  work.  Eight 
hours  is  a  day's  work  on  the  roads,  and  there  is  a  penalty  of  twenty- 
five  cents  an  hour  against  any  person  or  substitute  who  shall  neglect 
or  refuse  to  perform.  Any  person  remaining  idle,  or  does  not  work 
faithfully,  or  hinders  others  from  doing  so,  forfeits  to  the  town  $2. 
Every  person  assessed  and  duly  notified  who  has  not  commuted,  and 
refuses  or  neglects  to  appear,  shall  forfeit  to  the  town  for  every  day's 
refusal  or  neglect  the  sum  of  $2;  if  he  was  required  to  furnish  a 
team,  carriage,  man  or  implements,  and  neglects  or  refuses  to  comply, 
he  is  liable  to  the  following  fines:  1st,  For  wholly  failing  to  comply, 
$4  each  day;  2d,  For  omitting  to  furnish  a  man  to  manage  team,  $2, 
each  day;  3d,  For  omitting  to  furnish  a  pair  of  horses  or  oxen,  $1.50 
each  day;  4th,  For  omitting  to  furnish  a  wagon,  cart  or  plow,  75  cents 
each  day.  The  commissioners  estimate  and  assess  the  highway  labor 
and  road  tax.  The  road  tax  on  real  and  personal  property  can  not 
exceed  forty  cents  on^each  hundred  dollars'  worth.  The  labor  or  road 
tax  in  villages,  towns  or  cities  is  paid  over  to  the  corporate  authorities 
of  such,  for  the  improvement  of  streets,  roads  and  bridges  within 
their  limits. 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  75 

Overseers. — Their  duties  are  to  repair  and  keep  in  order  the  high- 
ways in  their  districts;  to  warn  persons  to  work  out  their  road  tax  at 
such  time  and  place  as  they  think  proper;  to  collect  tines  and  com- 
mutation money,  and  execute  all  lawful  orders  of  the  commissioners 
of  highways;  also  make  list,  within  sixteen  days  after  their  election, 
of  the  names  of  all  inhabitants  in  his  road  district  liable  to  work  on 
highways.  For  refusal  to  perform  any  of  his  duties,  he  is  liable  to  a 
fine  of  $10. 

As  all  township  and  county  officers  are  familiar  with  their  duties,  it 
is  here  intended  only  to  give  the  points  of  law  with  which  the  public 
should  be  familiar.  The  manner  of  laying  out,  altering  or  vacating 
roads,  etc.,  will  not  be  here  stated,  as  it  would  require  more  space 
than  can  be  spared  in  a  work  like  this.  It  is  sufficient  to  state  that 
the  first  step  Is  by  petition,  addressed  to  the  commissioners,  setting 
out  what  is  prayed  for,  giving  the  names  of  the  owners  of  the  lands, 
if  known  (if  not  known,  so  state),  over  which  the  road  is  to  pass, 
giving  the  general  course,  its  place  of  beginning,  and  where  it  termin- 
ates. It  requires  not  less  than  twelve  freeholders  residing  within 
three  miles  of  the  road  who  shall  sign  the  petition.  Public  roads 
must  not  be  less  than  fifty  nor  more  than  sixty  feet  wide.  Roads  not 
exceeding  two  miles  in  length,  if  petitioned  for,  may  be  laid  out  not 
less  than  forty  feet  wide.  Private  roads  for  private  and  public  use 
may  be  laid  out  three  rods  wide,  on  petition  of  the  person  directly 
interested :  the  damage  occasioned  thereby  shall  be  paid  by  the  prem- 
ises benefited  thereby,  and  before  the  road  is  opened.  If  not  opened 
in  two  years,  the  order  shall  be  considered  rescinded.  Commissioners 
in  their  discretion  may  permit  persons  who  live  on  or  have  private 
roads,  to  work  out  their  road-tax  thereon.  Public  roads  must  be 
opened  in  five  years  from  date  of  filing  order  of  location,  or  be  deemed 
vacated. 

FENCES. 

The  town  assessor  and  commissioners  of  highways  shall  be  fence 
viewers. 

A  lawful  fence  is  four  and  one-half  feet  high,  and  in  good  repair, 
consisting  of  rails,  timbers,  boards,  stones,  hedges,  or  any  other  mate- 
rial the  fence  viewers  may  deem  sufficient.  The  electors  at  any  annual 
town  meeting  may  determine  what  shall  constitute  a  legal  fence  in 
the  town. 

Division  fences  shall  be  made  and  maintained  in  just  proportion 
by  the  adjoining  owners,  except  where  the  owner  shall  choose  to  let 
his  land  lie  open;  but  after  a  division  fence  has  been  built  by  mutual 


76  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

agreement  or  otherwise,  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  either  party  to 
remove  his  part  of  said  fence,  so  long  as  he  may  crop  or  use  such 
lands  for  farm  purposes,  or  without  giving  the  other  party  one  year's 
notice  in  writing,  of  his  intention  to  move  his  portion  of  the  fence. 
Adjoining  owners  should  endeavor,  if  possible,  mutually  to  agree  as 
to  the  proportion  that  each  shall  maintain  of  the  division  fence 
between  their  adjoining  lands;  and  the  agreement  should  be  reduced 
to  writing,  each  party  taking  a  copy.  When  any  person  shall  inclose 
his  land  upon  the  inclosure  of  another,  he  shall  refund  the  owner  of 
the  adjoining  lands  a  just  proportion  of  the  value  at  that  time  of  such 
fence.  The  value  of  such  fence,  and  the  proportion  thereof  to  be 
paid  by  suuh  person,  and  the  proportion  of  the  division  fence  to  be 
made  and  maintained  by  him,  in  case  of  his  inclosing  his  land,  shall 
be  determined  by  two  fence  viewers  of  the  town.  Such  fence  viewers 
have  power  to  settle  all  disputes  between  owners  as  to  fences  built  or 
to  be  built,  as  well  as. concerning  repairs  to  be  made.  Each  party 
chooses  one  of  the  viewers,  but  if  the  other  party  neglects,  after  eight 
days'  notice  in  writing,  to  make  his  choice,  then  the  other  party  may 
select  both.  It  is  sufficient  to  notify  the  tenant  or  party  in  possession, 
when  the  owner  is  not  a  resident  of  the  town  in  which  such  fences  are 
situated.  The  two  fence  viewers  chosen,  after  viewing  the  premises, 
shall  hear  the  statements  of  the  parties.  In  case  they  can't  agree 
they  shall  select  another  fence  viewer  to  act  with  them,  and  the  decis- 
ion of  any  two  of  them  shall  be  final.  The  decision  must  be  reduced 
to  writing,  and  should  plainly  set  out  a  description  of  fence  and  all 
matters  settled  by  them,  and  must  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  town 
clerk. 

If  any  person  who  is  liable  to  contribute  to  the  erection  or  repara- 
tion of  a  division  fence,  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  make  or  repair  his 
proportion  of  such  fence,  the  party  injured,  after  giving  sixty  days' 
notice,  in  writing,  that  a  new  fence  should  be  erected,  or  ten  days' 
notice,  in  writing,  that  the  repair  of  such  fence  is  necessary,  may 
make  or  repair  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  party  so  neglecting  or 
refusing,  to  be  recovered  from  him,  with  costs  of  suit;  and  the  party 
so  neglecting  or  refusing,  after  notice  in  writing,  shall  be  liable  to  the 
party  injured  for  all  damages  which  shall  thereby  accrue,  to  be 
determined  by  any  two  fence  viewers.  "Where  a  person  shall  conclude 
to  remove  his  part  of  a  division  fence  and  let  his  land  lie  open,  and 
having  given  the  year's  notice  required,  the  adjoining  owner  may 
cause  the  value  of  said  fence  to  be  ascertained  by  fence  viewers  as 
before  provided;  and  on  payment  or  tender  of  the  amount  of  such 
valuation  to  the  owner,  it  shall  prevent  the  removal.  A  party  remov 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  77 

ing  a  division  fence  without  notice  is  liable  for  the  damages  accruing 
thereby. 

Where  a  fence  has  been  built  on  the  land  of  another  through  mis- 
take, the  owner  may  enter  upon  such  premises  and  remove  his  fence 
and  material  within  six  months  after  the  division  line  has  been  ascer- 
tained. Where  the  material  to  build  such  a  fence  has  been  taken  from 
the  land  on  which  it  was  built,  then  before  it  can  be  removed,  the 
person  claiming  must  first  pay  for  such  material  to  the  owner  of  the 
land  from  which  it  was  taken;  nor  shall  such  a  fence  be  removed  at  a 
time  when  the  removal  will  throw  open  or  expose  the  crops  of  the 
other  party:  a  reasonable  time  must  be  given  beyond  the  six  months 
to  remove  crops. 

The  compensation  of  fence  viewers  is  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a 
day  each, to  be  paid  in  the  first  instance  by  the  party  calling  them; 
but  in  the  end  all  expenses,  including  amount  charged  by  the  fence 
viewers,  must  be  paid  equally  by  the  parties,  except  in  cases  where  a 
party  neglects  or  refuses  to  make  or  maintain  a  just  proportion  of  a 
division  fence,  when  the  party  in  default  shall  pay  them. 

EMINENT  DOMAIN 

Is  a  power  to  take  private  property  for  public  use,  which  exists  only 
in  cases  where  public  convenience  or  necessity  demands  its  exercise. 
This  right  may  be  exercised  upon  both  corporeal  property,  as  land, 
and  incorporeal,  as  franchises.  Eminent  domain  is  distinguished 
from  public  domain,  which  is  property  owned  absolutely  by  the  State 
in  the  same  manner  as  an  individual  holds  his  property. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever  one  or  more  owners  or  occupants  of  land  desire  to  con- 
struct a  drain  or  ditch  through  another  man's  land,  the  right  can  be 
had  only  under  legislative  authority,  or  is  granted  or  exists  by  pre- 
scription or  by  consent  of  the  owner. 

Dripping  water  from  one  house  upon  another  can  be  allowed  only 
where  the  owner  has  acquired  the  right  by  grant  or  prescription  ;  and 
no  one  has  a  right  to  construct  his  house  so  as  to  let  the  water  drip 
over  his  neighbor's  land. 

TRESPASS  OF   STOCK. 

Where  stock  of  any  kind  breaks  into  any  person's  inclosure,  the 
fence  being  good  and  sufficient,  the  owner  is  liable  for  the  damage 
done;  but  where  the  damage  is  done  by  stock  running  at  large  con- 
trary to  law,  the  owner  is  liable  where  there  is  not  such  a  fence. 


78  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

Where  stock  is  found  trespassing  on  the  inclosnre  of  another  as  afore- 
said, the  owner  or  occupier  of  the  premises  may  take  possession  of 
such  stock  and  keep  the  same  until  damages,  with  reasonable  charges 
for  keeping  and  feeding,  and  all  costs  of  suit,  are  paid.  Any  person 
taking  or  rescuing  such  stock  so  held  without  his  consent,  shall  be 
liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five  dollars  for 
each  anLnal  rescued,  to  be  recovered  by  suit  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  use  of  the  school  fund.  Within  twenty-four  hours 
after  taking  such  animal  into  his  possession,  the  person  taking  it  up 
must  give  notice  of  the  fact  to  the  owner,  if  known;  or  if  unknown, 
notices  must  be  posted  in  some  public  place  near  the  premises. 

ESTRAYS. 

Stray  animals  are  those  whose  owner  is  unknown,— any  beasts,  not 
wild,  found  on  one's  premises,  and  not  owned  by  the  occupant.  Any 
animals  found  straying  at  any  time  during  the  year,  in  counties  where 
such  animals  are  not  allowed  to  run  at  large,  or  between  the  last  day 
of  October  and  the  15th  day  of  April  in  other  counties,  the  owner 
being  unknown,  may  be  taken  up  as  estrays.  A  party  who  wishes  to 
detain  property  as  an  estray,  must  show  an  exact  compliance  with  the 
law.  In  order  to  vest  the  property  of  the  stray  in  him,  such  acts 
must  appear  in  detail  on  the  record. 

No  person  not  a  householder  in  the  county  where  the  estray  is 
found,  can  lawfully  take  up  an  estray,  and  then  only  upon  or  about 
his  farm  or  place  of  residence.  Estrays  should  not  be  used  before 
advertised,  except  animals  giving  milk,  which  may  be  milked  for  their 
benefit.  Notices  must  be  posted  up  within  five  days,,  in  three  of  the 
most  public  places  in  the  town  or  precinct  in  which  the  estray  was 
found,  giving  the  residence  of  the  taker-up,  and  a  particular  descrip- 
tion of  the  estray,  its  age,  color,  and  marks  natural  and  artificial,  and 
stating  before  what  justice  of  the  peace  in  such  town  or  precinct,  and 
at  what  time,  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  fifteen  days  from  the 
time  of  posting  such  notices,  he  will  apply  to  have  the  estray  ap- 
praised. If  the  owner  of  an  estray  shall  not  have  appeared  and 
proved  ownership,  and  taken  the  same  away,  first  paying  the  taker- 
up  his  reasonable  charges  for  taking  up,  keeping,  and  advertising  the 
same,  the  taker-up  shall  appear  before  the  justice  mentioned  in  above 
notice,  and  make  an  affidavit  as  required  by  law.  All  subsequent 
proceedings  are  before  the  justice  who  is  familiar-  therewith;  therefore 
we  omit  them  here. 

Any  person  taking  up  an  estray  at  any  other  place  than  about  or 
upon  his  farm  or  residence,  or  without  complying  with  the  law,  shall 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  79 

forfeit  and  pa}7  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  with  costs.  Ordinary  diligence  is 
required  in  taking  care  of  estrays,  but  in  case  the}7  die  or  get  away, 
the  taker-up  is  not  liable  for  the  same. 

If  a  man  finds  estrays  in  his  field,  he  is  not  bound  to  retain  them 
for  the  owner,  but  may  drive  them  off  into  the  highway  without  being 
liable  to  an  action.  But  a  person  who  chases  a  horse  out  of  his  field 
with  a  large,  fierce  dog,  commits  an  unlawful  act,  and  is  liable  for  any 
injury  which  the  act  occasions.  A  person  who  takes  an  estray  to  keep 
for  the  owner,  but  does  not  pursue  the  course  prescribed  by  statute, 
is  not  liable  to  an  action  unless  he  uses  the  same  or  refuses  to  deliver 
it  on  demand.  Riding  a  horse  to  discover  the  owner  is  not  "use." 

HORSES 

Are  animals  of  a  domestic  nature.  Under  the  age  of  four  years  they 
are  called  colts.  A  borrower  of  a  horse  is  liable  for  negligence,  mis- 
use, or  gross  want  of  skill  in  use.  The  lender  is  liable  in  case  the  ani- 
mal lent  is  unfit  or  dangerous,  as  he  thus  may  occasion  injury.  The 
animal  should  be  used  only  for  the  purpose  and  to  the  extent  stipu- 
lated, and  not  by  a  servant. 

If  he  dies  from  disease,  or  is  killed  by  inevitable  accident,  the  bor- 
rower is  not  liable.  Defects  which  are  manifest,  open  and  plain  to  an 
ordinary  observer,  and  those  also  which  are  known  to  the  buyer,  are 
not  usually  covered  by  a  general  warranty.  The  former  requires  no 
skill  to  discover  them,  and  the  latter  may  be  objected  to  or  acquiesced 
in  at  the  time  of  the  purchase.  In  the  case  of  latent  defects  exist- 
ing in  such  a  condition  that  they  could  not  be  detected  by  the  buyer, 
and  are  known  to  the  seller,  who  fails  to  disclose  them  to  the  buyer, 
the  latter  practices  a  constructive  fraud,  unless  the  animal  is  sold 
"  with  all  faults."  By  consenting  to  purchase  the  horse  "  with  all 
faults,"  the  purchaser  takes  upon  himself  the  risk  of  latent  or  secret 
defects,  and  calculates  the  price  accordingly.  But  even  this  kind  of  a 
purchase  would  be  voidable  if  the  seller  had  purposely,  arid  to  deceive 
the  purchaser,  covered,  filled  up,  patched,  plastered,  or  otherwise  prac- 
ticed fraud  to  conceal  any  defects,  and  he  would  be  liable. 

Hiring  out  a  horse  and  carriage  to  perform  a  particular  journey, 
carries  witli  it  the  warranty  of  the  person  letting  the  horse  and  car- 
riage, that  each  of  them  is  fit  and  competent  for  such  journey;  but, 
if  a  horse  is  hired  for  one  purpose,  and  is  used  for  another  and  is  in- 
jured the  hirer  is  liable  for  the  damage  sustained.  The  hirer  is  in 
all  cases,  answerable  for  ordinary  neglect.  If  he  uses  the  hired  horse 
as  a  prudent  man  would  his  own,  he  is  not  liable  for  any  damage 
which  the  horse  may  receive.  If,  however,  he  keeps  the  hired  horse 


80  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

after  a  stipulated  time,  or  uses  it  differently  from  his  agreement,  he 
is  in  any  event  liable.  If  the  hirer  sells  the  horse,  the  owner  may 
recover  its  value  of  the  purchaser,  though  the  purchaser  had  in  good 
faith  given  the  hirer  full  value  for  it,  as  the  hirer  could  give  no  bet- 
ter title  than  he  had  himself. 

Mischievous  animals  render  their  owners  liable  when  known  to 
them  to  be  so,  and  they  are  responsible  when  they  permit  them  to  go 
at  large,  for  the  damage  they  may  do.  Any  person  may  justify  the 
killing  of  ferocious  animals. 

MARKS  AND  BRANDS. 

Owners  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  sheep  or  goats,  may  have  one  ear- 
mark »and  one  brand,  which  shall  be  diiferent  from  his  neighbors', 
and  may  be  recorded  by  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  in  which  such 
property  is  kept.  The  fee  for  such  record  is  fifteen  cents.  The  record  of 
such  shall  be  open  to  examination  free  of  charge.  In  cases  of  disputes 
as  to  marks  or  brands,  such  record  is  prima-facie  evidence.  Owners 
of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  sheep  or  goats,  that  may  have  been  branded  by 
former  owners  may  be  re-branded  in  presence  of  one  or  more  of  his 
neighbors,  who  shall  certify  to  the  facts  of  the  marking  or  branding 
being  done,  when  done,  and  in  what  brand  or  mark  they  were  re- 
branded  or  re-marked,  which  certificate  may  also  be  recorded  as  before 
stated. 

ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT. 

An  agreement  is  virtually  a  contract  by  which  a  certain  person  (or 
persons)  agrees  or  contracts  to  perform  certain  duties  within  a  speci- 
fied time.  Good  business  men  always  reduce  an  agreement  to  writ- 
ing, which  nearly  always  saves  misunderstandings  and  a  long  and 
expensive  lawsuit.  No  particular  form  is  necessary,  but  the  facts  must 
be  closely  and  explicitly  stated;  and  there  must  be  a  reasonable  con- 
sideration, else  the  agreement  is  void. 

Unless  it  is  expressly  stipulated  that  the  agreement  is  binding  for 
a  longer  time,  the  contract  expires  at  the  end  of  one  year.  Every 
agreement  should  state  most  distinctly  the  time  within  which  its 
conditions  are  to  be  complied  with.  A  discovery  of  fraud,  or  misre- 
presentation by  one  party  to  the  agreement,  or  changing  of  the  date, 
renders  the  contract  void.  Each  party  should  retain  a  copy  of  the 


agreement. 


GENERAL  FORM  OF  AGREEMENT. 


THIS  AGREEMENT,  made  the  third  day  of  November,  1878,  between  Damon  Clarke 
of  Macomb,  county  of  McDonough,  State  of  Illinois,  of  the  first  part,  and  William 
Hays,  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part — 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

WitnesseHi,  that  the  said  Damon  Clarke,  in  consideration  of  the  agreement  of  the 
party  of  the  second  part,  hereinafter  contained,  contracts  and  agrees  to  and  with  the 
said  William  Hays,  that  he  will  deliver,  in  good  and  marketable  condition,  at  the 
cily  of  Galesburg,  111.,  during  the  month  of  December  of  this  year,  nine  hundred 
bushels  of  corn,  in  the  following  lots,  and  at  the  following  specified  times,  namely: 
one  hundred  bushels  by  the  fifth  of  December,  three  hundred  bushels  by  the  fifteenth 
of  December,  and  the  balance  by  the  thirtieth  of  December. 

And  the  said  William  Hays,  in  consideration  of  the  prompt  fulfillment  of  this 
contract  on  the  part  of  the  party  of  the  first  part,  contracts  to  and  agrees  with  the  said 
Damon  Clarke,  to  pay  for  said  corn  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  as  soon  as  delivered. 

In  case  of  failure  of  agreement  by  either  of  the  parties  hereto,  it  is  hereby  stipu- 
lated and  agreed  that  the  party  so  failing  shall  pay  to  the  other  one  hundred  dollars 
as  fixed  and  settled  damages. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  the  day  and  year  first  above 
written.  DAMON  CLARKE. 

WILLIAM  HAYS. 

DEEDS. 

A  deed  is  a  sealed  instrument  in  writing,  on  paper  or  parchment, 
conveying  lands  and  appurtenances  thereon  from  one  person  to 
another,  duly  signed,  sealed  and  delivered.  The  law  in  this  State 
provides  that  an  acknowledgment  must  be  made  before  certain  per- 
sons authorized  to  take  the  same.  These  officers  are  :  master  in 
chancery,  notary  public,  circuit  or  county  clerk,  justice  of  the  peace, 
United  States  Commissioner,  or  any  court  of  record  having  a  seal,  or 
any  judge,  justice,  or  clerk  of  any  such  court.  The  instrument  shall 
be  attested  by  the  official  seal  of  the  officer  taking  the  acknowledg- 
ment. The  deed  takes  effect  upon  its  delivery  to  the  person  author- 
ized to  receive  it. 

To  render  a  deed  valid,  there  must  be  a  sufficient  consideration. 
To  enable  a  person  to  legally  convey  property  to  another,  the  follow- 
ing requisites  are  necessary:  1st.  he  or  she  must  be  of  age  ;  2d. 
must  be  of  sane  mind;  and,  3d,  he  or  she  must  be  the  rightful  owner 
of  the  property. 

Any  alterations  or  interlineations  in  the  deed  should  be  noted  at 
the  bottom  of  the  instrument,  and  properly  witnessed.  After  the 
acknowledgment  of  a  deed,  the  parties  have  no  right  to  make  the 
slightest  alterations.  An  alteration  after  the  acknowledgment  in  favor 
of  the  grantee  vitiates  the  deed.  The  maker  of  a  deed  is  called  the 
"grantor;"  the  person  or  party  to  whom  the  deed  is  delivered,  the 
"grantee."  The  wife  of  the  grantor  must  acknowledge  the  deed,  or 
else,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  will  be  entitled  to  a  one-third 
interest  in  the  property,  as  dower,  during  her  life.  Her  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  deed  must  be  of  her  own  free  will  and  accord. 

By  a  general  warranty  deed  the  grantor  engages   to  secure  the 

grantee  in  any  right  or  possession  to  the  property  convej^ed  against 

all  persons  whatsoever.     A  quit-claim  deed  releases  what  interest  the 

grantor  mav  have  in  the  land,  but  does  not  warrant  and  defend  against 

6 


82  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

others.     We  do  not  give  any  form  for  a  deed,  as  printed  forms  are 
used  by  all.     Deeds  should  be  recorded  without  delay. 

WILLS. 

The  legal  declaration  of  a  person's  mind,  determining  the  manner 
in  which  he  would  have  his  property  or  estate  disposed  of  after  his 
death,  is  termed  a  will.  No  exact  form  of  words  is  necessary  in  order 
to  make  a  will  good  at  law,  though  much  care  should  be  exercised  to 
state  the  provisions  of  the  will  so  plainly  that  its  language  may  not 
be  misunderstood. 

Every  male  person  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  every  female 
of  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  of  sound  mind,  can  make  a  valid  will.  It 
must  be  in  writing,  signed  by  the  testator,  or  by  some  one  in  his  or 
her  presence  and  by  his  or  her  direction,  and  attested  by  two  or  more 
credible  witnesses.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the  witnesses  are  not 
interested  in  the  will. 

The  person  making  a  will  may  appoint  his  or  her  executors;  but 
no  person  can  serve  as  such  executor  if  he  or  she  be  an  alien  at  the 
time  of  proving  the  will,  if  he  be  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  a 
convict,  a  drunkard,  a  lunatic,  or  an  imbecile. 

Persons  knowing  themselves  to  have  been  appointed  executors, 
must,  within  thirty  days  after  the  death  of  deceased,  cause  the  will  to 
be  proved  and  recorded  in  the  proper  county,  or  present  it  and  refuse 
to  accept.  In  case  of  failure  to  do  so,  they  are  liable  to  forfeit  the 
sum  of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  Inventory  to  be  made  by  executor 
or  administrator  within  three  months  from  date  of  letters  testament- 
ary or  administration. 

The  person  making  a  will  is  termed  the  "  testator"  (if  a  female,  the 
"testatrix"). 

A.  will  is  of  no  force  and  effect  until  the  death  of  the  testator,  and 
can  be  canceled  or  modified  at  any  date  by  the  maker.  The  last  will 
made  annuls  the  force  of  all  preceding  wills. 

A  will  made  by  an  unmarried  woman  is  legally  revoked  by  mar- 
riage; but  she  can  take  such  legal  steps  in  the  settlement  of  her 
property  before  marriage  as  will  empower  her  to  dispose  of  the  same 
as  she  may  choose  after  marriage.  No  husband  can  make  a  will  that 
will  deprive  the  wife  of  her  right  of  dower  in  the  property;  but  the 
husband  can  will  the  wife  a  certain  amount  in  lieu  of  her  dower,  stat- 
ing it  to  be  in  lieu  thereof.  Such  bequest,  however,  will  not  exclude 
her  from  her  dower,  provided  she  prefers  it  to  the  bequest  made  in 
the  will.  Unless  the  husband  states  distinctly  that  the  bequest  is  in 
lieu  of  dower,  she  is  entitled  to  both. 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  83 

In  case  a  married  woman  possesses  property  and  dies  without  a  will, 
her  husband  is  entitled  to  administer  upon  such  property  in  preference 
to  any  one  else,  provided  he  be  of  sound  mind. 

Notice  requiring  all  claims  to  be  presented  against  the  estate  shall 
be  given  by  the  administrator  within  six  months  after  being  qualified. 
Any  person  having  a  claim  and  not  presenting  it  at  the  time  fixed  by 
said  notice,  is  required  to  have  summons  issued  notifying  the  execu- 
tor of  having  filed  his  claim  in  court.  Claims  should  be  filed  within 
two  years  from  the  time  administration  is  granted  on  an  estate,  as 
after  that  time  they  are  forever  barred,  unless  other  estate  be  found 
that  was  not  inventoried.  Married  women,  infants,  persons  insane, 
imprisoned,  or  without  the  United  States,  in  the  employment  of  the 
United  States,  or  of  this  State,  have  two  years  after  their  disabilities 
are  removed  to  file  claims.  Claims  are  classified  and  paid  out  of  the 
estate  in  the  following  manner: 

1st.     Funeral  expenses. 

2d.  The  widow's  award,  if  there  is  a  widow;  or  children,  if  there 
are  children  and  no  widow. 

3d.  Expenses  attending  the  last  illness,  not  including  the  phvsi- 
cian's  bill. 

4th.     Debts  due  the  common  school  or  township  fund. 

5th.  All  expenses  of  proving  the  will  and  taking  out  letters  test- 
amentary or  of  administration,  and  settlement  of  the  estate,  and  the 
physician's  bill  in  the  last  illness  of  the  deceased. 

6th.  Where  the  deceased  has  received  money  in  trust  for  any 
purpose,  his  executor  or  administrator  shall  pay  out  of  his  estate  the 
amount  received  and  not  accounted  for. 

7th.  All  other  debts  and  demands  of  whatsoever  kind,  without 
regard  to  quality  or  dignity,  which  shall  be  exhibited  to  the  court 
within  two  years  from  the  granting  of  letters. 

Award  to  the  widow  and  children,  exclusive  of  debts  and  legacies 
or  bequests,  except  funeral  expenses : 

1st.  The  family  pictures  and  wearing  apparel,  jewels  and  orna- 
ments of  herself  and  minor  children. 

2d.     School  books  and  the  family  library  to  the  value  of  $100. 

3d.     One  sewing-machine. 

4th.     Necessary  beds,  bedsteads  and  bedding  for  herself  and  family. 

5th.  The  stoves  and  pipe  used  in  the  family,  with  the  necessary 
cooking  utensils;  or  in  case  they  have  none,  $50  in  money. 

6th.     Household  and  kitchen  furniture  to  the  value  of  $100. 

7th.     One  milch  cow  and  calf  for  every  four  members  of  her  family. 


84:  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

8th.  Two  sheep  for  each  member  of  her  family,  and  the  fleeces 
taken  from  the  same,  and  one  horse,  saddle  and  bridle. 

9th.     Provisions  for  herself  and  family  lor  one  year. 

10th.     Food  for  the  stock  above  specified  for  six  months. 

llth.     Fuel  for  herself  and  femily  for  three  months. 

12th.  One  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  other  property  suited  to  her 
condition  in  life,  to  be  selected  by  the  widow. 

The  widow,  if  she  elects,  may  have  in  lieu  of  the  said  award,  the 
same  personal  property  or  money  in  place  thereof  as  is  or  may  be  ex- 
empt from  execution  or  attachment  against  the  head  of  a  family. 

ADOPTION  OF  CHILDREN. 

Children  may  be  adopted  by  any  resident  of  this  State,  by  filing  a 
petition  in  the  circuit  or  county  court  of  the  county  in  which  he 
resides,  asking  leave  to  do  so;  and  if  desired,  may  ask  that  the  name 
of  the  child  be  changed.  Such  petition,  if  made  by  a  person  having 
a  husband  or  wife,  wrill  nut  be  granted  unless  the  husband  or  wife 
joins  therein,  as  the  adoption  must  be  by  them  jointly.  The  petition 
shall  state  name,  sex,  and  age  of  child,  and  the  new  name,  if  it  is 
desired  to  change  the  name;  also,  the  name  and  residence  of  the  pa- 
rents of  the  child,  ir  known,  and  of  the  guardian,  if  a'iy,  and  whether 
the  parents  or  guardians  consent  to  the  adoption. 

The  court  must  find,  before  granting  decree,  that  the  parents  of  the 
child,  or  the  survivors  of  them,  have  deserted  his  or  her  family  or 
such  child  for  one  year  next  preceding  the  application ;  or  if  neither  is 
living,  that  the  guardian  (if  no  guardian,  the  next  of  kin  in  this  State 
capable  of  giving  consent)  has  had  notice  of  the  presentation  of  the 
petition,  and  consents  to  such  adoption.  If  the  child  is  of  the  age  of 
fourteen  or  upwards,  the  adoption  can  not  be  made  without  its  con- 
sent. 

NOTES. 

A  note  is  legal,  worded  in  the  simplest  way,  so  that  the  amount  and  time 
of  payment  are  mentioned.  The  following  is  a  good  form: 


CHICAGO,  ILL..  Oct.  15,  1878. 
Thirty  days  from  date  I  promise  to  pay  to  F.  M.  Chapman,  or  order  one  hundred 
dollars,  for  value  received.  8.  T.  LEWIS. 

To  make  a  note  payable  in  any  thing  else  than  money,  insert  the  facts  instead 
of  the  sum  of  money  alone.  Unless  paid  when  due,  it  is  payable  in  money. 
No  defense  can  be  made  against  a  negotiable  instrument  (assigned  before  due) 
in  the  hands  of  the  assignee,  without  notice,  except  fraud  was  used  in  obtain- 
ing the  same.  To  hold  an  indorser,  due  diligence  must  be  used  by  suit,  in  col- 
lecting of  the  maker,  unless  suit  would  have  been  unavailing.  Notes  payable 
to  person  named  or  to  order,  in  order  to  absolutely  transfer  title,  must  be  in- 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  85 

dorsed  by  the  payer.  Notes  payable  to  bearer  may  be  transferred  by  delivery, 
and  when  so  payable,  every  indorser  thereon  is  held  as  a  guarantor  of  payment, 
unless  otherwise  expressed. 

The  limit  of  time  in  which  action  may  be  brought  on  a  note  is  10  years. 

The  following  is  a  form  of 

JUDGMENT    NOTE. 

For  value  received,  I  promise  to  pay  to  Andrew  Sherman,  of  Chicago,  or  order, 
two  hundred  dollars,  with  interest,  on  ihe  first  day  of  January  next.  And  further,  I 
do  hereby  empower  any  attorney  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  of  Cook  county,  or 
of  any  Court  of  Record  in  Illinois,  or  elsewhere,  to  appear  for  me,  and  after  a  declara- 
tion filed  therefor,  to  confess  a  judgment  against  me  in  the  above  sum,  as  of  last, 
next,  or  any  other  subsequent  term,  with  cost  of  suits,  release  of  errors,  etc.,  with  stay 
of  execution  until  said  first  clay  of  January  next. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal  at  Chicago,  111.,  this  first  day  of  October,  in  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-eight.  A.  L.  STOVER. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  [SEAL.] 

EKASTUS  CHILD. 
S.  B.  NELSON. 

A  note  is  void  when  founded  upon  fraud.  Thus  a  note  obtained  from  a  per- 
son when  intoxicated,  or  obtained  for  any  reason  which  is  illegal,  cannot  be 
collected.  A  note  given  upon  Sunday  is  also  void. 

If  the  note  is  payable  to  a  person  or  order,  or  to  a  person  or  bearer,  to  a 
person  or  his  assigns,  or  to  the  cashier  of  an  incorporated  company,  such 
notes  are  negotiable. 

When  transferring  a  note,  the  indorser  frees  himself  from  responsibility,  so 
far  as  the  payment  is  concerned,  by  writing  on  the  back,  above  his  name,  with- 
out recourse  to  me  in  any  event. 

INTEREST. 

Interest  is  the  compensation  which  is  paid  by  the  borrower  of 
money  to  the  lender  for  its  use.  "When  the  debtor  expressly  under- 
takes to  pay  interest,  he  is  bound  to  pay  it;  but  if  a  party  has  ac- 
cepted the  principal,  he  cannot  recover  interest  in  a  separate  action. 
During  the  course  of  dealings  between  parties,  a  promise  to  pay  is 
implied,  and  the  debtor  is  bound  to  pay.  So  also  on  an  account  stated, 
whenever  the  debtor  knows  precisely  what  he  is  to  pay  and  when  he 
is  to  pay  it,  after  a  demand  of  payment;  but  interest  is  not  due  on  a 
running  account,  even,  when  the  items  are  all  on  one  side,  unless  other- 
wise agreed  upon.  Where  the  terms  of  a  promissory  note  are  that  it 
shall  be  paid  by  installments,  and  on  the  failure  of  any  installment, 
the  whole  is  to  become  due,  interest  on  the  whole  becomes  payable 
from  the  first  default.  "Where,  by  the  term  of  a  bond  or  promissory 
note,  interest  is  to  be  paid  annually,  and  the  principal  at  a  distant 
day,  the  interest  may  be  recovered  before  the  principal  is  due. 

Interest  is  collectible  in  the  following  cases:  For  goods  sold  and 
delivered  after  the  stipulated  term  of  credit  has  expired;  if  there  be 


86  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

no  credit,  then  from  the  time  of  sale;  on  judgment  debts,  from  the 
rendition  of  judgment;  on  money  obtained  by  fraud,  or  where  it  has 
been  wrongfully  detained  (for  whoever  receives  money  not  his  own, 
and  detains  it  from  the  owner  unlawfully,  must  pay  interest  therefor: 
hence  a  public  officer  retaining  money  wrongfully  is  liable  for  the  in- 
terest); on  money  paid  by  mistake,  or  recovered  on  avoid  execution; 
on  money  lent  or  laid  out  for  another's  use;  and  rent,  from  the  time 
that  it  is  due. 

When  the  rate  of  interest  is  specified  in  any  contract,  that  rate  con- 
tinues until  full  payment  is  made.  A  debt  barred  by  the  statute  of 
limitations  and  revived  by  an  acknowledgment  bears  interest  for  the 
whole  time. 

Computing  Interest. — In  casting  interest  on  notes,  bonds,  etc.,  upon 
which  partial  payments  have  been  made,  every  payment  is  to  be  first 
applied  to  discharge  the  interest;  but  the  interest  is  never  allowed  to 
form  a  part  of  the  principal,  so  as  to  carry  interest.  When  a  partial 
payment  is  made  before  the  debt  is  due,  it  cannoc  be  apportioned  part 
to  the  debt  and  part  to  the  interest,  but  at  the  end  interest  shall  be 
charged  on  the  whole  sum,  and  the  obligor  shall  receive  credit  for  the 
interest  on  the  amount  paid  until  the  interest  becomes  due. 

The  legal  rate  of  interest  is  six  per  cent.  Parties  may  agree  in 
writing  on  a  rate  not  exceeding  ten  per  cent.  If  a  rate  of  interest 
greater  than  ten  per  cent,  is  contracted  for,  the  penalty  is  a  forfeiture 
of  the  entire  interest,  and  only  the  principal  can  be  recovered. 

In  computing  interest  or  discount  on  negotiable  instruments,  a 
month  shall  be  considered  a  calendar  month  or  twelfth  of  a  year,  and 
for  less  than  a  month,  a  day  shall  be  figured  a  thirtieth  part  of  a 
month.  Notes  bear  interest  only  when  so  expressed ;  but  after  due 
they  draw  the  legal  interest,  six  per  cent.,  even  if  not  stated. 

Notes  payable  on  demand  or  at  sight  draw  no  interest  until  after 
presentation  or  demand  of  the  same  has  been  made,  unless  they  pro- 
vide for  interest  from  date  on  their  face.  If  "  with  interest "  is  in- 
cluded in  the  note,  it  draws  the  legal  rate  from  the  time  it  is  made. 
If  the  note  is  to  draw  a  special  rate  of  interest,  higher  than  the  legal, 
but  not  higher  than  the  law  allows,  the  rate  must  be  specified. 

DAYS    OF    GKACE. 

No  check,  draft,  bill  of  exchange,  promissory  note,  order,  or  nego- 
tiable instrument,  payable  at  sight  or  on  demand,  or  on  presentment, 
shall  be  entitled  to  days  of  grace.  All  other  bills  of  exchange,  drafts 
or  notes  are  entitled  to  three  days  of  grace.  All  the  above  mentioned 
paper  falling  due  on  Sunday,  New  Year's  Day,  the  Fourth  of  July, 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  87 

Christmas,  or  any  day  appointed  or  recommended  by  the  President  ot 
the  United  States  or  the  Governor  of  the  State  as  a  day  of  fasting  or 
thanksgiving,  shall  be  deemed  as  due  on  the  day  previous;  and  should 
two  or  more  of  these  days  come  together,  then  such  instrument  shall 
be  treated  as  due  on  the  day  previous  to  the  first  of  said  days. 

LIMITATION    OF    ACTION. 

The  limit  of  time  in  which  action  may  be  brought  on  certain  things 
is  as  follows:  Open  accounts,  five  years;  notes  and  written  contracts, 
ten  years;  judgments,  twenty  years;  partial  payments  or  new  promise 
in  writing,  within  or  after  said  period,  will  revive  the  debt;  absence 
from  the  State  deducted,  and  when  the  cause  of  action  is  barred  by 
the  law  of  another  State,  it  has  the  same  effect  here;  assault,  slander, 
libel,  replevin,  one  year;  personal  injuries,  two  years;  to  recover 
land  or  make  entry  thereon,  twenty  years;  and  sealed  and  witnessed 
instruments,  as  action  to  foreclose  mortgage  or  trust  deed,  within  ten 
years.  All  persons  in  possession  of  land,  and  paying  taxes  for  seven 
consecutive  years,  with  color  of  title,  and  all  persons  paying  taxes  for 
seven  consecutive  years,  with  color  of  title,  on  vacant  land,  shall  be 
held  to  be  the  legal  owners  to  the  extent  of  their  paper  title.  > 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts  should  always  state  when  received  and  what  for;  and  if 
receipt  is  in  full  it  should  be  so  stated.  We  give  two  forms: 

FOR  MONEY  ON  ACCOUNT. 

Received,  Knoxville,  111.,  Nov.  10,  1878,  of  J.  C.  Cover,  sixty  dollars,  on  account. 
$60.  J.  H.  FRANKLIN. 

FOB  MONEY  ADVANCED  ON  A  CONTRACT. 

f  100.  GALESBURG,  ILL.,  June  9,  1868. 

Received  of  Fernando  Ross,  one  hundred  dollars,  in  advance,  on  contract  to  build 
for  him  a  brick  house  at  No  76,  Kellogg  street.  DAVID  ANDERSON. 

EXEMPTIONS  FROM  FORCED  SALE. 

The  following  personal  property  and  home  worth  $1,000, — Lqt 
of  ground  and  buildings  thereon,  occupied  as  a  residence  by  the 
debtor,  being  a  householder  and  having  a  family,  to  the  value  of 
$1,000.  Exemption  continues  after  the  death  of  the  householder  for 
the  benefit  of  widow  and  family,  some  one  of  them  occupying  the 
homestead  until  the  youngest  shall  become  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  until  the  death  of  the  widow.  There  is  no  exemption  from  sale 
for  taxes,  assessments,  debt  or  liability  incurred  for  the  purchase  or 
improvement  of  said  homestead.  No  release  or  waiver  of  exemption 
is  valid  unless  in  writing  and  subscribed  by  such  householder  and 


88  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

wife  (if  lie  has  one),  and  acknowledged  as  conveyances  of  real  estate 
are  required  to  be  acknowledged. 

The  following  articles  of  personal  property  owned  by  the  debtor 
are  exempt  from  execution,  writ  of  attachment,  and  distress  for  rent: 
The  necessary  wearing  apparel,  Bibles,  school-books  and  family  pic- 
tures of  every  person;  and  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  other  prop- 
erty, to  be  selected  by  the  debtor,  and  in  addition,  when  the  debtor- 
is  the  head  of  a  family  and  resides  with  the  same,  three  hundred  dol- 
lars' worth  of  other  property  to  be  selected  by  tho  debtor, — provided 
that  such  selection  and  exemption  shall  not  be  made  by  the  debtor  or 
allowed  to  him  or  her  from  any  money,  salary  or  wages  due  him  or 
her  from  any  person  or  persons  or  corporations  whatever.  When  the 
the  head  of  a  family  dies,  deserts,  or  does  not  reside  with  the  same, 
the  family  shall  be  entitled  to  and  receive  all  the  benefit  and  privilege 
which  are  by  this  act  conferred  upon  the  head  of  a  family  residing 
with  the  same.  No  personal  property  is  exempt  from  execution  when 
judgment  is  obtained  for  the  wages  of  laborers  or  servants.  "Wages 
of  a  laborer  who  is  the  head  of  a  family  cannot  be  garnisheed  except 
for  the  sum  due  him  in  excess  of  £25. 

LANDLORDS  AND  TENANTS. 

The  principal  obligation  on  the  part  of  the  landlord,  which  is  in 
fact  always  to  be  implied  as  a  necessary  condition  to  his  receiving 
any  rent,  is,  that  the  tenant  shall  enjoy  the  quiet  possession  of  the 
premises, — which  means,  substantially,  that  he  shall  not  be  turned 
out  of  possession  of  the  whole  or  any  material  part  of  the  premises 
by  any  one  having  a  title  paramount  to  that  of  the  landlord,  of  that 
the  landlord  shall  not  himself  disturb  or  render  his  occupation  un- 
comfortable by  the  erection  of  a  nuisance  on  or  near  the  premises,  or 
otherwise  oblige  him  to  quit  possession.  But  if  he  be  ousted  by  a 
stranger, — that  is,  by  one  having  no  title, — or  after  the  rent  has  fallen 
due,  or  if  the  molestation  proceeds  from  acts  of  a  third  person,  the 
landlord  is  in  neither  case  responsible  for  it.  Another  obligation 
which  the  law  imposes  on  the  landlord,  in  the  absence  of  any  express 
stipulation  in  the  lease,  is  the  payment  of  all  taxes  chargeable  upon 
the  property,  or  any  ground  rents  or  interest  upon  mortgages  to 
which  it  may  be  subject.  Every  landlord  is  bound  to  protect  his  ten- 
ant against  all  paramount  claims.  And  if  a  tenant  is  compelled,  in  order 
to  protect  himself  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  land  in  respect  of  which 
his  rent  is  payable,  to  make  payment  which  ought,  as  between  him- 
self and  his  landlord,  to  have  been  made  by  the  latter,  he  may  call 
upon  the  landlord  to  reimburse  him,  or  he  may  deduct  such  payment 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  89 

from  the  rent  due  or  to  become  due.  But  the  landlord  is  under  no 
obligation  to  make  repairs,  or  to  rebuild  in  case  the  premises  should 
be  burned;  nor  does  he  guaranty  that  they  are  reasonably  fit  for  the 
purpose  for  which  they  were  taken.  And  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  a 
tenant  to  make  repairs  at  the  expense  of  his  landlord,  unless  there  be 
a  special  agreement  between  them  authorizing  him  to  do  so;  for  the 
tenant  takes  the  premises  for  better  or  worse,  and  cannot  involve  the 
landlord  in  expense  for  repairs  without  his  consent.  Even  if  the 
premises  have  become  uninhabitable  by  fire,  and  the  landlord,  having 
insured  them,  has  recovered  the  insurance  money,  the  tenant  cannot 
compel  him  to  expend  the  money  so  recovered  in  rebuilding,  unless 
he  has  expressly  engaged  to  do  so;  nor  can  he  in  such  an  event  pro- 
tect himself  from  the  payment  of  rent  during  the  unexpired  balance 
of  the  term,  unless  exempted  therefrom  by  statute  or  the  terms  of 
the  lease.  The  uninhabitableness  of  a  house  is  not  a  good  defense  to 
an  action  for  rent.  If  the  landlord  expressly  covenanted  1o  repair, 
the  tenant  cannot  quit  and  discharge  himself  of  rent  because  the  re- 
pairs are  not  made,  unless  there  is  a  provision  to  that  effect;  and  if  a 
landlord  is  bound  by  custom  or  by  express  agreement  to  repair,  this 
obligation,  and  the  obligation  of  the  tenant  to  pay  rent,  are  inde- 
pendent of  each  other,  so  that  the  refusal  or  neglect  of  the  landlord 
to  repair  is  no  answer  to  a  demand  for  rent.  The  tenant  is  answer 
able  for  any  neglect  to  repair  highways,  fences,  or  party  walls,  it  being 
generally  sufficient,  except  where  a  statute  otherwise  provides,  to 
charge  a  man  with  such  repairs  by  the  name  of  "occupant."  He  is 
also  liable  for  all  injuries  produced  by  the  mismanagement  of  his  ser- 
vants, or  by  a  nuisance  kept  upon  the  premises,  or  by  an  obstruction 
of  the  highways  adjacent  to  them,  or  the  like;  for  as  a  general  rule, 
where  a  man  is  in  possession  of  property,  he  must  so  manage  it  that 
other  persons  shall  not  be  injured  thereby.  One  of  the  principal 
obligations  which  the  law  imposes  upon  every  tenant,  independent  ot 
any  agreement,  is  to  treat  the  premises  in  such  a  manner  that  no  sub- 
stantial injury  shall  be  done  to  them,  and  so  that  they  may  revert  to 
the  landlord^at  the  end  of  the  term  unimpaired  by  any  willful  or  neg- 
ligent conduct  on  h'is  part. 

CRIMINAL  LAW 

Is  that  branch  of  jurisprudence  which  treats  of  criminal  offenses. 
The  extreme  importance  of  a  knowledge  of  criminal  law  is  self-evi- 
dent; for  a  mistake  in  point  of  law,  which  every  person  of  discretion 
not  only  may  know,  but  is  bound  and  presumed  to  know,  is  in  crimi- 
nal cases  no  defense.  This  law  is  administered  upon  the  principle 


90  ABSTRACTS   OF    STATE    LAWS. 

that  every  one  must  be  taken  conclusively  to  know  it,  without  proof 
that  he  does  know  it.  This  doctrine  has  been  carried  so  far  as  to  in- 
clude the  case  of  a  foreigner  charged  with  a  crime  which  was  no 
offense  in  his  own  country.  And  further,  the  criminal  law,  whether 
common  or  statute,  is  imperative  with  reference  to  the  conduct  of  in- 
dividuals; so  that,  if  a  statute  forbids  or  commands  a  thing  to  be 
done,  ail  acts  or  omissions  contrary  to  the  prohibition  or  command 
of  the  statute  are  offenses  at  common  law,  and  ordinarily  indictable 
as  such.  "When  a  statute  punishes  a  crime  by  its  legal  designation 
without  enumerating  the  acts  which  constitute  it,  then  it  is  necessary 
to  resort  to  the  common  law  for  a  definition  of  the  crime  with  its 
distinctions  and  qualifications.  So,  if  an  act  is  made  criminal,  but  no 
mode  of  prosecution  is  directed  or  no  punishment  provided,  the  com- 
mon law  (in  the  absence  of  a  statute  to  the  contrary)  furnishes  its 
aid,  prescribing  the  mode  of  prosecution  by  indictment,  and  its  mode 
of  punishment  by  fine  and  imprisonment.  So  far,  therefore,  as  the 
rules  and  principles  of  common  law  are  applicable  to  the  administra- 
tion of  the  criminal  law,  and  have  not  been  altered  or  modified  by 
legislation  or  judicial  decisions,  they  have  the  same  force  and  effect 
as  laws  finally  enacted  * 

The  following  are  some  of  the  leading  principles  of  the  criminal 
law: 

1.  Every  man  is  presumed  to  be  innocent  till  the  contrary  is  shown; 
and  if  there  is  any  reasonable  doubt  of  his  guilt,  he  is  entitled  to  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt. 

2.  In  general,  no  person  can   be  brought  to  trial  till  a  grand  jury 
on  examination  of  the  charge  has  found  reason  to  hold  him  to  trial. 

3.  The  prisoner  is  entitled  to  trial   by  a  jury  of  his  peers,  who  are 
chosen  from  the  body  of  the  people  with  a  view  to  impartiality,  and 
whose  decision  on  questions  of  fact  is  final. 

4.  The  question  of  his  guilt  is  to  be  determined  without  reference 
to  his  general  character,  previous  history,  or  habits  of  life. 

5.  The  prisoner  cannot  be  required  to  criminate  himself,  nor  be 
compelled  even  to  exculpate  himself  by  giving  his  own  testimony  on 
trial. 

6.  He  cannot  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same  offense. 

7.  He  cannot  be  punished  for  an  act  which  was  not  an  offense  by 
the  law  existing  at  the  time  of  its  commission;  nor  can  a  severer 
punishment  be  inflicted  than  was  declared  by  law  at  the  time  of  its 
commission. 

MILLERS. 

The  owner  or  occupant  of  every  public  grist-mill  in  this  State 
shall  grind  all  grain  brought  to  his  mill  in  its  turn.     The  toll  for 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  91 

both  steam  and  water  mills,  is,  for  grinding  and  bolting  wheat,  rye, 
or  other  grain,  one-eighth  part;  for  grinding  Indian  corn,  oats,  barley, 
and  buckwheat  not  required  to  be  bolted,  one-seventh  part;  for  grind- 
ing malt,  and  chopping  all  kinds  of  grain,  one-eighth  part.  It  is  the 
duty  of  every  miller,  when  his  mill  is  in  repair,  to  aid  and  assist  in 
loading  and  unloading  all  grain  brought  to  his  mill  to  be  ground;  and 
he  is  also  required  to  keep  an  accurate  half-bushel  measure,  and  an 
accurate  set  of  toll  dishes  or  scales  for  weighing  the  grain.  The  pen- 
alty for  neglect  or  refusal  to  comply  with  the  law  is  $5,  to  the  use  of 
any  person  suing  for  the  same,  to  be  recovered  before  any  justice  of 
the  peace  of  the  county  where  the  penalty  is  incurred.  Millers  are  ac- 
countable (except  it  results  from  unavoidable  accidents)  for  the  safe- 
keeping of  all  grain  left  in  their  mill  for  the  purpose  of  being  ground, 
with  .bags  or  casks  containing  same,  provided  that  such  bags  or  casks 
are  distinctly  marked  with  the  initial  letters  of  the  owner's  name. 

PAUPERS. 

Every  poor  person  who  shall  be  unable  to  earn  a  livelihood  in  con- 
sequence of  any  bodily  infirmity,  idiocy,  lunacy  or  unavoidable  cause, 
shall  be  supported  by  the  father,  grandfathers,  mother,  grand- 
mothers, children,  grandchildren,  brothers  or  sisters,  of  such  poor 
person,  if  they  or  either  of  them  be  of  sufficient  ability;  but  if  any 
of  such  dependent  class  shall  have  become  so  from  intemperance,  or 
other  bad  conduct,  they  shall  not  be  entitled  to  support  from  any  re- 
lation except  parent  or  child.  The  children  shall  first  be  called  on  to 
support  their  parents,  if  they  are  able;  but  if  not,  the  parents  of  such 
poor  person  shall  then  be  called  on,  if  of  sufficient  ability;  and  if 
there  be  no  parents  or  children  able,  then  the  brothers  and  sisters  of 
such  dependent  person  shall  be  called  upon;  and  if  there  be  no 
brothers  or  sisters  of  sufficient  ability,  the  grandchildren  of  such  per- 
son shall  next  be  called  on;  and  if  they  are  not  able,  then  the  grand- 
parents. Married  females,  while  their  husbands  live,  shall  not  be 
liable  to  contribute  for  the  support  of  their  poor  relations  except  out 
of  their  separate  property.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  State's  attorney  to 
make  complaint  to  the  County  Court  of  his  county  against  all  the 
relatives  of  such  paupers  in  this  State  liable  to  support,  and  prosecute 
the  same.  In  case  the  State's  attorney  neglects  or  refuses  to  com- 
plain in  such  cases,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  the  overseer  of  the  poor  to 
do  so.  The  person  called  upon  to  contribute  shall  have  at  least  ten 
days'  notice  of  such  application,  by  summons.  The  court  has  the 
power  to  determine  the  kind  of  support,  depending  upon  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  parties,  and  may  also  order  two  or  more  of  the 
different  degrees  to  maintain  such  poor  person,  and  prescribe  the  pro- 


92  ABSTRACTS  OF    STATE    LAWS. 

portion  of  each,  according  to  his  or  her  ability.  The  court  may  specify 
the  time  for  which  the  relatives  shall  contribute:  in  fact  it  has  con- 
trol over  the  entire  subject  matter,  with  power  to  enforce  its  order. 

Every  county  is  required  to  relieve  and  support  all  poor  and  in- 
digent persons  lawfully  resident  therein.  "Residence"  means  the 
actual  residence  of  the  party,  or  the  place  where  he  was  employed; 
or  in  case  he  was  in  no  employment,  then  it  shall  be  the  place  where 
he  made  his  home.  When  any  person  becomes  chargeable  as  a 
pauper  who  did  not  reside  in  the  county  at  the  commencement  of  six 
months  immediately  preceding  his  becoming  so,  but  did  at  the  time 
reside  elsewhere  in  this  State,  then  the  county  becomes  liable  for  the 
expense  of  taking  care  of  such  person  until  removed;  and  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  overseer  to  notify  the  proper  authorities  of  the  fact.  If 
any  person  shall  bring  and  leave  any  pauper  in  any  county  in  this 
State  where  such  pauper  had  no  legal  residence,  knowing  him  to  be 
such,  he  is  liable  to  a  fine  of  $100.  In.  counties  under  township 
organization,  the  supervisors  in  each  town  are  ex-officio  overseers  of 
the  poor.  The  overseers  of  the  poor  act  under  the  directions  of  the 
County  Board  in  taking  care  of  the  poor  and  granting  temporary  re- 
lief; also,  in  providing  for  non-resident  persons  not  paupers  who  may 
be  taken  sick  and  not  able  to  pay  their  way,  and,  in  case  of  death, 
causing  such  person  to  be  decently  buried. 

PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE  CONVEYANCES. 

When  practicable  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  persons  traveling 
in  any  kind  of  vehicle  must  turn  to  the  right  of  the  center  of  the 
road,  so  as  to  permit  each  carriage  to  pass  without  interfering  with 
the  other.  The  penalty  for  a  violation  of  this  provision  is  $5  for  every 
offense,  to  be  recovered  by  the  party  injured;  but  to  recover,  there 
must  have  occurred  some  injury  to  person  or  property  resulting  from 
the  violation. 

The  owners  of  any  carriage  traveling  upon  any  road  in  this  State 
for  the  conveyance  of  passengers,  who  shall  employ  or  continue  in 
their  employment  as  driver  any  person  who  is  addicted  to  drunken- 
ness, or  the  excessive  use  of  spirituous  liquors,  after  he  has  had  notice 
of  the  same,  shall  pay  a  forfeit  at  the  rate  of  $5  per  day;  and  if  any 
driver,  while  actually  engaged  in  driving  any  such  carriage,  shall  be 
guilty  of  intoxication  to  such  a  degree  as  to  endanger  the  safety  of 
passengers,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owner,  on  receiving  written 
notice  of  the  fact,  signed  by  one  of  the  passengers,  and  certified  by 
him  on  oath,  forthwith  to  discharge  such  driver.  Jf  such  owner  shall 
have  such  driver  in  his  employ  within  three  months  after  such  notice, 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  93 

he  is. liable  for  $5  per  day  for  the  time  he  shall  keep  said  drivers  in 
his  employment  after  receiving  such  notice. 

Persons  driving  any  carriage  on  any  public  highway  are  prohibited 
from  running  their  horses  upon  any  occasion,  under  a  penalty  of  a 
fine  not  exceeding  $10,  or  imprisonment  not  exceeding  sixty  days,  at 
the  discretion  of  the  court.  Horses  attached  to  any  carriage  used  to 
convey  passengers  for  hire  must  be  properly  hitched,  or  the  lines 
placed  in  the  hands  of  some  other  person,  before  the  driver  leaves 
them  for  any  purpose.  For  violaiion  of  this  provision  each  driver 
shall  forfeit  twenty  dollars,  to  be  recovered  by  action  commenced 
within  six  months. 

It  is  understood  by  the  term  ''carriage''  herein  to  mean  any  car- 
riage or  vehicle  used  for  the  transportation  of  passengers,  or  goods, 
or  either  of  them. 

WAGERS  AND  STAKEHOLDERS. 

Wagers  upon  the  result  of  an  election  have  always  been  considered 
as  void,  as  being  contrary  to  sound  policy,  and  tending  to  impair  the 
purity  of  elections.  Wagers  as  to  the  mode  of  playing,  or  as  to  the 
result  of  any  illegal  game,  as  boxing,  wrestling,  cockfighting,  etc., 
are  void  at  common  law. 

Stakeholders  must  deliver  the  thing  holden  by  them  to  the  person 
entitled  to  it,  on  demand.  It  is  f'-equently  questionable  who  is  en- 
titled to  it.  In  case  of  an  unlawful  wager,  although  he  may  be  justi- 
fied for  delivering  the  thing  to  the  winner,  by  the  express  or  implied 
consent  of  the  loser,  yet  if  before  the  event  has  happened  he  has  been 
required  by  either  party  to  give  up  the  thing  deposited  with  him  by 
such  party,  he  is  bound  so  to  deliver  it;  or  if,  after  the  event  has  hap- 
pened, the  losing  party  gives  notice  to  the  stakeholder  not  to  pay  the 
winner,  a  payment  made  to  him  afterwards  will  be  made  to  him  in 
his  own  wrong,  and  the  party  who  deposited  the  money  or  thing  may 
recover  it  from  the  stakeholder. 

SUNDAY. 

Labor  of  whatever  kind,  other  than  the  household  offices  of  daily 
necessity,  or  other  work  of  charity  and  necessity,  on  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  commonly  called  Sunday,  is  in  general  under  penalty  pro- 
hibited; but  all  persons  do  not  come  under  prohibition.  If  a  con- 
tract is  commenced  on  .Sunday,  but  not  completed  until  a  subsequent 
day,  or  if  it  merely  grew  out  of  a  transaction  which  took  place  on 
Sunday,  it  is  not  for  this  reason  void.  Thus,  if  a  note  is  signed  on 
Sunday,  its  validity  is  not  impaired  if  it  be  not  delivered  on  that  day. 


94  ABSTRACTS   OF    STATE    LAWS. 

DEFINITION  OF  COMMERCIAL  TERMS. 

$  means  dollars,  being  a  contraction  of  U.  S.,  which  was  formerly 
placed  before  any  denomination  of  money,  and  meant,  as  it  means 
now,  United  States  currency.  £  means  pounds,  English  money.  @ 
stands  for  at  or  to;  ft>  for  pound;  bbl.  for  barrel;  and  ^  for  per 
or  ly  the.  Thus,  butter  sells  at  20@30c.  f  ft,  and  flour  at  $6@10  f) 
bbl.  °|0  stands  for  per  cent.,  and  %  for  number. 

In  the  example  "  May  1 — wheat  sells  at  $1.05  @  1.10,  seller  June," 
seller  June  means  that  the  person  who  sells  the  wheat  has  the  privi- 
lege of  delivering  it  at  any  time  during  the  month  of  June.  "  Sell- 
ing short"  is  contracting  to  deliver  a  certain  amount  of  grain  or 
stock  at  a  fixed  price  within  a  certain  length  of  time,  when  the  seller 
has  not  the  stock  on  hand.  It  is  for  the  interest  of  the  person  selling 
"short"  to  depress  the  market  as  much  as  possible,  in  order  that  he 
may  buy  and  fill  his  contract  at  a  profit.  Hence  the  "shorts"  are 
termed  "  bears." 

LEGAL  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

Whenever  any  of  the  following  articles  shall  be  contracted  for,  or 
sold  or  delivered,  and  no  special  contract  or  agreement  shall  be  made 
to  the  contrary,  the  weight  per  bushel  shall  be  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Ibs.  Ibs. 

Apples,  dried 24     Hemp  seed 44 

Barley 48      Hair  (plastering) 8 

Beans,  white 60     Lime,  unslacked 80 

Beans,  castor 46      Onions 57 

Buckwheat 52     Oats 32 

Bran 20     Potatoes,  Irish 60 

Blue-grass  seed 14     Peaches,  dried 33 

Broom-coro  seed 46     Potatoes,  sweet 55 

Coal,  stove 80     Rye 56 

Corn,  in  the  ear 70      Salt,  fine , 55 

Corn,  shelled 56      Salt,  coarse 50 

Corn  meal 48     Turnips 55 

Clover  seed 60     Timothy  seed 45 

Flax  seed 56      Wheat 60 

GAME 

Consists  of  birds  and  beasts  of  a  wild  nature,  obtained  by  fowling 
and  hunting.  It  is  imlawful  to  hunt,  kill  or  in  any  manner  to  inter- 
fere with  deer,  wild  turkey,  prairie  chickens,  partridge  or  pheasants 
between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  August;  or 
any  quail  between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of  Oc- 
tober; or  any  wild  goose,  duck,  Wilson  snipe,  brandt  or  other  water 
fowl,  between  the  fifteenth  day  of  April  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  Au- 
gust, in  each  and  every  year.  Penalty :  Fine  not  less  than  $10  nor 
more  than  $25,  and  cost  of  suit,  and  shall  stand  committed  to  a  county 
jail  until  fine  is  paid,  but  not  exceeding  ten  days.  It  is  unlawful  to 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  95 

hunt  with  gun,  dog  or  net  within  the  inclosed  grounds  or  lands  of 
another  without  permission.  Penalty:  Fine  not  less  than  $3  and  not 
exceeding  $100,  to  he  paid  into  the  school  fund. 

Fish  are  animals  of  a  wild  nature.  No  one  has  any  property  in 
them  until  they  are  captured,  and.  like  other  wild  animals,  if,  having 
been  taken,  they  escape  and  regain  their  liberty,  the  captor  loses  his 
property  in  them.  A  person  has  no  right  to  fish  in  the  waters  of  an- 
other, and  acquires  no  property  in  the  fish  caught  except  by  the  own- 
er's consent. 

BEES. 

Bees,  while  unreclaimed,  are  by  nature  wild  animals.  Those  which 
take  up  their  abode  in  a  Iree  belong  to  the  owner  of  the  soil  in  which 
the  tree  grows,  if  unreclaimed;  but  if  reclaimed  and  identified  they 
belong  to  their  former  owner.  If  a  swarm  has  flown  from  the  hive 
of  A,  they  are  his  so  long  as  they  are  in  sight,  and  may  easily  be 
taken;  otherwise  they  become  the  property  of  the  first  occupant. 
Merely  finding  on  the  land  of  another  person  a  tree  containing  a 
swarm  of  bees,  and  marking  it,  does  not  vest  the  property  of  the  bees 
in  the  finder.  They  do  not  become  property  until  actually  hived. 

DOGS. 

Dogs  are  animals  of  a  domestic  nature.  The  owner  of  a  dog  has 
such  property  in  him  that  he  may  maintain  an  action  for  an  injury 
to  him,  or  to  recover  him  when  unlawfully  taken  away  and  kept  by 
another. 

"When,  in  consequence  of  his  vicious  propensities,  a  dog  becomes  a 
common  nuisance,  the  owner  may  be  indicted,  and  where  one  com- 
mits an  injury,  if  the  owner  had  knowledge  of  his  mischievous  pro- 
pensities, he  is  liable  for  the  injury.  A  man  has  a  right  to  keep  a  dog 
to  guard  his  premises,  but  not  to  put  him  at  the  entrance  of  his  house, 
because  a  person  coming  there  on  lawful  business  may  be  injured  by 
him,  though  there  may  be  another  entrance  to  the  house.  But  if  a 
dog  is  chained  and  a  visitor  incautiously  goes  so  near  him  that  he  is 
bitten,  he  has  no  right  of  action  against  the  owner. 

CRUELTY  TO  ANIMALS. 

Whoever  shall  wilfully  overdrive,  overload,  overwork,  torture,  tor- 
ment, beat,  deprive  of  necessary  and  proper  food,  drink,  or  shelter,  or 
cruelly  kill  any  such  animal,  or  work  an  old,  maimed,  sick  or  dis- 
abled animal,  or  keep  any  animal  in  an  unnecessarily  cruel  manner, 
for  each  and  ever}'  offense  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $3 
or  more  than  $200,  to  be  recovered  on  complaint  before  any  justice  of 


96  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS. 

the  peace,  or  by  indictment.     The  word  "  animal  "  used  shall  be  taken 
to  mean  any  living  creature. 

UNITED  STATES  MAILS. 

The  following  suggestions  and  rulings  of  the  Post  Office  Department 
in  regard  to  the  sending  of  matter  through  the- United  States  mails 
will  be  found  valuable.  By  giving  careful  attention  to  and  closely 
following  them,  almost  perfect  security  from  all  delays  and  losses,  and 
the  many  little  vexatious  inquiries  generally  made  by  the  public  will 
be  avoided. 

Make  the  address  legible  and  complete,  giving  the  name  of  the  post- 
office,  county  and  state;  the  name  of  the  street  and  the  number  of  the 
house,  also,  should  always  be  given  on  letters  addressed  to  cities  where 
letter-carriers  are  employed.  Letters  intended  for  places  in  foreign 
countries  should  have  the  name  of  the  country  as  well  as  the  post- 
office  given  in  full. 

See  that  every  letter,  newspaper  or  other  packet  sent  by  mail  is  se- 
curely folded  and  fastened.  Avoid  using  as  much  as  possible  cheap 
envelopes  made  of  thin  paper,  especially  when  containing  more  than 
one  sheet  of  paper. 

Never  send  money  or  any  other  article  of  value  through  the  mail, 
except  by  means  of  a  money  order  or  in  a  registered  letter.  Every 
letter  sent  should  contain  the  full  name  and  address  of  the  writer, 
with  the  county  and  State,  in  order  to  secure  its  return  if  the  person 
to  whom  it  is  directed  cannot  be  found.  Persons  who  have  large  corre- 
spondence find  it  most  convenient  to  use  "  special  request  envelopes," 
but  those  who  only  mail  an  occasional  letter  can  avoid  the  trouble  by 
writing  a  request  to  "  return  if  not  delivered,"  etc.,  on  the  envelope. 

Postage  stamps  should  be  placed  upon  the  upper  right  hand  corner 
of  the  addressed  side  of  all  mail  matter. 

"Written  matter  in  unsealed  envelopes  prepaid  with  only  a  one-cent 
postage  stamp  wilt  be  held  for  postage. 

Diplomas,  commissions,  certificates,  etc.,  having  written  signatures 
attached,  circulars,  having  anything  written  thereon,  are  subiect  to 
postage  at  the  rate  of  three  cents  for  each  half  ounce  or  fraction  thereof. 

Stamps  cut  from  stamped  envelopes,  mutilated  postage  stamps,  and 
internal  revenue  stamps,  will  not  be  accepted  in  payment  for  postage. 
Letters  deposited  in  a  postoffice  having  such  matter  affixed  are  held 
for  postage. 

To  use,  or  attempt  to  use,  in  payment  of  postage  a  postage  stamp, 
or  stamped  envelope,  or  any  stamp  cut  from  such  stamped  envelopes, 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  97 

which  has  been  before  used  iii  payment  of  postage,  is  punishable  with 
a  fine  of  fifty  dollars. 

In  using  postal  cards,  be  careful  not  to  write  or  have  anything 
printed  on  the  side  to  be  used  for  the  address,  except  the  address;  also 
be  careful  not  to  attach  anything  to  them.  They  are  unmailable  as 
postal  cards  when  these  suggestions  are  disregarded. 

No  cards  are  "  postal  cards  "  except  such  as  are  issued  by  the  Post 
Office  Department.  In  no  case  will  unclaimed  cards  be  returned  to 
the  writer  or  sent  to  the  Dead  Letter  Office.  If  not  delivered  within 
sixty  days  from  time  of  receipt  they  will  be  burned  by  the  post-master. 

To  insure  a  letter  being  forwarded  in  the  mails  it  must  have  not  less 
than  three  cents  in  postage  stamps  affixed. 

After  a  letter  has  passed  from  the  mailing  office  the  delivering  of 
it  cannot  be  delayed  or  prevented  by  the  writer;  but,  if  the  writer 
request  the  return  of  the  letter,  which  has  not  left  in  the  mail,  the 
post-master  may  deliver  it,  if  he  is  satisfied  that  the  party  applying  is 
the  writer. 

A  subscriber  to  a  newspaper  or  periodical  who  changes  his  residence 
and  postoffice  should  at  once  notify  the  publishers  of  the  change. 

Printed  matter,  merchandise  and  other  third-class  matter  cannot  be 
forwarded  from  the  office  to  which  it  is  addressed  unless  postage  is 
furnished  for  such  purposes.  A  request  to  return  indorsed  on  such 
matter  will  not  be  regarded  unless  postage  is  furnished  for  the  pur- 
pose. A  request  to  return  written  on  such  matter  subjects  the  pack- 
age to  letter  postage. 

All  packages  mailed  at  less  than  letter  postage  should  be  wrapped 
so  that  their  contents  can  be  readily  ascertained  without  destroying 
the  wrapper. 

Matter  contained  in  sealed  envelopes,  notched  at  the  ends,  is  sub- 
ject to  letter  postage. 

The  sender  of  any  article  of  the  third  class  may  write  his  or  her 
name  or  address  therein,  or  on  the  outside  thereof,  with  the  word 
"  from  "  above  or  preceding  the  same,  or  may  write  or  print  on  any 
package  the  number  and  name  of  articles  inclosed. 

All  losses  should  be  promptly  reported. 

Packages  of  any  description  of  mail  matter  may  weigh  not  exceed- 
ing four  pounds. 

RITES  OF  POSTAGE. 

On  letters,  sealed  packages,  mail  matter,  wholly  or  partly  in  writ- 
ing, except  book  manuscript  and  corrected  proofs  passing  between  au- 
thors and  publishers,  and  except  local  or  drop  letters,  or  postal  cards; 

7 


98  ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE  LAWS. 

all  printed  matter  so  marked  as  to  convey  any  other  or  further  infor- 
mation than  is  conveyed  by  the  original  print,  except  the  correction 
of  mere  typographical  errors;  all  matter  otherwise  chargeable  with 
letter  postage,  but  which  is  so  wrapped  or  secured  that  it  cannot  be 
conveniently  examined  by  the  post-masters  without  destroying  the 
wrapper  or  envelope;  all  packages  containing  matter  not  in  itself 
chargeable  with  letter  postage,  but  in  which  is  enclosed  or  concealed 
any  letter,  memorandum,  or  other  thing  chargeable  with  letter  post- 
age, or  upon  which  is  any  writing  or  memorandum;  all  matter  to 
which  no  specific  rate  of  postage  is  assigned;  and  manuscript  for  pub- 
lication in  newspapers,  magazines  or  periodicals,  THREE  CENTS  FOR 

EACH  HALF  OUNCE  OR  FRACTION  TEIEREOF. 

On  local  or  drop  letters,  at  offices  where  free  delivery  by  carriers  is 
established,  TWO  CENTS  FOR  EACH  HALF  OUNCE  OR  FRACTION  THEREOF. 

On  local  or  drop  letters,  at  offices  where  free  delivery  by  carriers  is 
not  established,  ONE  CENT  FOR  EACH  HALF  OUNCE  OR  FRACTION  THEREOF. 

RATES  OF  POSTAGE  ON  THIRD-CLASS  MATTER. 

By  act  of  July  12,  1876,  third-class  matter  is  divided  as  follows: 

One  cent  for  two  ounces. — Almanacs,  books  (printed),  calendars, 
catalogues,  corrected  proofs,  hand-bills,  magazines,  when  not  sent  to 
regular  subscribers,  maps  (lithographed  or  engraved),  music  (printed 
sheet),  newspapers,  when  nut  sent  to  regular  subscribers,  occasional 
publications,  pamphlets,  posters,  proof-sheets,  prospectuses,  and  regu- 
lar publications  designed  primarily  for  advertising  purposes,  or  for 
free  circulation,  or  for  circulation  at  nominal  rates. 

One  cent  for  each  ounce. — Blank  books,  blank  cards,  book  manu- 
script, card  boards  and  other  flexible  materials,  chromo-lithographs, 
circulars,  engravings,  envelopes,  flexible  patterns,  letter  envelopes,  let- 
ter paper,  lithographs,  merchandise,  models,  ornamented  paper,  postal 
cards,  when  sent  in  bulk  and  not  addressed,  photographic  views,  pho- 
tographic paper,  printed  blanks,  printed  cards,  sample  cards,  samples 
of  ores,  metals,  minerals,  and  merchandise,  seeds,  cuttings,  bulbs, 
roots  and  scions,  and  stereoscopic  views. 

Any  article  of  mail  matter,  subject  to  postage  at  the  rate  of  one 
cent  lor  each  ounce  or  fraction  thereof,  which  may  be  enclosed  in  the 
same  package  with  items  subject  to  the  rate  of  one  cent  for  each  two 
ounces  or  fraction  thereof,  will  subject  the  entire  package  to  the  high- 
est rate,  viz. :  one  cent  for  each  ounce  or  fraction  thereof. 

The  following  articles  are  unmailable: 

Packages  containing  liquids,  poisons,  glass,  explosive  chemicals,  live 
animals,  sharp  pointed  instruments,  flour,  sugar,  or  any  other  matter 
liable  to  deface  or  destroy  the  ontents  of  the  mail,  or  injure  the  per- 


ABSTRACTS    OF    STATE    LAWS.  99 

son  of  any  one  connected  with  the  service.  All  letters  upon  the  en- 
velope of  which,  or  postal  card  upon  which  indecent,  lewd,  obscene, 
or  lascivious  delineations,  epithets,  terms  or  language  maybe  written 
or  printed,  or  disloyal  devices  printed  or  engraved,  and  letters  or  cir- 
culars concerning  illegal  lotteries  so  called,  gift  concerts  or  other  simi- 
lar enterprises  offering  prizes,  or  concerning  schemes  devised  and  in- 
tended to  deceive  and  defraud  the  public.  Also,  all  obscene,  lewd  or 
lascivious  books,  pamphlets,  pictures,  papers,  prints  or  other  publica- 
tions of  an  indecent  character. 

REGISTERED  MATTER. 

The  fee  for  registering  a  letter  going  anywhere  in  the  United  States 
is  fixed  at  ten  cents  in  addition  to  the  regular  postage.  Post-masters 
are  required  to  register  all  letters  properly  presented  for  that  pur- 
pose, but  DO  letters  are  to  be  registered  on  Sunday. 

Registered  letters  will  never  be  delivered  to  any  person  but  the  one 
to  whom  they  are  addressed,  or  to  one  whom  the  post-master  knows 
to  be  authorized  to  receive  them. 

MONEY  ORDERS. 

The  money-order  system  is  intended  to  promote  public  convenience 
and  to  secure  safety  in  the  transfer  through  the  mails  of  small  sums 
of  money.  The  principal  means  employed  to  attain  safety  consists 
in  leaving  out  of  the  order  the  name  of  the  payee  or  person  for  whom 
the  money  is  intended.  In  this  respect  a  money-order  differs  from 
an  ordinary  bank  draft  or  check.  An  advice  or  notification  contain- 
ing full  particulars  of  the  order  is  transmitted  without  delay  by  the 
issuing  post-master  to  the  post-master  at  the  office  of  payment.  The 
latter  is  thus  furnished,  before  the  order  itself  is  presented,  with  in- 
formation which  will  enable  him  to  prevent  its  payment  to  any  per- 
son not  entitled  thereto,  provided  the  remitter  complies  with  the  regu- 
lation of  the  Department,  which  prohibits  him  from  sending  the  same 
information  in  a  letter  inclosed  with  his  order. 

Under  no  circumstances  can  payment  of  an  order  be  demanded  on 
the  day  of  its  issue.  The  fees  or  charges  for  money-orders  will  be  as 
follows: 

On  orders  not  exceeding  $15 10  cents 

On  orders  over  $15  and  not  exceeding  $30 15  cents 

On  orders  over  $30  and  not  exceeding  $40 20  cents 

On  orders  over  $40  and  not  exceeding  $50 25  cents 

When  a  larger  sum  than  $50  is  required,  additional  orders  to  make 
it  up  must  be  obtained.  But  post-masters  are  instructed  to  refuse  to 
issue  in  one  day,  to  the  same  remitter  and  in  favor  of  the  same  payee, 
more  than  three  money-orders  payable  at  the  same  postoffice. 


100  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


HISTORY   OF  KNOX   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   I. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 


A  little  over  a  half  century  ago  the  territory  now  embraced  within 
the  limits  of  Knox  county  was  in  a  state  of  nature.  Scarcely  a  white 
man,  except  hunters  and  traders,  had  ever  crossed  its  fertile  prairies. 
It  was  a  wild  region  and  uninhabited  save  by  the  wild  beasts  of  forest 
and  prairie,  and  roving  bands  of  Indians,  whose  trails  were  found 
here  and  there  over  prairie  and  through  timber,  from  village  to  vil- 
la<*e,  of  wigwams.  Herds  of  deer,  packs  of  wolves  and  other  wild 
animals  roamed  at  will.  The  buffalo  had  been  driven  by  the  Indians 
farther  west,  although  their  bones  were  found  here  and  there  scattered 
over  the  prairie.  Since  then  wonderful  and  unparalleled  have  been 
the  changes  that  have  taken  place. 

Fifty  years  have  passed  since  Daniel  and  Alexander  Robertson, 
Richard.  Mathews,  Jacob  Gum  and  his  sons,  John  B.,  James  and 
Zephaniah,  Riggs  Pennington,  Stephen  Osborn,  Eaton  and  Robert 
Nance,  Benjamin  Coy,  Alexander  Frakes,  Robert  Greenwell,  Thomas 
Sheldon,  Nicholas  Yoiles,  Mrs.  Jennie  Vaughn,  and  John,  her  son, 
Jesse  D.  Gum,  James  Reynolds,  Andrew  and  Alexander  Osborn,  M. 
D.  Coy  and  Thomas  McKee  came  to  this  county  to  found  homes,  all 
of  them  settling  in  Henderson  township.  Of  this  number  but  two 
are  living  in  the  county  at  the  present  time;  and  as  there  were  no 
written  records  kept,  as  a  natural  consequence,  a  great  many  early  in- 
cidents of  local  importance  at  the  time  of  their  happening  are  lost  to 
the  memory  of  the  oldest  surviving  settlers;  or,  if  not  entirely  lost, 
have  become  so  confused  with  the  multiplicity  of  accumulating  cares, 
that  to  extricate  an  accurate  account  of  them  from  time's  rubbish, 
and  preserve  them  in  printed  pages,  so  they  may  be  seen  now  as  they 
were  then,  will  require  a  most  critical  exercise  of  mind  and  pen.  As 
near  as  is  possible  ever  to  obtain,  we  give  a  correct  sketch,  taking 
great  care  properly  to  secure  names,  dates  and  locations,  and  we  be- 
lieve the  early  history  of  the  county  is  as  full  and  complete  as  could 
have  been  compiled. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  101 

Daniel  and  Alexander  Robertson,  and  their  brother-iri-law,  Richard 
Mathews,  were  the  first  to  locate  in  the  county  of  Knox.  The  two 
former  were  single  men,  but  remained  so  but  a  short  time,  as  we  find 
the  first  marriage  license  issued,  by  the  Clerk  of  the  county,  was  to 
Daniel  Robertson.  Alexander  was  married  shortly  afterward,  and  in 
1848  died.  His  daughter  is  the  wife  of  John  Junk,  and  has  resided 
all  her  life  on  the  farm  where  her  father  settled  and  died  and  where 
she  was  born.  Richard  Mathews  remained  here  but  a  short  time, 
and  then  returned  to  Morgan  county,  settling  near  Urns  villa,  where 
in  1876  he  died. 

The  Robertson  brothers  first  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  15,  Henderson  township,  where  the  soil  of  Knox  county  was 
first  cultivated  by  a  white  man.  At  present  Daniel  lives  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  11  of  the  same  township.  He  was  un- 
able to  get  legal  possession  of  the  land  originally  settled  upon,  and 
was  compelled  to  remove.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  Military 
Tract  great  annoyance  was  experienced  by  the  pioneers  from  parties 
having  tax  titles,  grants,  patents,  etc.,  of  the  land.  Thus  it  was  with 
the  piece  of  land  Mr.  Robertson  first  located.  A  man  by  the. name 
of  Baker,  whose  wife's  father  had  an  interest  in  or  a  claim  upon  this 
land,  came  along  one  evening  and  asked  to  stay  over  night.  This 
privilege  was  cheerfully  granted  him.  On  the  following  morning  he 
asserted  his  right  to  the  land.  He  refused  to  leave  the  house.  In 
an  altercation  which  Daniel  Robertson  had  with  him  over  this  land 
Baker  shot  at  Robertson,  but  fortunately  missed  him.  Robertson  ran 
to  the  house  after  his  gun,  but  his  wife,  fearing  something  fatal,  kept 
it  from  him.  It  would  seem  that  with  such  vast  expanse  of  wild 
land  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  regard  to  a  small  field. 

Daniel  Robertson,  the  first  settler  of  the  county,  and  who  at  pres- 
ent is  hale  and  stout,  and  does  considerable  work  on  his  farm,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  June  12,  1804.  He  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
the  United  States  when  only  four  weeks  old.  They  settled  near  Lake 
George,  New  York.  In  1820  his  father  came  to  the  newly  organized 
State  of  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  county.  In  1821  he  went  to 
Morgan  county,  from  whence  in  a  few  years  his  two  sons  Daniel  and 
Alexander  went  into  Schuyler  county,  where  they  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  raising  hogs.  The  Galena  trail  went  through  Schuyler  and 
Knox  counties,  and  travelers  were  passing  to  and  fro  much  of  the 
time.  Some  of  them  told  the  Robertsons  of  the  fine  country  in  this 
county.  They  reported  it  as  the  best  through  which  the  trail  passed. 
Time  has  since  verified  the  assertion  of  these  early  miners.  The 
winter  of  1827--8,  acting  upon  the  advice  of  strangers,  they  concluded 


102  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

to  remove  here.     After  some  preparations  they  set  out,  in. the  latter 
part  of  February,  1828,  for  the  unsettled   country,  with  two  yoke  of 
oxen  to  their  "•  prairie  schooner"  wagon,  and  with  80  head  of  hogs. 
Arriving  after  a  weary  journey,  they  pitched    their  tent  and  com- 
menced  farming.      Among  the  few  rude  implements  they   brought 
with  them  was  a  plow,  the  first  to  turn  the  soil  of  Knox  county  so  far 
as  knu\vn,  except  the  still  more  rude  implements  of  the  Indians,  who 
had  cultivated  little  fields  here  and  there  over  the  county.     This  plow 
is  still,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Daniel  Robertson,  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation,  and  a  relic  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice.     How 
different  is  this  antique  implement  from  those  in   use  at  the  present 
time!     It  was  made  after  the  most  improved  pattern,  and  at  the  time 
was  a  model  worthy  of  imitation.     It  is  what  is  known  as  the  "Bar- 
share"  plow,  and  in  construction  consumed  a  great  amount  of  timber. 
The  beam  is  8£  feet   long   and  16   inches   in    circumference.      The 
wooden  mold-board  is  3  feet  4  inches  long,  about  10  inches  wide  and 
4  inches  thick,  and  is  made  of  oak.     The   wrought-iron  share,  about 
the  only  piece  of  iron  about  it,  is  4  feet.  4  inches  long,  although  cut- 
ting but  a  16-inch  furrow.     To  make  it  more  unique  it  is  only  from 
14  to  16  inches  high.     With  this  ancient  plow  they  prepared  a  few 
acres  of  ground  and  planted  corn,  which  yielded  forty  bushels  to  the 
acre,  thus  enabling  them  to  supply  the  immigrants  as  they  came,  and 
to  "  give  the  hogs  a  taste  now  and  then,"  as  Mr.  Robertson  remarked 
to  us. 

These  animals  subsisted  mostly  upon  acorns  and  other  nuts  found 
in  the  timber.  Considerable  trouble  was  at  first  experienced  with 
the  Indian  dogs,  which  would  kill  the  pigs  and  make  the  hogs 
"  homesick."  These  dogs  were  similar  in  many  respects  to  the  wolf, 
and  were  quite  as  mischievous  and  troublesome. 

Of  the  pioneers  of  1828  Daniel  Robertson  and  Thomas  McKee  are 
the  only  two  now  residents  of  Knox  county.  Almost  all  the  others 
have  finished  their  earthly  career,  and  their  names  and  deeds  deserve 
much  honor  from  each  citizen  of  the  county,  for  they  each  and  all  as 
early  settlers  endured  the  trials  and  hardships  of  a  new  and  wild 
country,  to  lay  the  foundation  for  future  greatness  and  make  a  more 
beautiful,  cultivated  county.  Their  memories  should  be  perpetuated 
and  handed  down  to  posterity,  who,  when  the  country's'age  is  told 
by  centuries  and  its  population  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  will  read 
with  greater  interest  of  those  that  opened  the  way  for  them  to  ad- 
vance in  learning,  culture,  wealth  and  other  ways.  Future  gener- 
ations should  fully  know  and  appreciate  those  who  began  the  work  of 
settling  and  changing  a  wild,  unsettled  and  uncultiVated  county  as 
Knox  once  was,  to  what  it  now  is. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  103 

Jacob  Gum  and  his  sons  settled  upon  sections  32  and  33.  Jacob 
was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  seldom  failed  to  preach  on  Sunday; 
and  although  we  may  know  his  congregation  was  not  large,  nor  did 
they  assemble  in  a  beautifully  frescoed  auditorium  with  cushioned 
pews  and  floor  richly  carpeted,  yet  the  truth  was  just  as  earnestly 
preached  and  as  gratefully  received  as  to-day,  for  Elder  Gum  was  an 
earnest  worker  and  in  his  day  wielded  much  influence  for  good.  He 

*/  c> 

was  a  member  of  the  Regular  Baptist  Church,  but  finally  united 
with  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  denomination  he  remained  a  de- 
voted member  and  an  earnest,  zealous  laborer  in  his  Master's  cause, 
until  called  to  dwell  with  Him  on  the  shores  of  eternity,  his  death 
occurring  many  years  ago  in  this  county. 

His  sons  Jesse  and  Zephaniah  died  in  Missouri;  John  died  in  Cali- 
fornia; but  James  is  living  in  that  State  at  the  present  time.  Riggs 
Pennington  settled  on  section  10,  from  which  place  he  moved  to  sec- 
tion 27,  from  thence  to  Texas  in  1836,  where  he  died.  Stephen  Os- 
born  settled  on  section  23.  He  died  at  Henderson.  Alexander 
Frakes  and  the  Nance  brothers  settled  on  section  9.  Frakes  after- 
ward moved  to  Oregon,  where  he  died.  Eaton  Nance  is  living  in 
Missouri,  but  his  brother  Robert  died  in  Cass  county,  Illinois.  Ben- 
jamin Coy  settled  on  section  31,  and  died  in  this  county.  M.  D.  Coy 
died  in  Iowa.  Robert  Green  well  settled  on  section  15,  but  afterward 
removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  Nicholas  Yoiles  settled  on  sec- 
tion 22,  but  moved  to  Texas,  where  he  died  about  1852.  Mrs. 
Vaughn,  familiarly  known  as  "  Aunt  Jennie,"  lived  on  section  33, 
and  died  in  this  county.  John,  her  son,  is  still  living,  having  no 
permanent  home.  James  Reynolds  died  in  this  county.  Alexander 
Osborn  is  still  living,  with  his  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1829, — 
theirs  being  the  first  marriage  in  Knox  county.  They  are  now  re- 
siding in  Kansas.  Andrew  Osborn  also  resides  in  the  same  State. 

Thomas  Sheldon  resided  in  this  county  but  one  winter,  when  he 
went  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  died  in  June,  1829.  He  left  a  widow 
and  four  small  children.  In  a  wild,  uncultivated  country,  where 
physical  labor  is  required,  a  woman  with  a  family  of  small  children 
would  undergo  much  suffering.  The  settlers  of  Knox  soon  heard  of 
the  death  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  and  imrnediateLy  two  of  their  number  went 
to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  family.  In  September  they  con- 
cluded to  bring  his  widow  to  their  own  settlement  at  Henderson  that 
they  might  care  for  her,  and  accordingly  sent  Thomas  McKee  with 
two  yoke  of  oxen  to  bring  her  and  her  effects.  The  few  settlers  of 
Rock  Island  had  been  very  kind  to  the  widow,  and  had  provided  her 
with  provisions  for  the  winter, — among  which  was  a  barrel  of  flour 


104:  HISTOKY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

and  a  barrel  of  meat.  Thomas  McKee  was  at  the  time  but  nineteen 
years  of  age,  but  was  a  hardy  frontier  boy,  and  scarcely  knew  what 
hardships  were;  but  lie  certainly  experienced  many  on  this  trip  of 
four  days.  He  came  to  Rock  river  on  his  return,  and  there  being  no 
bridges  or  ferries,  it  must  be  forded.  This  he  did,  which  without 
guide  was  a  dangerous  task.  He  came  on  to  Mill  creek,  crossing  it 
safely,  but  a  little  this  side  his  wagon  sunk  so  deep  in  the  rnud  that 
his  oxen  in  a  desperate  attempt  to  pull  it  out  broke  the  neck-yoke. 
This  was  very  discouraging,  but  young  McKee  immediately  started 
back  for  Rock  Island  afoot  for  another  yoke.  This  lie  obtained,  and 
soon  returned,  reaching  his  wag<>n  about  dark.  They  were  obliged  to 
remain  there  all  night,  when  a  heavy  rain  fell  and  the  water  rose  up 
nearly  to  the  bed  of  the  wagon.  The  following  morning  he  unloaded 
his  wagon  and  "  pulled  out"  He  says,  to-day,  it  is  a  great  wonder 
to  him  how  he  ever  managed  to  load  the  barrel  of  meat,  as  the  lady 
was  in  a  condition  which  unfitted  her  for  lending  any  assistance  in 
lifting.  They  came  on  farther  and  stalled  again,  and  again  unloaded 
every  article.  At  Edwards  river  he  stuck  again,  the  oxen  being  un- 
able to  get  up  the  rather  steep  embankment.  He  again  unloaded 
every  article,  and  then  had  to  carry  and  roll  each  up  the  bank  to  the 
wagon.  Coming  on  into  Rio  township,  this  county,  about  dark,  he 
came  to  a  slough,  where  he  remained  over  night. 

He  finally  arrived  home,  after  a  most  laborious  journey  of  four  days. 
We  speak  of  this  trip  in  detail,  to  illustrate  the  manner  and  mode  of 
traveling  in  the  time  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  county.  Without 
road  or  guide  the  pionears  roamed  the  prairies  and  timber  with  their 
slow  but  faithful  oxen.  At  this  time  there  was  but  one  traveled  road 
in  the  county,  the  one  running  from  Peoria  to  Galena,  through  Yic- 
toria  and  Walnut  Grove  townships.  This  was  the  old  "  Galena  trail" 
or  "  State  road,"  by  which  terms  it  was  familiarly  known. 

Mrs.  Sheldon  and  family  returned  to  Kentucky  the  following  year. 
Thomas  McKee  is  a  resident  of  Galesburg,  where  he  holds  the  offices 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Supervisor;  and  although  a  strong  Demo- 
crat and  the  recognized  leader  of  that  party  in  this  county,  his  per- 
sonal popularity  is  so  great  that  even  in  the  Republican  stronghold 
of  Galesburg  he  scarcely  finds  opposition.  There  is  perhaps  no  citi- 
zen of  the  county  so  well  and  favorably  known  as  he,  and  but  few  if 
any  whose  acquaintance  is  so  extensive. 

In  1829  but  few  additions  were  made    to   the   spare  settlement  at 
Henderson.      Now    and    then  a    new-comer    would   be   welcomed. 
Among  the  number  were  Dr.    Charles  Hansford*   and  John  G.  San- 
burn.*     The  former  was  the  first  physician  in  the  county,  and  for  many 
*  See  biographical  sketches. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  105 

years  perhaps  the  most  popular  man  of  the  coutny;  and  the  latter 
opened  the  first  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  also  became  one  of 
the'rnost  popular  men  the  county  ever  knew.  There  also  came  James 
and  "William  McMurtry,  Jonathan  Reed,  William  Lewis,  Solomon 
Davis  and  Thomas  Maxwell;  all  of  whom  prominently  figured  in  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  and  one  of  whom  afterward  received  the 
greatest  official  honors  ever  conferred  upon  a  citizen  of  Knox  county. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Owen,  a  widow  lady,  witli  her  son  Parnach,  and  two 
daughters,  came  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  1829,  and  settled  in  Haw 
Creek  township.  These  were  the  first  settlers  to  locate  outside  of 
Henderson,  save  a  rather  singular  genius  named  Palmer,  who  stopped 
south  east  of  Maquon  in  1828.  It  cannot  be  claimed  for  Palmer  that 
he  was  really  a  settler,  for  he  did  not  expect  to  remain,  and  he  never 
fenced  or  made  any  effort  to  improve  the  land.  He  was  a  profes- 
sional bee-hunter,  and  as  such  traveled  in  advance  of  civilization.  He 
lived  at  the  place  referred  to  but  a  short  time,  when  he  went  farther 
west;  but  while  near  Maquon  he  cultivated  the  hills  made  by  the 
Indians  the  year  previous  on  the  bottom  lands  of  Spoon  river. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  a  widow  lady  should  be  the  first  to  locate 
in  a  large  region  of  country  where  the  foot  of  white  man  had  scarcely 
trod.  It  was  the  strong  attachment  she  had  for  her  son  that  led  her 
to  the  western  wilds  of  Knox  county.  He  was  determined  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  new  country,  and  rather  than  see  him  go  alone  she 
joined  him  and  located  here.  She  died  in  Knoxville  in  1839.  Her 
two  daughters  are  still  living. — one  the  widow  of  the  late  John  G. 
Sanburn,  residing  in  Knoxville,  the  other  the  wife  of  Dr.  E.  D.  Rice 
of  Lewistown.  Parnach  Owen  took  an  active  part  in  the  early  history 
of  the  county.  He  did  the  first  local  surveying,  and  was  one  of  the 
contractors  for  the  construction  of  the  first  court-house.  He  went 
from  this  to  McDonough  county,  thence  to  Iowa,  and  he  died  in 
Allamakee  county  in  that  State  in  1845. 

In  1830  the  population  increased  rapidly.  Fraker,  Owen  and 
Fitch  settled  in  Lynn  township,  in  the  edge  of  a  beautiful  grove 
which  since  has  been  known  as  Fraker's  Grove.  These  were  the  first 
settlers  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Fraker  had  pur- 
chased several  quarter  sections  before  coming  to  the  country,  upon  a 
portion  of  which  he  discovered  an  Indian  town.  His  coming  naturally 
aroused  the  Indians,  and  a  great  controversy  arose  between  them  con- 
cerning the  possession  of  the  land,  the  Indians  claiming  that  their  title 
came  directly  from  God  Almighty,  while  Mr.  Fraker  based  his  claim  on 
patents  he  held  from  the  Government.  The  Indians,  however,  after 
much  parleying,  concluded  to  leave.  They  moved  to  Indian  Creek,  some 


106  HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

seven  miles  east,  and  built  another  village.  They  remained  quite 
friendly  with  Mr.  Fraker,  and  often  came  over  to  visit  him,  who  was  al- 
ways glad  to  see  even  an  Indian.  Soon  the  Indians  adopted  the  habit 
of  coming  to  the  grove  in  the  spring  to  make  sugar  and  raise  their 
squaw  corn  and  vegetables,  and  thon  would  return  west  in  the  fall 
to  new  hunting-grounds. 

Some  travelers  passed  by  Mr.  Fraker's,  going  northwest  through 
Walnut  Grove,  where  they  saw  Jones  and  De  Hart,  two  settlers  who 
came  here  shortly  after  the  Frakers  settled  in  Lynn.  They  were  in- 
formed by  the  travelers  of  the  settlers  at  Fraker's  Grove,  who  were 
not  aware' of  having  neighbors  nearer  than  Henderson;  and  the 
Frakers,  Fitches  and  Frasiers  were  greatly  surprised  on  the  following 
Sunday  morning  upon  seeing  Mr.  De  Hart,  his  wife  and  two  children 
drive  up  in  their  two- wheeled  cart,  with  a  dry-goods  box  on,  and 
drawn  by  oxen.  These  were  the  first  white  visitors  except  travelers 
that  ever  called  at  the  settlement.  Mrs.  Fraker  had  not  seen  a  white 
woman,  except  those  of  their  own  company,  after  coming  to  the  grove. 

KNOX    COUNTY. 

In  1830  it  was  thought  that  a  sufficient  number  of  inhabitants  were 
living  in  this  section  to  have  the  county  organized,  which  accordingly 
was  accomplished  without  any  unnecessary  delay.  The  law  required 
a  county  to  contain  350  legal  voters  before  an  organization  could  be 
effected,  yet  there  were  scarcely  that  number  even  of  individuals 
within  the  boundaries  of  Knox  county  when  organized.  On  the  ad- 
mission of  Illinois  into  the  Union,  what  is  now  Knox  county  was  a 
part  of  Madison  county.  Afterwards  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
approved  June  30,  1821,  it  was  placed  within  the  boundaries  of 
Pike,  which  is  the  oldest  county  in  the  Military  Tract.  It  then  em- 
braced the  whole  country  north  and  west  of  the  Illinois  river.  By  a 
subsequent  act,  approved  February  10,  1826,  its  present  boundaries 
were  determined,  and  it  was  attached  to  Fulton  county  for  judicial 
and  recording  purposes.  On  the  3d  day  of  July,  1830,  by  an  order  of 
Judge  Young,  an  election  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  three 
commissioners,  and  on  the  7th  they  met  and  completed  the  organiza- 
tion of  Knox  county,  for  a  detailed  account  of  which  we  refer  our 
readers  to  the  following  chapter. 

We  will  state  in  this  connection  that,  when  the  county  was  organ- 
ized in  1830,  townships  12  and  13  north,  range  5  east,  were  included 
within  the  boundaries  of  Knox  county.  This  act  of  the  Legislature 
was  approved  January  15,  1831.  In  1837,  when  Stark  county  was  or- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  107 

ganized,  these  two  townships  were  severed  from  this  county  and 
included  in  that.  The  town  of  La  Fayette,  Stark  count}',  is  located 
within  this  section,  and  consequently  was  originally  in  Knox  comity. 

It  was  through  the  instrumentality  of  Riggs  Pennington  that  the 
two  townships  referred  to  were  attached  to  this  county.  There  was 
a  beautiful  grove  within  the  territory,  which  he  thought  would  add 
materially  to  the  wealth  of  the  county,  and  be  a  counterpart  to  the 
delightful  forest  in  Lynn  township,  subsequently  known  as  Fraker's 
Grove.  Pennington  was  almost  a  regular  attendant  upon  the  Legis- 
lature, although  not  a  member.  He  wielded  no  little  influence  among 
the  Representatives,  and  therefore  when  he  wanted  the  section  alluded 
to  attached  to  his  county  his  request  was  granted  without  delay. 

In  1837  an  attempt  was  made  to  divide  Knox  county  for  the  formar 
tion  of  Coffee  county.  Bat  little  interest  was  taken  in  the  matter  by 
the  people  residing  in  the  western  portion  of  the  county,  as  it  was  a 
move  especially  concerning  the  residents  of  the  eastern  section.  On 
the  10th  day  of  April  of  that  year,  an  election  was  held  to  vote  for  or 
against  the  division  of  the  county,  and  the  formation  of  Coffee  county. 
There  were  263  votes  cast,  77  of  which  were  for  the  measure,  and  186 
against  it. 

The  "  Military  Tract"  comprises  all  the  land  between  the  Illinois 
and  the  Mississippi  rivers,  south  of  the  north  line  of  Bureau  and 
Henry  counties.  It  is  so  called  because  much  of  it  was  "  patented 
by  the  Government,  in  quarter  sections,  to  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812. 
There  was  scarcely  a  soldier  in  that  early  day  who  counted  his  land 
of  much  value,  and  ever  thought  to  occupy  it  himself;  but  immi- 
grants came  in,  entered  Government  lands  and  "squatted"  on 
"patent"  or  military  land,  improved  it,  and  thus  rendered  it  valuable. 
It  was  seldom  that  a  "patentee"  could  be  found  at  the  time  of  settle- 
ment, and  many  of  the  early  settlers  presumed  that  the  owner  never 
would  be  known;  but  in  many  instances,  after  a  patent  quarter-sec- 
tion was  made  valuable  by  improvement,  the  original  patent  would  be 
brought  on  by  some  one,  who  would  oust  the  occupant  and  take  pos- 
session, sometimes  paying  him  something  for  his  improvements  and 
sometimes  not.  Many  holders  of  patents  had  no  pity.  This  con- 
dition of  affairs  presented  a  temptation  to  merciless  "land- sharks," 
who  would  come  into  this  section  and  work  up  cases,  ostensibly  for 
the  original  patentees,  but  really  for  their  own  pockets. 

The  most  notorious  of  these  was  one  Toliver  Craig,  who  actually 
made  it  a  business  to  forge  patents  and  deeds.  This  he  carried  on 
extensive!}  from  1847  to  185-i,  especially  in  Knox  and  Fulton  coun- 
ties. He  had  40  bogus  deeds  put  on  record  in  one  day  at  Knoxville. 


>3 


108  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

He  was  arrested  in  New  York  State  in  1854,  by  II.  M.  Boggess  of 
Monmouth,  and  taken  to  the  jail  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  at- 
tempted suicide  by  arsenic;  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  lie  was  released 
on  bail. 

When  the  Military  Tract  was  laid  off  into  counties,  most  of  them 
were  named  in  honor  of  military  heroes  of  the  nation.  This  county 
was  christened  in  honor  of  the  brave  statesman-general,  Henry  Knox. 
The  following  is  a  brief  personal  sketch  of  him  whose  name  this  county 
now  wears: 

Henry  Knox,  an  American  general  and  statesman,  commander  of 
the  artillery  during  the  Revolution,  and  Secretary  of  War  under  Wash- 
ington, was  born  in  Boston,  July  25,  1750,  and  died  in  Thomaston, 
Me.,  October  25,  1806.  He  was  of  Scotch  and  Irish  Presbyterian 
stock,  and  his  father  came  from  St.  Eustatius,  one  of  the  British  West 
India  islands.  He  received  the  common  school  education  of  his  time 
in  Boston,  and  was  remarked  as  a  youth  of  fine  abilities  and  generous 
disposition,  fond  of  the  heroic  examples  of  former  ages,  and,  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Eliot  (who  was  nearly  his  cotemporary),  giving  constant 
prestige  of  future  eminence. 

General  Knox  played  a  most  important  part  in  the  revolutionary 
struggle  for  liberty,  and  was  admired  and  beloved  by  Washington^ 
and  like  him,  after  a  long,  active,  and  eminently  successful  public 
career,  retired  to  private  life.  Gen.  Knox  was  large  in  person,  of  a 
robust  and  athletic  frame,  enterprising  arid  resolute  in  character,  of  a 
generous,  buoyant  and  social  disposition,  cordially  appreciated  and 
beloved  by  friends,  possessing  unquestionable  integrity,  unsurpassed 
energy,  and  a  mind  liberally  cultivated  by  study. 

Knox  County  is  about  equally  divided  between  timber  and  prairie 
land,  the  northern  tier  of  townships  being  mainly  prairie,  while  the 
southeastern,  along  Spoon  river,  is  chiefly  timber.  In  sketches  of 
townships  this  feature  will  be  noticed  more  at  length.  It  is  situated 
on  the  very  height  of  the  divide  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illi- 
nois rivers,  with  the  41st  parallel  of  north  latitude  running  very  nearly 
through  its  center.  It  is  well  drained  by  streams  running  east  and 
west  from  the  central  divide,  and  perhaps  con  tains  more  high,  dry  and 
exceedingly  rich  and  fertile  lands,  susceptible  of  producing  all  the 
grains  and  fruits  common  to  this  latitude,  than  the  same  number  of 
acres  lying  in  a  body  anywhere  on  the  face  of  the  globe.  The  soil  is 
underlaid  with  a  good  quality  of  coal  and  building  stone,  and  for  a 
healthy  climate  Knox  county  has  no  superior  and  few  equals. 

The  large  prairies  of  the  county  presented  a  most  beautiful  sight 
before  they  were  settled.     The  following  very  descriptive  lines  on 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  109 

4'  The  Prairies  of  Illinois,"  by  Captain  Basil  Hail,  portrays  their  beauty 
in  their  wild  and  native  state: 

"The  charm  of  a  prairie  consists  in  its  extension,  its  green,  flowery 
carpet,  its  undulating  surface,  and  the  skirt  o£  forest  whereby  it  is 
surrounded;  the  latter  feature  being  of  all  others  the  most  significant 
and  expressive,  since  it  characterizes  the  landscape,  and  defines  the 
form  and  boundary  of  the  plain.  If  the  prairie  is  little,  its  greatest 
beauty  consists  in  the  vicinity  of  the  encompassing  edge  of  forests, 
which  may  be  compared  to  the  shores  of  a  lake,  being  intersected  with 
many  deep,  inward  bends,  as  so  many  inlets,  and  at  intervals  project- 
ing very  far,  not  unlike  a  promontory  or  protruding  arm  of  land. 
These  projections  sometimes  so  closely  approach  each  other  that  the 
traveler  passing^  through  between  them,  may  be  said  to  walk  in  the 
midst  of  an  alley  overshadowed  by  the  forest,  before  he  enters  again 
upon  another  broad  prairie.  Where  the  plain  is  extensive,  the  delin- 
eations of  the  forest  in  the  distant  background  appear  as  would  a 
misty  ocean  beach  afar  off.  The  eye  sometimes  surveys  the  green 
prairie  without  discovering  on  the  illimitable  plain  a  tree  or  bush,  or 
any  other  object,  save  the  wilderness  of  flowers  and  grass,  while  on  other 
occasions  the  view  is  enlivened  by  the  groves  dispersed  like  islands 
over  the  plain,  or  by  a  solitary  tree  rising  above  the  wilderness.  The 
resemblance  to  the  sea  which  some  of  these  prairies  exhibited,  was 
really  most  striking.  In  the  spring,  when  the  young  grass  has  just 
clothed  the  soil  with  a  soddy  carpet  of  the  most  delicate  green,  but 
especially  when  the  sun,  rising  behind  a  distant  elevation  of  the 
ground,  its  rays  are  reflected  by  myriads  of  dew  drops,  a  more  pleas- 
ing and  more  eye-benefiting  view  cannot  be  imagined. 

"  The  delightful  aspect  of  the  prairie,  its  amenities,  and  the  absence 
of  that  sombre  awe  inspired  by  forests,  contributes  to  forcing  away, 
that  sentiment  of  loneliness,  which  usually  steals  upon  the  mind  of 
the  solitary  wanderer  in  the  wilderness;  for,  although  he  espies  no 
habitation,  and  sees  no  human  being,  and  knows  himself  to  be  far  off 
from  every  settlement  of  man,  he  can  scarcely  defend  himself  from 
believing  that  he  is  traveling  through  a  landscape  embellished  by  hu- 
man art.  The  flowers  are  so  delicate  and  elegant  as  apparently  to  be 
distributed  for  mere  ornament  over  the  plain;  the  groves  and  groups 
of  trees  seem  to  be  dispersed  over  the  prairie  to  enliven  the  landscape, 
and  we  can  scarcely  get  rid  of  the  impression  invading  our  imagina- 
tion, of  the  whole  scene  being  flung  out  and  created  for  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  sentiment  of  beauty  in  refined  men. 

"In  the  summer  the  prairie  is  covered  with  tall  grass,  which  is 
coarse  in  appearance,  and  soon  assumes  a  yellow  color,  waving  in  the 


110  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

wind  like  a  ripe  crop  of  corn.  In  the  early  stages  of  its  growth  it 
resembles  young  wheat,  and  in  this  state  furnishes  such  rich  and  suc- 
culent food  for  cattle  that  the  latter  choose  it  often  in  preference  to 
wheat,  it  being  no  doubt  a  very  congenial  fodder  to  them,  since  it  is 
impossible  to  conceive  of  better  butter  than  is  made  while  the  grass 
is  in  this  stage. 

"In  the  early  stages  of  its  growth  the  grass  is  interspersed  with 
little  flowers, — the  violet,  the  strawberry-blossom,  and  others  of  the 
most  delicate  structure.  When  the  grass  grows  higher  these  disap- 
pear, and  taller  flowers,  displaying  more  lively  colors,  take  their  place; 
and  still  later  a  series  of  still  higher  but  less  delicately  formed  flowers 
appears  on  the  surface.  While  the  grass  is  green  these  beautiful  plains 
are  adorned  with  every  imaginable  variety  of  color.  It  is  impossible 
to  conceive  of  a  greater  diversity,  or  discover  a  predominating  color, 
save  the  green,  which  forms  a  beautiful  dead  color,  relieving  the  splen- 
dor of  the  others.  In  the  summer  the  plants  grow  taller,  and  the 
colors  more  lively;  in  the  autumn  another  generation  of  flowers  arises 
which  possesses  less  clearness  and  variety  of  color  and  less  fragrancy. 
In  the  winter  the  prairie  presents  a  melancholy  aspect.  Often  the 
fire,  which  the  hunters  annually  send  over  the  prairies  in  order  to  dis- 
lodge the  game,  will  destroy  the  entire  vegetation,  giving  to  the  soil 
a  uniform  black  appearance,  like  that  of  a  vast  plain  of  charcoal;  then 
the  wind  sweeping  over  the  prairie  will  find  nothing  which  it  might 
put  in  motion,  no  leaves  which  it  might  disperse,  no  haulms  which 
it  might  shake.  No  sooner  does  the  snow  commence  to  fall  than  the 
animals,  unless  already  before  frightened  away  by  the  fire,  retire  into 
the  forests,  when  the  most  dreary,  oppressive  solitude  will  reign  on 
the  burnt  prairies,  which  often  occupy  many  square  miles  of  territory." 

PKAIRIE   FIRES. 

Annual  prairie  fires  would  visit  the  prairies  in  the  autumn.  The 
settlers  who  had  pushed  out  from  the  timber  took  great  precaution  to 
prevent  their  crops,  houses  and  barns  from  being  destroyed,  yet  not 
always  did  they  succeed.  Many  incidents  are  related  of  prairie  fires. 
In  1831  Thomas  Maxwell  had  succeeded  in  getting  his  wheat  threshed 
and  stored  into  a  rail  pen,  when  a  prairie  fire  came  along  and  totally 
destroyed  his  grain.  His  son,  Henry,  in  attempting  to  save  it  by 
*' burning  ahead,"  or  "back-firing,"  got  his  back  badly  scorched.  A 
more  serious  case  was  that  of  Mr.  William  Lake,  of  F  raker's  Grove, 
who  was  returning  from  the  mill  at  Hennepin,  Putnam  County,  when 
he  was  overtaken  by  a  prairie  fire.  IJis  horses  turned  and  run  with 
the  fire.  Mr.  Lake,  seeing  he  could  not  save  his  team,  as  they  had 


SECTIONAL  VIEW  OF  LA  SALLE   STREET  TUNNEL,  CHICAGO. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  113 

become  unmanageable,  jumped  from  his  wagon  upon  the  burnt  and 
blackened  ground.  He  ran  on  to  recover  the  horses  if  possible,  and, 
after  going  some  two  or  three  miles,  came  up  to  them  and  found  one 
horse  dead,  and  the  other  so  badly  burned  that  his  usefulness  was 
greatly  impaired.  His  wagon  and  its  contents  were  entirely  consumed. 
The  tire,  though  presenting  a  scene  of  sublimity,  was  as  if  the  de- 
stroying angel  had  flown  abroad,  crying  in  terror-stricken  tones  while 
breathing  tempests  of  fire  and  smoke  from  his  nostrils,  changing  a 
scene  of  so  much  brilliance,  which  the  prairies  presented  but  a  few 
minutes  before,  into  a  dark,  charred  mass. 

The  great  conflagrations  were  caused  either  accidentally,  or  design- 
edly from  waiftonness,  or  with  a  view  of  bewildering  the  game.  We 
find  on  the  Circuit  Court  records  that  David  Ogden  and  Mathew  Her- 
bert were  indicted  on  the  21st  day  of  December,  1845,  for  burning 
prairies.  The  following  day  John  Matlock  and  Nelson  Case  were  in- 
dicted for  the  same  offense.  Bail  was  given  to  the  amount  of  $100 
each.  Herbert  jumped  his  bail,  but  was  subsequently  brought  to 
trial,  and  with  the  other  three  fined  $5  and  costs.  This  was  not  an 
uncommon  offense  for  which  men  were  brought  before  the  court  to 
answer. 

The  fire  often  spread  further  than  it  was  intended  it  should.  Where- 
ever  were  extensive  prairie  lands,  one-half  was  burned  in  the  spring 
and  the  other  half  in  the  autumn,  in  order  to  produce  a  more  rapid 
growth  of  the  naturally  exuberant  grass,  destroying  at  the  same  time 
the  tall  and  thick  weed  stalks.  Violent  winds  would  often  arise  and 
drive  the  flames  with  such  rapidity  that  riders  on  the  fleetest  steeds 
could  scarcely  escape.  On  the  approach  of  a  prairie  fire  the  farmer 
would  immediately  set  about  "  burning  back," — that  is,  burning  off 
the  grass  close  by  the  fences,  that  the  larger  fire  upon  arriving  would 
become  extinguished  for  want  of  aliment.  In  order  to  be  able,  how- 
ever, to  make  proper  use  of  this  measure  of  safety,  it  was  very  essen- 
tial that  every  farmer  should  encompass  with  a  ditch  those  of  his 
fences  adjoining  the  prairie.  When  known  that  the  conflagration 
could  cause  no  danger,  the  settler,  though  accustomed  to  them,  could 
not  refrain  from  gazing  with  admiration  upon  the  magnificent  specta- 
cle. Language  cannot  convey,  words  cannot  express,  the  faintest  idea 
of  the  splendor  and  grandeur  of  such  a  conflagration  during  the  night. 
It  was  as  if  the  pale  queen  of  night,  disdaining  to  take  her  accus- 
tomed place  in  the  heavens,  had  dispatched  myriads  upon  myriads  of 
messengers  to  light  their  torches  at  the  altar  of  the  setting  sun  until 
all  had  flashed  into  one  long  and  continuous  blaze. 


114  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

"  0,  fly  to  the  prairies  and  in  wonder  gaze, 
As  o'er  the  grass  sweeps  the  magnificent  blaze  : 
The  earth  cannot  boast  so  magnificent  a  sight, — 
A  continent  blazing  with  oceans  of  light." 

The  following  graphic  description  of  prairie  fires  was  written  by  a 
traveler  through  this  region  in  1849: 

"  Soon  the  fires  began  to  kindle  wider  and  rise  higher  from  the  long 
grass;  the  gentle  breeze  increased  to  stronger  currents,  and  soon  fanned 
the  small,  flickering  blaze  into  fierce  torrent-flames,  which  curled  up 
and  leaped  along  in  resistless  splendor;  and  like  quickly  raising  the 
dark  curtain  from  the  luminous  stage,  the  scenes  before  me  were  sud- 
denly changed,  as  if  by  the  magician's  wand,  into  one  boundless  am- 
phitheater, blazing  from  earth  to  heaven  and  sweeping  the  horizon 
round, — columns  of  lurid  flames  sportively  mounting  up  to  the  zenith, 
and  dark  clouds  of  crimson  smoke  curling  away  and  aloft  till  they 
nearly  obscured  stars  and  moon,  while  the  rushing,  crashing  sounds, 
like  roaring  cataracts  mingled  with  distant  thunders,  were  almost  deaf- 
ening; danger,  death,  glared  all  around;  it  screamed  for  victims;  yet, 
notwithstanding  the  imminent  peril  of  prairie  fires,  one  is  loth,  irres- 
olute, almost  unable  to  withdraw  or  seek  refuge." 

The  following  poem  appeared  in  the  Rnoxville  Journal  of-  March 
27,  1850.  It  was  written  for  that  paper  by  "Flora"  of  Alstead,  N. 
H.,  on  seeing  a  notice  of  a  railroad  meeting,  in  the  Journal  of  De- 
cember 12,  1849.  It  so  beautifully  and  graphically  pictures  the 
grandeur,  the  magnificence  and  splendor  of  the  vast  prairies  of  Knox 
county  as  they  were  when  cultivated  by  nature's  hand,  and  being  pre- 
pared especially  for  that  excellent  pioneer  paper,  and  as  it  also  refers 
to  the  building  of  the  first  railroad  over  the  fertile  prairies  of  Knox, 
we  deem  it  well  to  give  it  in  full.  It  is  entitled 

RECOLLECTIONS    OF   THE    WEST. 

Tho'  many  a  lingering  year  has  passed  away 
Since  last  I  saw  thee,  yes,  and  many  a  day 
Of  grief,  yet  mem'ry  still  retains  a  zest 
Of  thee,  ye  lovely  prairies  of  the  West ! 
I've  often  rambled  o'er  thy  verdant  lawns, 
Where  bound  the  wild  deer  with  the  playful  fawns; 
Where  every  breeze  wafts  fragrance  and  delight, 
And  every  prospect  charms  the  wandering  sight ; 
I've  seen  thee  clothed  in  thy  rich,  vernal  dyes; 
At  every  step  new  beauties  met  my  eyes, 
From  where  the  sun  first  darts  his  morning  rays, 
To  where  he  sinks  in  yonder  deep,  blue  haze; 
As  on  I  slroll'd,  through  a  long,  bright  day, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  115 

Before  me  still,  thou  slretchest  far  away, 
Beyond  the  utmost  limits  of  my  ken ; 
1'erhaps,  methought,  beyond  the  haunts  of  men, 
Save  the  wild  savage,  and  his  wilder  steed, 
Who  courses  o'er  thee  with  the  lightning  speed, 
Pursuing  still  his  wonted  daily  sport, 
Where'er  the  timorous,  harmless  deer  resort, 
With  murd'rous  weapons,  and  a  murcl'rous  heart, 
An  eagle  eye,  he  hurls  the  deadly  dart, 
And  brings  the  fated  victim  to  the  ground. 
Poor,  helpless  creature  f  thou  hast  thine  death-wound ; 
Oh,  cruel  sport !  could  I  thy  life  defend, 
(Like  Cowper's  hare,)  thou  too  should'st  have  a  friend. 
But  I  have  wander'd.     Say,  ye  fairy  grounds, 
Where  is  your  termination '?  where  your  bounds  ? 
No  dense,  dark  forest,  hill,  or  deep  ravine, 
Obstructs  thy  progress,  naughtto  intervene 
Thy  onward  course.    Where'er  I  turn  my  eyes 
There  springs  a  lily;  here  the  wild  pink  vies 
With  clustering  roses,  and  the  rich  blue  bell, 
The  morning  glories,  and  the  daffodil, 
And  countless  others ;  how  and  whence  they  came, 
I  leave  for  botanists  to  tell  and  name ; 
Ye  lay  before  me,  spreading  far  and  wide, 
From  Illinois  to  Mississippi's  t:de, 
One  boundless  picture,  drawn  by  nature's  skill ; 
'Twere  vain  to  imitate,  let  try  who  wijl. 
I've  lingered  long  amid  your  magic  scenes, 
Which  savor'd  more  of  truth  than  poets'  dreams. 
But  list,  ye  fiow'rets,  there's  a  secret  plot, 
To  mar  your  beauty  and  to  spread  a  blot 
O'er  your  fair  features,  now  so  fresh  with  bloom, 
Breathing  on  all  around  your  sweet  perfume ; 
Beauty  is  potent,  and  perchance  you  doubt  it, 
But  mark  my  words,  there's  no  mistake  about  it ; 
Tho'  thou  hast  laid  thy  scenes  far  from  the  ocean,       J- 
Thy  Sucker  friends  have  took  the  Yankee  notion 
Of  making  railroads  all  the  wide  world  over, 
That  he  who  chooses  soon  may  be  a  rover ; 
Fame  says  the  tune  has  turned,  and  we  believe  her, 
Your  Western  folks  have  caught  the  Eastern  lever ; 
Tho'  now  you  grow  in  wild  and  sweet  profusion, 
Yet  soon  they'll  put  their  plan  in  execution. 
The  whole  fraternity  are  now  array'd 
To  crush  your  freedom,  and  your  rights  invade ; 
For  men  who  love  to  ride  the  iron  rod, 
Will  lay  you  lifeless  soon  beneath  the  sod ; 
They'll  crush  you  with  the  ponderous,  iron  railing, 
In  spite  of  all  your  weeping  and  your  wailing. 
Ye  rural  beauties,  you  must  disappear ; 
Yield  your  possessions  to  the  engineer. 
Henceforth  no  more  the  wild  and  playful  deer 
8 


116  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Shall  o'er  your  meadows  bound ; 

But  rattling,  rumbling  cars,  with  ceaseless  steam, 

And  magic  speed,  propelled  by  Vulcan's  team, 

Whose  whips  and  spurs  are  fire  and  smoke  and  steam, 

Sball  occupy  your  ground. 

THE   BIG   SNOW. 

The  big  snow  of  1830  will  be  vividly  remembered  by  all  the  old 
settlers.  This  was  the  heaviest  snow  ever  known  to  have  fallen  in  this 
State.  The  snow  began  falling  on  the  night  of  the  29th  of  December, 
and  continued  to  fall  for  three  days  and  nights,  until  it  reached  an 
average  depth  of  about  four  feet,  but  drifting  in  places  as  high  as  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  feet.  Great  suffering  was  experienced  in  conse- 
quence. The  settlers  relied  for  their  daily  food  upon  the  Indian  corn 
which  they  were  enabled  to  raise,  together  with  wild  game,  which 
was  abundant  at  that  time.  Plenty  of  the  former  was  raised  to  sup- 
ply the  wants  of  all  until  the  next  season's  crop;  but  when  the  snow 
fell  very  little  had  been  gathered.  Game  could  not  be  had.  The 
great  depth  of  snow  was  a  barrier  to  all  travel,  and  it  may  well  be 
imagined  the  sufferings  of  the  people  were  very  great  indeed.  Just 
previous  to  the  falling  of  this  snow  John  G.  Sanburn  and  Parnach 
Owen  went  to  Vandalia,  then  the  State  capital.  Owen  had  not  made 
such  preparations  at  home  before  he  left  that  would  permit  him  to 
remain  away  any  extended  time,  so  he  set  out  to  return  for  this 
county  on  horseback.  In  company  with  him  was  a  Mr.  Wright,  of 
Canton,  and  a  member  of  the  Legislature  at  the  time.  The  snow  was 
so  deep,  and  every  trail  so  completely  obliterated,  that  they  got  lost. 
They  could  not  turn  back  and  retrace  their  steps,  as  no  indication 
whatever  remained  of  their  track  five  minutes  after  passing  along. 
No  house  or  shelter  of  any  description  was  near,  and  the  perils  of  the 
night,  which  was  fast  approaching,  were  almost  certain  death  if  they 
remained  there.  To  make  their  situation  more  appalling,  when  com- 
ing across  a  large  prairie  in  Fulton  county  their  horses  suddenly  gave 
out,  utterly  refusing  to  move  a  step.  To  remain  there  would  be  only 
to  freeze  to  death;  so  they  determined  to  proceed  on  foot,  and,  taking 
the  saddles  off  their  wearied  animals,  they  laid  them  on  the  snow  and 
started  on.  The  snow  was  so  deep  and  the  crust  so  thin 'that  they 
would  often  break  through,  making  progress  slow  and  tiresome;  but 
probably  this  action  was  the  only  thing  which  prevented  them  from 
freezing  to  death.  At  last  Canton  was  reached,  but  not  until  the  feet 
of  Owen  were  very  badly  frozen;  indeed,  his  boots  were  frozen  so 
tightly  to  his  feet  that  they  could  not  be  taken  off  until  bathed  in 
water  for  some  time.  The  following  morning  a  man  was  dispatched 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  11  f 

after  the  horses,  and  they  were  found  standing  in  the  same  positions 
and  places  in  which  they  were  left  the  day  before.  Owen  was  com- 
pelled to  remain  at  Canton  for  several  days,  when,  after  his  feet  were 
in  a  fit  condition,  he  caine  to  his  home  near  Knoxville  on  snow-shoes, 
that  being  almost  the  only  mode  of  travel  practicable  at  that  time. 
The  snow  lay  on  the  ground  until  about  the  first  of  April;  and  we 
have  little  doubt  that  many  a  weary  one  during  that  long  winter 
sighed  for  the  comforts  of  the  "old  home;"  still,  notwithstanding  its 
great  dreariness  and  the  greater  sufferings  of  the  people,  none  became 
disheartened,  for  we  find  them  in  the  spring  of  1831  as  determined 
as  ever  to  carve  out  for  themselves  a  home  in  this  truly  beautiful 
country. 


GOING    TO    MARKET. 


The  early  settlers  experienced  great  trouble  in  marketing  their  pro- 
duce. Grain  was  generally  carted  to  Chicago,  especially  from  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  until  the  introduction  of  railroads. 
Peoria  was  also  a  market,  but  more  particularly  from  the  western  and 
southern  parts  of  the  county;  yet  grain  and  hogs  have  been  marketed 
in  Chicago  from  all  parts  of  the  county.  Of  course  it  took  several 
days  to  make  the  trip;  and  as  there  were  few  good  hotels  along 
the  route,  the  farmers  generally  slept  in  their  wagons  and  prepared 
their  own  meals  along  the  road.  Their  cooking  utensils  consisted 
usually  of  a  frying-pan  and  a  coffee-pot,  and  their  bill  of  fare  would 
be  hot  coffee,  bread  and  fried  bacon.  At  that  time  Chicago  was 
nothing  better  than  a  great,  overgrown  village,  set  down  in  what  ap- 
peared to  be  the  lowest  and  muddiest  spot  in  creation.  The  farmers 
unloaded  into  a  hopper,  and  the  elevators  were  no  better  than  will 
usually  be  seen  in  most  country  towns.  At  times  when  roads  were 
good  and  prices  a  little  up  there  was  often  a  big  rush ;  and  as  they  slowly 
unloaded  and  advanced  the  length  of  one  team  at  a  time,  the  unlucky 
farmer  would  sometimes  be  delayed  several  hours  before  he  could  get 
his  grain  into  the  hopper  and  the  cash  therefor  into  his  pocket. 

The  price  for  wheat  in  Chicago  ranged  from  forty  cents  to  a  dollar 
and  twenty  cents  a  bushel,  but  it  seldom  reached  as  high  as  a  dollar: 
it  generally  ranged  at  fifty  or  sixty  cents.  The  farmers  were  not  in 
any  danger  of  becoming  suddenly  rich  by  selling  their  wheat  at  these 
prices  and  carting  it  to  Chicago;  yet  all  enjoyed  such  trips,  for  many 
things  occurred  on  the  way  that  make  the  old  men,  in  now  rehearsing 
them,  wish  they  were  young  again,  and  could  once  more  repeat  them 
as  of  old. 

About  1842,  while  Jonathan  Gibbs  with  several  others  were  on  their 


118  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

\ 

way  to  Chicago  with  wheat,  and  were  sleeping  in  and  about  their 
wagons,  they  were  awakened  before  break  of  day  by  a  man  on  his  re- 
turn trip,  who  called  oat,  as  he  came  in  sight  of  the  sleepers:  "  Hoi 
all  ye  who  are  drawing  wheat  to  Chicago  for  forty-seven  cents  a  bushel, 
you  should  be  up  and  rolling  on  your  way." 

Gaddial  Scott,  John  Martz,  Andrew  Osborn,  a  Mr.  Field  and  others, 
made  a  trip  to  Chicago  one  fall.  They  could  get  but  twenty-live  cents 
a  bushel  for  their  wheat  in  this  county;  so  they  thought  they  would 
try  the  Chicago  market,  which  was  considerably  better  for  them,  as 
they  received  sixty-five  cents  a  bushel,  which  they  then  regarded  as  a 
large  price,  although  they  were  eleven  days  and  a  half  in  making  the 
trip.  Allowing  thirty  bushels  to  the  load,  we  find  they  received 
$19.50  for  the  wheat,  which,  calculating  the  time  spent  in  marketing, 
is  less  than  $1.70  a  day  for  man  and  team.  But  when  we  reckon  the 
time  and  labor  spent  in  growing,  harvesting,  threshing  and  cleaning 
it,  especially  with  their  antique  and  much  inferior  machinery,  we  find 
the  compensations  received  for  labor  in  those  days  were  meager  indeed. 
Several  little  incidents  occurred  during  the  trip  of  the  above  men- 
tioned gentlemen.  Mr.  Scott  had  never  visited  the  city  before,  and 
when  they  came  in  sight  of  it,  noticing  the  masts  of  the  ships  which 
lay  in  the  river,  he  thought  they  were  a  strip  of  dead  timber.  On 
reaching  the  city  and  when  near  the  river,  driving  along  on  one  of 
the  busy  streets,  he  was  so  much  interested  in  the  tall  masts  of  the 
shipping  that  he  forgot  to  notice  his  team,  which  run  into  the  one 
ahead  of  him,  smashing  the  feed-box,  which  was  always  carried  on  the 
rear  end  of  the  wagon  bed.  A  dog  they  had  along  became  so  bewil- 
dered at  the  sights  of  the  city  that  it  forgot  to  follow  its  master  closely, 
and  was  accordingly  lost.  Several  days  afterward,  however,  it 
returned  home,  with  no  desire  whatever  to  take  another  trip  to 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Scott  brought  three  barrels  of  salt  home  with  him,  for  which 
he  paid  $1.50  per  barrel;  the  price  for  that  article  here  being  $3  per 
bushel.  Jonathan  Gibbs  says  he  paid  that  price  for  salt  in  1838,  get- 
ting fifty-six  pounds  to  the  bushel.  One  cause  for  this  staple  article 
being  so  high  was  that  the  Illinois  river  was  so  shallow  that  naviga- 
tion on  it  was  prevented. 

In  the  winter  of  1841  Judge  R.  L.  Hannaman  drove  1,300  head 
of  hogs  from  Knoxville  to  Chicago.  For  these  he  paid  $2  per  hundred 
pounds  net.  He  had  them  slaughtered  and  packed  in  that  city,  and 
shipped  to  New  York  and  Boston.  In  the  enterprise,  which  at  the 
time  was  a  stupendous  one,  Mr.  Hannaman  lost  $5,000.  He  had  six- 
teen boys  employed  to  drive  the  stock,  and  consumed  sixteen  days' 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  119 

hard  work  to  reach  the  city.  Considerable  trouble  was  experienced 
in  securing  places  to  stop  over  night,  as  the  number,  both  ofbo}7s  and 
hogs,  was  so  large  that  but  few  settlers  along  the  route  could  accom- 
modate them.  One  night  Mr.  Hannaman  and  his  whole  company  re- 
mained with  John  H.  Bryant,  a  brother  of  the  poet,  who  was  then 
living  in  a  comfortable  dwelling  on  a  fine  farm  near  Princeton.  In 
Chicago  he  stopped  at  the  "  Illinois  Hotel,"  kept  by  Colonel  Beaubien, 
a  Frenchman,  who  was  quite  extensively  known  through  Northern 
Illinois.  In  relating  the  incidents  of  the  trip,  the  Judge  remarked: 
*'  At  that  early  day  Chicago  gave  no  hint  or  suspicion  that  she  would 
ever  become  the  great  commercial  metropolis  of  the  Northwest.  She 
was  then  a  small  town,  situated  in  the  midst  of  miry  swamps,  any 
quantity  of  which  I  could  have  bought  for  almost  nothing,  but  would 
not  have  accepted  as  a  gift." 

In  the  winter  of  1842-3  Jonathan  Gibbs  went  to  Peoria  to  sell  his 
pork;  but  the  highest  offer  made  him  was  by  Cortennis  &  Griswold, 
large  packers,  which  was  1^  cents  per  pound  for  dressed  hogs,  and  3£ 
<iash  or  4  cents  in  trade,  for  green  hams,  and  the  same  for  lard.  Over 
a  fire-place  in  Mr.  Gibbs'  log  cabin  sixteen  barrels  of  lard  were  tried 
out  that  fall.  Such  a  stupendous  job  of  work  would  scarcely  be  un- 
dertaken by  any  family  at  the  present  time. 

MONEY. 

Money  was  an  article  little  known  and  seldom  seen  among  the 
earlier  settlers.  Indeed,  they  had  but  little  use  for  it,  as  all  business 
was  transacted  by  trading  one  article  for  another.  Great  ingenuity 
was  developed  in  the  barter  of  their  commodities,  and  when  this 
failed  long  credits  contributed  to  their  convenience.  But'for  taxes 
and  postage  neither  the  barter  nor  credit  system  would  answer,  and 
often  letters  were  suffered  to  remain  a  considerable  time  in  the  post- 
office  for  want  of  25  cents,  which  was  then  the  postage  on  all  letters  from 
any  great  distance;  nor  were  they  carried  on  the  fast  express  or  mail 
trains.  It  was  only  every  week  or  so  that  a  lone  horseman,  with  mail  bag 
thrown  astride,  would  ride  into  a  settlement  or  village.  If,  however, 
the  village  was  on  the  line  of  a  stage  route,  the  old  stage  coach  would 
make  its  appearance  as  often.  It  was  not  common  then  for  persons 
to  get  many  letters;  indeed,  one  or  two  a  month  was  considered  a 
large  mail.  Nor  did  three  cents  pay  the  postage  upon  a  letter  at  that 
day.  It  seldom  took  less  than  twenty-five  cents,  or  two  "bits,"  as 
Kentuckians  would  say. 

Mr.   Giles  Cook,  of  Victoria,,   doubtless  very   vividly   remembers 


120  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  old  price  of  letter  postage.  He  received  notice  that  there  wa& 
a  letter  for  him  at  the  postoffice,  which  at  that  time  was  located  at 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Bradford,  about  seven  miles  east  of  Knoxville. 
Mr.  Cook  accordingly  called  for  his  letter,  but  as  the  postage  was  due, 
and  the  post-master  would  not  permit  him  to  open  it  until  it  wa& 
paid,  which  he  could  not  do,  he  was  unable  to  get  it.  He  at  once  set 
about  to  earn  the  required  amount;  and  after  five  or  six  weeks'  extra 
exertion,  succeeded  in  raising  enough  to  pay  the  postage  on  that  one 
letter.  When  he  opened  the  hard-earned  epistle,  he  found  therein  a 
check  for  $50,  which-  was  abundant  compensation  for  half  a  year's 
labor. 

While  money  was  so  exceedingly  difficult  to  obtain  that  but  little 
was  ever  accumulated,  yet  the  pioneers  really  needed  but  little.  They 
seldom  received  a  letter,  and  their  taxes  were  light.  For  instance,  the 
first  year  after  arrival,  A.  C.  Higgins  paid  taxes  to  the  amount  of  five 
cents.  This  was  on  a  silver  watch  he  carried,  it  being  the  only  taxa- 
ble property  he  then  possessed.  In  1836  Gaddial  Scott  paid  his  taxes, 
which  amounted  to  $1.37£,  with  a  wolf  scalp  and  37-J-  cents  in  money, 
being  three  silver  pieces  of  12^  cents  each,  or  three  "bits,"  aa  they 
were  called  in  that  early  day.  This  was  the  full  amount  of  taxes  upon 
about  $1,100  worth  of  property. 

FIRST    CELEBRATION. 

The  4th  of  July,  1836,  was  the  first  national  anniversary  day  es- 
pecially celebrated  in  Knox  county.  The  exercises  were  held  in 
Sanbnrn's  Grove,  near  Knoxville,  and  were  attended  by  between  600 
and  TOO  people, — one  dollar  a  couple  being  charged  for  the  dinner, 
which  was  sumptuously  served.  The  meat,  which  consisted  of  beef, 
veal,  mutton  and  pork,  was  roasted  in  a  pit  in  the  ground,  by  Harrison 
Bell.  Col.  Herman  Knox  was  very  enthusiastic  over  the  affair  and 
took  an  active  part,  furnishing  from  his  store  the  dishes  used.  Not 
being  able  to  clean  off  the  tables  that  night,  as  doubtless  all  wanted 
to  partake  and  not  miss  any  of  the  pleasures  of  the  festive  occasion, 
"  Old  Black  Joe"  was  hired  to  stand  guard  over  them  until  next 
morning. 

This  was  a  memorable  celebration,  and  for  its  magnitude  at  the 
time  many  thought  it  would  scarcely  ever  be  surpassed.  Indeed,  one 
of  the  prominent  men  in  addressing  another  said,  "  If  you  live  here 
for  20  years,  you  will  never  see  this  beaten." 

Elder  Gardner  Bartlett  made  the  opening  prayer,  and  Hon.  James 
Knox  delivered  the  oration,  after  which  the  audience  formed  in  line 
and  marched  to  the  tables  spread  under  the  boughs  of  a  large  tree. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  121 

MILITIA. 

For  many  years  in  the  early  history  of  the  county  the  "  State  militia" 
organizations  held  their  regular  semi-annual  drills,  which  was  always  a 
source  of  much  pleasure,  and  a  gala  day  for  all.  The  company  drills 
were  held  in  the  spring  in  various  portions  #f  the  county,  but  in  the 
fall  all  of  the  militia-men  assembled  at  one  place,  when  regimental 
exercises  were  observed.  During  the  meantime  the  officers  had  their 
drill  muster,  when  instructions-' were  given.  Thomas  McKee  was 
chosen  Major  in  18-38,  and  for  several  years  held  the  office.  In  1846, 
when  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  commenced,  Major 
McKee  gave  orders  to  his  captains  to  have  the  men  assemble  at  Knox- 
ville  on  a  certain  day.  The  captains  informed  the  non-commissioned 
officers,  and  they  in  turn  circulated  the  call  among  the  rank  and  file. 
Upon  the  appointed  day  about  1,500  of  the  militia  men  assembled. 
After  the  usual  preliminary  forming  and  marching  the  Major  formed 
them  into  a  hollow  square;  then  mounting  a  wagon  which  stood  in 
the  centre,  he  addressed  them  on  the  subject  of  enlisting  in  the  ser- 
vice of  their  country  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  After  his  stirring 
speech,  which  aroused  and  fired  the  patriotism  of  the  men,  the 
martial  band  took  up  the  call  and  in  musical  strains  discoursed  from 
the  drum  and  fife  many  of  the  soul-stirring  national  airs  of  the  day, 
which  raised  their  patriotic  spirits  to  a  still  higher  pitch.  When  the 
Major  at  the  head  of  the  band  called  out  as  they  marched  off,  "  Xow, 
gentlemen,  all  you  that  want  to  go  to  Mexico,  come  along,"  immedi- 
ately 109  men  joined  him,  showing  thereby  their  willingness  to  go  to 
the  front.  It  was  the  Major's  desire  to  start  right  off  that  night  for 
Springfield  to  have  the  company  accepted;  but  many  of  the  older  men 
thought  him  too  hasty;  that  he  had  not  considered  matters  sufficiently ; 
that  such  a  course  would  be  rash  and  uncalled  for:  so  at  their  solici- 
tation he  sent  the  report  of  his  company  having  been  raised,  by  mail. 
As  the  quota  of  the  State  was  only  six  regiments,  of  course  it  was 
soon  filled;  so,  when  the  letter  from  Major  McKee  reached  Springfield, 
every  company  asked  for  had  been  furnished  and  no  more  would  be 
accepted,  which  completely  dampened  the  military  ardor  of  the 
Major  and  his  men.  They  remained,  however,  in  readiness  to  answer 
a  call  at  a  moment's  warning,  but  happily  for  them  none  was  ever 
made,  as  they  were  not  needed. 

BEE-HUNTING. 

During  the  early  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  State,  one  of  the 
prevailing  customs  of  the  pioneers  was  "bee-hunting."  Often  a 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

small  company  would  travel.many  miles  into  a  wild,  unsettled  country, 
in  search  of  the  sweet-flavored  honey  of  the  wild  bee.  Large  trees, 
containing  many  gallons,  and  often  a  barrel,  were  frequently  found  by 
bee-hunters.  The  little,  busy  bees  would  be  carefully  watched  as 
they  flew  heavily  laden  with  the  richest  extract  of  the  flowers  that 
were  purelv  native  and  unknown  to  the  present  generation.  They 
always  took  a  "  bee  line"  for  their  homes.  This  was  a  correct  guide 
to  the  sturdy  hunter,  who  had  studied  with  care  the  ways  of  the  bee 
and  by  their  knowledge  took  advantage  of  the  little  insect.  Once  on 
the  trail,  good  bee-hunters  were  almost  certain  .to  capture  the  rich 
prize.  After  the  bee  tree  was  discovered  it  was  no  trouble  to  get 
possession  of  the  honey.  The  tree  was  felled,  and  the  hunters  would 
rush  for  their  booty  ere  it  was  lost  by  running  out  upon  the  ground. 

In  1827  Andy  Osborn,  Andrew  Scott,  John  Slatteri  and  Gaddial 
Scott,  four  sturdy  young  men  from  Sangamon  county,  made  a  tour 
through  this  country  in  search  of  honey.  They  pushed  ahead,  over 
prairie  and  through  timber,  until  Henderson  Grove  in  this  county 
was  reached.  Here  they  discovered  two  well  filled  trees,  and  with- 
out trouble  were  soon  possessors  of  their  delicious  contents.  This 
little  company  camped  on  the  land  now  owned  by  John  Miles,  on  the 
Warren  and  Knox  county  line.  They  remained  for  one  week,  during 
which  time  they  met  neither  white  man  nor  negro.  The  only  persons 
these  explorers  met,  from  the  time  of  their  leaving  Sangamoii  county 
until  they  returned,  were  a  Mr.  Atwood  and  his  son,  who  lived  south 
on  the  old  Galena  road. 

When  we  remember  that  all  of  this  section  of  the  country  was  not 
inhabited  save  by  the  red  man  and  wild  beasts  of  forest  and  prairie, 
one  will  certainly  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Sangamon  county 
boys  were  great  lovers  of  honey,  or  else  were  fearless  of  danger  and 
cared  not  for  hardship.  Mr.  Gaddial  Scott  seemed  to  have  formed  a 
good  impression  of  Knox  county,  for  we  find  him  moving  here  a  few 
years  after. 

These  men  were  the  first,  so  far  as  we  know,  who  crossed  the  prai- 
ries of  Knox  county.  Hunters  and  travelers  had  previously  been 
here,  but  when,  or  who  they  were,  is  not  known.  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr. 
Osborn  subsequently  came  to  the  county  to  live,  and  the  former  is  at 
the  present  time  an  active  citizen. 

Knox  county  seems  to  have  been  especially  favored  in  quantity  ot 
honey  produced  by  the  wild  bees.  Trees  containing  them  were  in 
great  abundance.  Indeed,  the  county  was  known  as  a  land  flowing 
with  honey.  There  were  men  living  within  its  boundaries  who  fol- 
lowed no  other  business  than  gathering  honey  and  the  honeycomb. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX  -  COUNTY.  125 

They  made  their  regular  trips  to  market,  disposing  of  their  stock. 
The  wax  was  the  principal  article,  however,  that  they  marketed. 
While  John  G.  Sanbnrn  was  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Henderson, 
he  sent  to  St.  Louis  several  barrels  of  strained  honey  at  one  time,  to- 
gether with  a  large  quantity  of  beeswax.  The  price  generally  paid 
for  honey  was  37£  cents  per  gallon. 

ParnachOwen  took  nine  gallons  of  strained  honey  and  twenty-two 
pounds  of  wax  from  one  tree,  which,  although  often  excelled,  was  an 
extra  good  tree. 

Casks  were  often  made  of  hollow  bass-wood  logs,  from  one  to  three 
feet  !ong,  with  a  bottom  set  in.  These  were  made  watertight  and 
were  used  for  years. 

COURTS. 

Although  the  early  settlers  were  peaceable,  neighborly  and  law- 
abiding,  yet  sessions  of  the  Circuit  Court  were  necessary  to  be  held. 
At  the  first  and  second  sessions,  however,  the  grand  jury  found  no 
violation  of  law  corning  under  their  province.  Of  course  the  usual 
preliminary  business  was  attended  to.  For  a  more  minute  sketch  of 
the  first  sessions  of  court  held  in  the  county  we  refer  our  readers 
again  to  Chapter  II.  The  following  incident  illustrates  the  habits  of 
the  people  and  the  hardships  of  the  legal  gentlemen  during  those 
times: 

Judge  Richard  M.  Young  and  State's  Attorney  Thomas  Ford 
traveled  together  throughout  their  judicial  circuit,  which  included 
all  the  northern  portion  of  the  State.  On  a  trip  (which  was  about  the 
first)  from  Galena  to  Knoxville,  they  wandered  from  the  main  trail, 
and  soon  became  lost.  On  they  traveled,  yet  they  failed  to  reach 
their  destination.  Night  came  on,  finding  them  in  a  wild  country 
without  food  or  shelter.  They  concluded  they  might  as  well  become 
resigned  to  their  situation,  and  accordingly  lay  down  upon  the  grass- 
carpeted  earth  in  the  wild  forest  and  passed  the  night.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning  they  pursued  their  journey,  yet  again  failed  to  come 
to  the  little  log  court-house  in  the  newly  laid  out  town  of  Knoxville. 
They  kept  on  and  finally  brought  up  at  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Owen's  cabin 
in  Haw  Creek  township.  From  there  they  were  directed  to  the  right 
road  for  Knoxville.  But  let  us  go  with  the  two  gentlemen  still 
farther.  Although  both  possessed  giant  minds,  yet  the  difference  of 
their  stature  was  very  great,  and  when  seen  together  approached  al- 
most the  ludicrous.  Judge  Young  was  an  extraordinarily  tall  and 
slimly  built  man,  while  Governor  Ford  was  uncommonly  small. 
While  holding  court  at  Knoxville,  they  put  up  with  Landlord  New- 
man, who  kept  a  store  and  hotel  in  his  two-roomed  log  house  that 


126  HISTORY  .OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  of  that  city.  Besides  the  room 
(to  the  rear  of  the  store-room)  in  which  the  family  lived  and  which  was 
dining-room,  kitchen,  sleeping-room,  parlor,  etc.,  there  was  a  small 
loft  above,  the  ceiling  of  which  was  very  low,  and  the  sides  extending 
but  two  logs  above  the  ceiling  of  the  main  story.  There  were  no  pre- 
tensions of  this  loft  being  furnished,  save  a  pallet  made  on  rough-hewed 
boards.  This  apartment  was  reached  by  a  ladder  which  stood  in  one 
corner  of  the  store-room.  The  two  statesmen  were  assigned  the  loft 
as  their  sleeping-room.  At  night  they  ascended  the  ladder,  and  groping 
around  finally  deposited  their  forms  upon  their  rude  couch  for  a  night's 
rest.  Yes,  these  great  men,  one  of  whom  afterward  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  the  other  filled  the  Guber- 
natorial chair  of  a  great  State,  once  had  no  better  accommodations 
than  those  described  above,  which  are  not  at  all  overdrawn. 

A  landlord  from  the  East,  who  came  to  keep  the  hotel  in  Knoxville, 
being  accustomed  to  see  judges  robed  in  their  judicial  gowns,  with 
attendants  and  considerable  pomp  manifested,  made  great  preparations 
on  the  arrival  of  Judge  Ralston  to  hold  court.  He  had  not  seen  the 
Judge,  and  of  course  did  not  know  him.  Noon  arrived,  and  the  land- 
lord had  dinner  spread  and  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  his  distinguished 
guest.  He  patiently  watched  and  waited  for  him,  supposing  he 
would  come  attended  by  the  sheriff  and  bailiff.  So  engaged  was  he  in 
watching  that  he  did  not  notice  a  common,  every- day  sort  of  a  man 
pass  in  by  him  and  take  his  seat  at  the  table  without  even  so  much  as 
removing  his  hat.  This  individual  was  none  other  than  the  eminent 
Judge.  After  much  delay  the  landlord  made  some  inquiries  of  the 
gentleman  seated  at  the  table,  respecting  the  arrival  of  the  Judge,  and 
great  was  his  amazement  when  the  same  gentleman  informed  him  that 
he  was  the  Judge  himself.  Even  though  such  great  and  extra  prepara- 
tions had  been  made  for  the  reception  of  the  honored  Judge,  he  had 
about  finished  the  sumptuous  dinner  spread  for  him  before  the  land- 
lord knew  who  he  was;  and  he  was  not  long  in  learning  afterward 
that  Western  jurists  made  no  unnecessary  display  in  matters  of  dress 
and  manners,  but  indeed  were  as  other  men. 

To  convey  to  Springfield  the  money  collected  for  State  taxes,  was 
one  of  the  most  risky  and  dangerous  duties  the  earliest  treasurers  of 
the  county  had  to  perform.  There  was  one  treasurer  especially 
troubled  over  taking  this  annual  trip  to  the  State  capital.  He  greatly 
feared  being  robbed  on  the  way,  and  therefore  contrived  an  ingenious 
plan  to  secrete  the  money.  He  had  a  large,  heavy  pair  of  boots  made. 
They  were  much  larger  than  he  usually  wore,  and  in  the  soles  of 
these  he  secreted  the  money,  where  he  thought  the  unsuspecting  high- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  127 

wayman  would  never  think  of  looking.  He  took  the  stage-coach  in 
company  with  a  prominent  official  and  proceeded  to -Springfield. 
During  this  journey  and  during  all  of  this  time  the  Knox  county 
Treasurer  never  once  rested  his  feet  by  pulling  off  his  boots.  In  ford- 
ing a  swollen  stream  he  was  greatly  frightened,  as  the  water  came  high 
up  into  the  coach.  To  prevent  his  boots  from  getting  wet,  and  con- 
sequently the  money,  he  held  his  feet  above  his  head,  and  even  in  this 
position  he  felt  sure  the  water  was  running  up  his  boots,  to  the  great 
amusement  of  his  fellow  passengers,  who  could  see  more  fun  than 
danger  in  the  dampening  of  his  cow-hide.  The  money  however  was 
in  no  wise  damaged,  as  the  water,  like  "  snakes  in  boots,"  was  merely 
imaginary,  and  he  arrived  safely  in  Springfield  with  his  treasure,  after 
so  perilous  a  journey  by  water  and  by  land. 


128  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  II. 
IMPORTANT  LABORS  OF  THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT. 

ORGANIZATION. 

In  the  spring  of  1830,  two  years  after  the  first  white  in  an  had  lo- 
cated in  the  county  of  Knox,  it  was  thought  there  was  a  sufficient 
number  of  inhabitants  to  justify  an  organization.  Accordingly  a 
public  meeting  was  held  at  the  store  of  Samuel  S.  White,  in  Hen- 
derson township,  May  15,  1830.  This  store  stood  near  the  resi- 
dence of  John  B.  Gum,  and  in  the  early  days  was  known  as  a 
tavern,  but  at  present  such  a  place  would  be  commonly  known  as  a 
saloon.  The  building  was  a  one-story  log  cabin,  about  16  feet  square, 
and  contained  but  one  room.  Riggs  Pennington  was  chosen  Chair- 
man and  John  G.  Sanburn  Secretary.  The  original  minutes  of  the 
meeting  are  still  extant,  and  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  F.  G.  Sanburn, 
of  Knoxville,  who  kindly  loaned  them  to  us.  Among  the  pioneers 
present  at  this  the  first  meeting  looking  forward  to  the  organization 
of  one  of  the  wealthiest,  most  beautiful  counties  of  the  State,  were 
Riggs  Pennington,  John  G.  Sanburn,  Philip  Hash,  Stephen  Osborn, 
Dr.  Charles  Hansford,  Henry  Bell,  Jacob  Gum,  Nicholas  Yoiles  and 
John  B.  Gum. 

Dr.  Hansford,  Riggs  Pennington  and  John  G.  Sanburn  were  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  petition  addressed  to  the  Honorable  Richard  M. 
Young,  Judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  District,  praying  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  county.  Another  committee  was  appointed  to  present 
this  petition  to  the  Judge  and  address  him  in  the  interests  of  the  or- 
ganization. This  committee  was  composed  of  Pennington,  Hash, 
Hansford  and  Osborn.  These  gentlemen  shortly  afterward  proceeded 
to  Lewistown,  Fulton  county;  and  while  the  Circuit  Court  was  in  ses- 
sion, laid  their  petition  before  the  Judge,  who,  believing  the  county 
contained  350  inhabitants,  the  number  required  by  law,  and  that  the 
majority  desired  the  organization,  did,  on  the  10th  day  of  June,  de- 
clare, by  virtue  of  the  power  invested  in  him,  the  said  county  of  Knox 
to  be  organized  and  entitled  to  the  same  rights  and  privileges  as  the 
other  counties  in  the  State. 

This  step  was  soon  supplemented  by  another  of  equal  importance; 
for  there  must  necessarily  be  official  heads  to  conduct  the  public 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  129 

affairs  of  the  newly  organized  community.  Accordingly,  at  Galena, 
shortly  afterward,  Judge  Young  issued  an  order  for  an  election  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  three  commissioners.  This  election  was  held  on 
the  3d  day  of  July,  1830,  being  the  first  election  ever  held  in  Knox 
county.  Riggs  Pennington,  Philip  Hash  and  Dr.  Charles  Hansford 
were  elected  County  Commissioners  without  opposition.  The  judges 
and  clerks  of  the  election  were  Jacob  Gum,  Nicholas  Voiles,  Stephen 
Osborn,  William  McMurtry  and  Jonathan  Reed.  These  gentlemen, 
for  services  rendered  at  this  election,  were  paid  each  75  cents. 

FIRST    MEETINGS    OF    THE    COURT. 

Four  days  after  the  election  the  Commissioners  held  their  first  meet- 
ing. But  little  business  was  transacted  beyond  organizing  the  Court 
and  electing  John  B.  Gum  Clerk.  This  session  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  John  B.  Gum,  on  section  32,  Henderson  township,  about  4 
miles  northwest  of  Galesburg.  This  house  was  a  one-story,  double 
log  cabin,  each  division  containing  but  one  room.  This  was  the  tem- 
porary seat  of  justice  until  the  log  court-house  was  built  at  Knox- 
ville.  The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  also  held  there,  with 
the  generous  and  eminent  jurist,  Judge  Young,  presiding.  At  no 
distant  day  the  citizens  of  Knox  county  will  note  with  pride  the 
erection  of  a  magnificent  court-house.  Then  will  a  comparison  with 
the  little  log  cabin,  used  as  a  dwelling,  court-house,  hotel  and  post- 
office,  that  stood  near  the  south  edge  of  Henderson  Grove,  be  most 
striking. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Commissioners'  Court,  held  at  the 
same  place  on  the  9th,  two  days  after  their  first  session,  John  G.  San- 
burn  was  appointed  Clerk,  John  B.  Gum  declining  the  honors.  He 
was,  however,  on  the  same  day  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  county.  A 
bond  of  $500  was  required  of  him,  which  seems  very  small  when  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  present  incumbent,  J.  L.  Burkhalter,  who  is 
held  under  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $240.000.  Mr.  Sanburn  may  prop- 
erly be  considered  as  the  first  County  Clerk.  He  filled  the  office  to  the 
greatest  satisfaction  of  every  resident  of  the  county  for  many  years; 
and  not  only  the  office  of  County  Clerk,  but  also  those  of  Circuit 
Clerk,  Recorder,  Probate  Judge,  Notary  Public  and  Postmaster.  The 
latter  office,  it  was  often  said,  he  carried  around  in  his  hat.  The  Court 
ordered  that  an  election  be  held  on  the  1st  day  of  August,  1830.  The 
entire  county,  which  was  at  that  time  larger  than  at  present,  constituted 
but  one  election  precinct.  Jacob  Gum,  Nicholas  Voiles  and  Thomas 
Maxwell  were  appointed  judges  of  this  election. 

The  general  use  of  intoxicating    liquors  as  a  beverage  prevailed 


130  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

throughout  the  country  then,  as  now.  There  was  nothing,  however, 
in  the  custom  of  drinking  peculiar  to  this  county.  Many  of  the 
pioneers,  no  doubt,  drank  freely  from  the  contents  of  the  "little  brown 
jug,"  which  they  regarded  the  elixir  of  life. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  Court  was  to  grant  to  Samuel  S.  White 
a  license  to  keep  a  tavern,  or  saloon,  on  payment  of  $2  and  clerk's  fee. 
They  also  established  the  following 

TAVERN  RATES  FOR  THE    REGULATION  OF  SAMUEL  S.  WHITE. 

For  a  half  pint  of  whisky 12%  cents. 

For  a  half  pint  of  brandy 18%  cents. 

For  a  half  pint  of  wine 25      cents. 

For  a  meal  of  victuals 25      cents. 

For  lodging  for  one  person  one  night 12%  cents. 

For  a  feed  of  corn  or  oats  for  a  horse 12%  cents. 

For  feed  and  stabling  for  a  horse,  one  night 25      cents. 

For  many  years  every  person  taking  out  a  tavern  license  was  regu- 
lated by  a  special  act  of  the  Court. 

Samuel  S.  White  was  at  that  time  a  young  man  of  bright  intellect 
and  withal  a  shrewd  business  fellow.  He  was  a  native  of  this  State, 
came  to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1830,  and  opened  his  tavern  on 
section  33,  Henderson  township.  The  principal  object  in  taking  out 
a  tavern  license  was  that  he  might  legally  sell  liquors.  It  is  true  that 
occasionally  a  traveler  would  come  along  who  would  prefer  sleeping  in 
a  house,  but  this  was  only  the  exception,  for  in  most  cases  they  would 
camp  out.  But  White  did  not  expect  to  make  his  money  by  keeping 
an  inn,  but  rather  from  the  profits  derived  from  the  sale  of  liquors. 
He  left  the  county  in  1834  and  went  to  Iowa,  where  (luring  the  same 
year  he  laid  out  the  present  flourishing  city  of  Burlington.  While 
Major  McKee  was  in  that  place  a  short  time  after,  he  met  Mr.  White, 
who  offered  him  ten  choice  lots  for  four  horses  and  a  wagon  the  Major 
had  with  him.  In  1848  White  went  to  Oregon,  taking  with  him 
more  than  $10,000  in  money.  Thus  we  have  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
first  saloon-keeper  of  Knox  county. 

Although  letter  postage  was  exceedingly  high,  and  the  few  settlers 
seldom  received  any  mail,  yet  they  deemed  it  necessary  to  have  a  post- 
office  established  in  the  county.  Accordingly,  the  Commissioners 
ordered  the  Clerk  to  notify  the  Postmaster  General  "  that  the  county 
of  Knox  is  organized  and  that  the  seat  of  justice  for  said  county  is  at 
the  house  of  John  B.  Gum,  Esq.,  and  request  him  to  supply  the  said 
county  with  a  mail  as  soon  as  may  be  practicable." 

Another  special  term  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  was  held 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  131 

July  17th.  At  this  session  the  county  was  divided  into  two  districts 
for  the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  in  each.  The 
first,  or  Henderson  District,  included  all  that  portion  of  the  county 
lying  north  of  the  line  separating  Galesburg  from  Cedar  township, 
and  contained  14  townships.  The  second,  or  "  Spoon  River  "  District, 
included  all  that  portion  of  the  county  lying  south  of  the  same  line, 
and  contained  eight  townships. 

The  house  of  John  B.  Gum  was  chosen  as  the  place  to  hold  the 
election  in  Henderson  District.  Jacob  Gum,  Nicholas  Yoiles  and 
Thomas  Maxwell  were  appointed  judges  of  said  election,  which  was 
to  be  held  August  7,  this  being  the  date  on  which  the  regular  State 
election  was  held.  The  election  in  Spoon  River  District  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Abraham  Swartz.  Abraham  Swartz,  Hiram  Palmer  and 
Parnach  Owen  were  appointed  judges. 

Until  the  organization  of  the  county  it  was  attached,  for  judicial 
purposes,  to  Fulton  county,  which  had  been  organized  some  years 
previous.  The  assessment  of  taxes  in  the  county  had  been  made  by 
Fulton  county:  but  now  that  Knox  had  been  organized,  the  liberty- 
loving  spirit  of  the  Commissioners  enkindled  a  desire  to  collect  their 
own  taxes.  Accordingly  they  addressed  a  "  memorial  "  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  Fulton  county  asking  to  be  allowed  to  collect  all  taxes 
for  the  past  year,  the  assessment  of  which  had  been  made  by  that 
county.  The  request  was  granted,  and  accordingly  Sheriff  Osborn 
collected  such  personal  taxes.  He  returned  to  the  Treasurer  the  full 
amount  collected,  deducting  his  commission  of  $1.56f .  Although  the 
total  amount  of  taxes  collected  was  exceedingly  small,  yet  this  allow- 
ance seems  a  very  meager  compensation  for  riding  over  a  large 
county  in  its  state  of  native  wildness.  Mr.  Osborn  returned  $19.32 
as  the  sum  total  collected  as  personal  taxes  for  the  year  1830. 

At  the  election  held  August  7,  1830,  Riggs  Pennington,  Philip 
Hash  and  Alexander  Frakes  were  elected  County  Commissioners. 
The  new  Court  convened  September  7th  and  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  grand  and  petit  juries  for  the  October  term  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
being  the  first  term.  It  required  about  two-thirds  of  all  the  legal 
voters  in  the  county  to  constitute  these  juries.  For  grand-jurymen 
the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen:  Abraham  Swartz,  Hiram 
Palmer,  Azel  Dorsey,  Perry  Morriss,  Parnach  Owen,  "William  Palmer, 
Benjamin  Coy,  Matthew  D.  Coy,  James  Reynolds,  John  B.  Gum,  Sol- 
omon Davis,  William  Lewis,  John  Yaughn,  Charles  Hansford,  Wil- 
liam McMurtry,  James  McMurtry,  Alexander  Robertson,  Daniel  Rob- 
ertson, Robert  Green  well,  Solomon  Denbow,  Alexander  Osborn,  Jacob 


132  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Gum  and  Wilson  Brown.  The  petit-jurymen  selected  were:  Nich- 
olas Voiles,  Urban  Reynolds,  Thomas  Maxwell.  Zephaniah  Gum, 
Jonathan  C.  Reed,  Jesse  D.  Gum,  James  Gum,  Morton  McCarver, 
Peter  Bell,  Rees  Jones,  John  D.  Rountree,  Josiah  Fuqua,  James 
Goff,  John  Norton,  Andrew  Osborn,  Turner  R.  Rountree,  John  Mont- 
gomery, Nicholas  Rice,  Humphrey  Finch,  Thomas  Finch,  Berryman 
Jennings,  William  Consland,  Robert  Nance  and  Michael  Tybast. 
William  McMurtry  was  chosen  foreman  of  the  grand  jury. 

CIRCUIT   COURT. 

On  Friday,  the  first  day  of  October,  1830,  the  first  term  of  the 
Circuit  Court  was  held.  There  were  present  in  attendance  on  the 
Court,  Honorable  Richard  M.  Young,  Judge;  John  G.  Sanburn, 
Clerk;  Stephen  Osborn,  Sheriff.  In  the  absence  of  Thomas  Ford, 
State's  Attorney,  James  M.  Strode  was  appointed  pro  tern.  This  term 
lasted  but  one  day,  and  was  held  in  the  house  of  John  B.  Gum,  tem- 
porary county-seat  of  Knox  county.  -But  little  business  was  trans- 
acted, the  grand  and  petit  juries  being  discharged  without  performing 
any  duties. 

At  the  next  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  which  was  held  in  June, 
1832,  the  grand  jury  returned  into  Court  the  report  "  that  they  had 
no  business  before  them,  and  knew  of  no  violation  of  the  law,  which 
it  was  made  their  duty  to  notice."  This  report  is  certainly  highly 
complimentary  to  the  pioneers;  for,  even  without  the  refining  and 
elevating  influence  of  schools  and  churches,  without  wealth  or  aristoc- 
racy, they  lived  in  peace,  in  strict  obedience  to  law;  and  by  the  most 
charitable  and  neighborly  acts  and  universal  good- will  for  mankind 
they  won  the  love  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  them.  It  is  true,  they 
occasionally  had  their  fights,  but  the  animosity  toward  each  other 
disappeared  long  before  the  scars  and  effects  of  the  blows  and  scratches. 
They  had  their  encounters,  all  enjoyed  them,  and  when  over,  the 
principals  shook  hands,  all  took  a  drink  and  the  trouble  was  thought 
of  no  more.  For  many  years  the  only  cases  before  the  justices  of 
the  peace  were  of  assault  and  battery.  These  dignitaries  enjoyed 
the  fights  as  much  as  others,  bufr  the  law  must  be  enforced,  so  they, 
in  their  dignity  as  officers,  sat  in  judgment  upon  the  participants, 
and  usually  imposed  a  severe  penalty. 

The  first  case  before  the  Circuit,  Court  of  Knox  county  was  a  bill  for 
divorce.  This  action  was  brought  by  Rhoda  Tanner  against  her  hus- 
band, John  Tanner,  who  at  that  time  was  not  a  resident  of  the  State 
of  Illinois.  After  a  long  process  of  law  a  divorce  was  granted  to  the 
complainant.  Her  attorney  was  James  W.  Whiting,  who  by  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  133 

order  of  the  Court  was  to  prosecute  her  case  without  any  fees,  charge 
or  reward. 

REVENUE. 

In  December,  1830,  the  Commissioners' Court  held  another  session, 
beginning  Monday  the  6th.  The  Commissioners,  as  the  supreme 
officials  of  the  county,  did-  not  appropriate  to  themselves  exorbitant 
salaries.  Indeed,  we  find  the  compensations  received  for  their  public 
services  were  quite  small,  even  for  that  early  time.  For  instance,  at  this 
meeting  the  sum  of  $3  was  allowed  Philip  Hash  for  attendance  at  four 
terms  of  the  Commissioners'  Court;  $1.50  to  Charles  Hansford  for  his 
attendance  at  three  terms;  to  Riggs  Penningtori  as  payment  in  full 
for  his  services  at  the  several  terms,  including  the  present,  $4.50,  and 
to  Alexander  Frakes  $3.  Stephen  Osborn,  as  Sheriff,  was  paid  $3  for 
attendance  at  all  the  terms  of  the  Court.  John  G.  Sanburn  declined 
to  accept  any  compensation  for  his  services  as  Clerk  previous  to  the 
present  term.  Nor  did  Mr.  Gum  charge  an  extravagant  price  for 
the  use  of  his  cabin  for  public  purposes.  The  sum  of  $4  was  appro- 
priated as  payment  in  full  to  him  for  the  use  of  his  house  for  Circuit 
Court,  Commissioners'  Court  and  election  purposes  to  the  year  1831. 

The  source  of  the  largest  revenue  at  that  time  was  from  the  State. 
The  tax  on  personal  property  was  at  the  rate  of  £  of  1  per  cent. 
The  following  very  interesting  report  was  made  by  Treasurer  Gum, 
March  7,  1831,  and  is  the  first  one  ever  made  by  a  Treasurer  of  Knox 
County. 

THE  COUNTY  OP  KNOX,  IN  ACCOUNT  WITH  JOHN  B.  GUM,  CR. 

By  specie  received  of  Samuel  S.  White  for  tavern  license .-$    2  00 

By  amount  of  the  revenue  received  from  the  State  Treasury  for  the  year  1830, 

being  the  specie  received  in  exchange  for  the  same 320  00 

By  amount  received  from  the  Sheriff,  being  the  amount  collected  by  him  for 

taxes  on  personal  property  for  the  year  1830 19  32 


Total  $341  32 

The  county  of  Knox  debtor  to  seven  county  orders  of  75  cents  each,  one  for 

$1  50  and  one  for  $4  00 Total,  $  10  75 


Balance  remaining  in  County  Treasury  this  7th  day  of  March,  1831 $330  57 

FIRST  COURT-HOUSE. 

The  citizens  of  the  county  soon  aspired  to  the  erection  of  a  court- 
house and  the  building  of  a  town.     The}7  accordingly  procured  from 
the  Legislature  an  act  defining  the  location  of  the  county-seat  and 
authorizing  the  Commissioners  to  lay  off  the  town.     The  location  of 
9 


134  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  town  in  which  the  court-house  should  be  built  was  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  28,  township  11  north,  2  east,  Knox  township. 
This  place  was  christened  "Henderson"  by  the  Legislature,  at  the 
same  time;  but  in  two  years  thereafter  it  was  changed  by  that  body 
to  "  Knoxville,"  in  honor  of  General  Knox  of  Revolutionary  fame. 
This  act,  which  also  defined  the  boundary  lines  of  the  county,  was 
approved  by  Governor  Reynolds,  January  15,  1831. 

Now  that  the  location  of  the  county-seat  had  been  determined,  the 
Commissioners,  with  the  same  energy  and  enterprise  which  has  since 
marked  the  great  strides  of  both  public  and  private  improvements  of 
this  county,  proceeded  to  lay  off  the  town  and  build  the  court-house. 
At  a  special  meeting  held  March  12,  1831,  they  submitted  the  plans 
to  the  public,  setting  forth  that  the  contract  would  be  let  to  the  low- 
est responsible  bidder.  The  first  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing was  let  to  William  Lewis  for  $78.  The  second,  for  the  com- 
pletion, was  given  to  Parnach  Owen,  his  bid  being  $100.  The  total 
cost  of  this,  the  first  court-house  of  Knox  county,  and  its  furniture, 
was: 

Erection  of  building $  78  00 

Completion  of  same ...    100  00 

Six  extra  windows 6  00 

Chinking,  daubing  and  underpinning 37  50 

Upper  floor 18  00 

Judges'  stand,  tables,  benches,  and  fitting  window .     43  00 

Stove  and  pipe 38  00 

Laying  floor,  stairway,  and  window  shutters 74  93 


Total $395  43 

This  court-house  was  rather  an  imposing  structure  for  the  time, 
being  two  stories  in  height  and  containing  several  large  windows. 
True,  the  architecture  was  not  of  ancient  grandeur  or  elegance,  nor 
of  our  more  modern  style;  but  we  doubt  not,  when  the  building  was 
completed,  it  was  looked  upon  with  as  much  pride  as  the  people  of 
to-day  view  the  showy  structures  built  after  the  latest  and  most  ap- 
proved plans.  The  site  selected  was  the  southwest  corner  of  lot  10  in 
block  5,  fronting  south  on  Main  street,  or  more  intelligibly  speaking, 
just  to  the  rear  or  west  of  the  First  National  Bank  building,  standing 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  West  Main  street  a^nd  the  Square.  Appar- 
ently the  contractors  did  not  have  the  means  to  carry  on  the  work,  fur 
we  find  the 'Commissioners  paid  one-third  of  the  amount  of  all  con- 
tracts before  the  work  began.  The  contractors,  however,  were  re- 
quired to  furnish  bonds  in  the  penal  sum  of  double  the  amount  of 
contract  price.  ' 


' 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  137 

COUNTY    SEAT. 

The  contract  for  furnishing  posts  and  stakes  for  laying  out  the  new 
town  was  let  to  Andrew  Osborn  for  the  sum  of  $15.  Parnach  Owen 
was  employed  to  make  the  survey,  for  which  he  received  the  sum  of 
32£  cents  per  lot  of  one-quarter  acre  each.  The  full  compensation  he 
received  for  laying  off  the  town  of  Henderson  (Knoxville)  was  $18.25, 
and  as  payment  for  this  amount  he  was  obliged  to  take  town  lots. 

The  State  Legislature  had  designated  the  quarter  section  upon 
which  the  county-seat  should  stand,  but  that  body  had  not  the  power 
to  convey  to  the  county  of  Knox  the  title  to  this  land,  being  what 
was  known  as  "Congress  land."  The  United  States  Government 
alone  had  the  power  to  make  such  conveyance.  It  could,  however, 
be  pre-empted  by  the  County  Commissioners  for  county  purposes. 
In  order  to  comply  with  or  take  advantage  of  this  right  and  privilege, 
Rees  Jones  was  appointed  to  go  to  the  land  office  at  Springfield,  and 
in  behalf  of  the  county  pre-empt  the  said  quarter  section.  The  price 
of  this,  as  of  all  other  Government  land,  was  $1.25  per  acre. 

Thus  the  county  purchased  the  land  upon  which  the  business  and 
much  of  the  residence  portion  of  the  city  of  Knoxville  now  stands,  for 
the  sum  of  $200.  E,ees  Jones  was  paid  $8  for  making  the  trip  to 
Springfield  as  agent  for  the  county. '  He  was  compelled  to  give  bonds 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  mission.  The  new  town  having 
been  surveyed,  large,  hard-wood  stakes  were  driven,  designating  the 
corner  of  each  lot,  and  being  also  the  only  guide  to  the  location  of 
streets.  Everything  was  then  in  readiness  for  a  grand  sale.  Satur- 
day, April  23,  1S31,  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  sale  of  lots  at  pub- 
lic auction.  The  settlers  assembled  from  all  parts  of  the  county  upon 
the  site  of  the  proposed  village,  each  anxious  to  become  the  owner  of 
a  town  lot.  Lots  seem  to  have  met  with  a  ready  sale  at  fair  prices, 
which  is  the  best  evidence  that  the  pioneers  were  not  only  enthusi- 
astic in  sentiment  in  relation  to  the  bright  prospects  and  future  great- 
ness of  the  town  they  were  about  to  found,  but  were  also  willing  to 
lend  all  the  material  aid  in  their  power  to  the  consummation  of  the 
much  desirud  end.  At  this  sale  there  were  79  lots  sold,  for  an  aggre- 
gate of  $1,256.  The  highest  price  received  for  a  single  lot  was  $61, 
and  the  lowest  was  $2. 

JUDICIOUS   AND    LIBKKAL    COMMISSIONERS. 

The  Commissioners  were^  evidently  liberal  and  hospitable.  They 
would  not  invite  the  people  to  a  wild,  uncivilized  place  to  attend  the 
sale  without  providing  refreshments.  This  they  did,  and  at  their 


13.8  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

next  meeting  paid  out  of  county  funds  $1.75  to  Morton  Carver  for 
providing  the  same.  We  imagine  that  corn-dodgers  and  whisky 
were  the  luxuries  furnished  on  this  memorable  occasion.  Not  only 
would  we  call  them  hospitable,  but  also  wise  and  judicious,  for  they 
clearly  adhered  to  what  they  believed  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
whole  people.  They  paid  out  but  little  money.  Indeed,  we  find  that 
many  bills  were  paid  in  town  lots.  So  judicious  were  they,  and  so 
carefully  did  they  use  the  public  purse,  that  even  with  the  exceedingly 
small  revenue  at  command,  they  were  enabled,  as  early  as  1835,  to  ac- 
cumulate and  loan  the  sum  of  $900.  In  a  new  country,  where  it  was 
necessary  to  survey  and  make  all  roads,  to  bridge  streams,  build 
ferries,  to  erect  public  buildings,  and  to  provide  many  other  public 
conveniences,  this  showing  is  surely  creditable  to  the  business  ability 
and  personal  integrity  of  the  Commissioners.  Undoubtedly  the  pub- 
lic affairs  were  as  judiciously  managed  by  these  rough  and  sturdy 
pioneers  as  they  would  have  been  by  a  more  refined £and  cultured 
people.  They  read  the  law,  accepting  a  plain,  common-sense  inter- 
pretation. They  did  not  attempt  to  manipulate  the  wording  into 
various  meanings,  nor  place  upon  it  a  construction  to  suit  their  own 
particular  views.  They  could  construe  it  but  one  way.  The  plain 
statement  of  law  had  to  them  but  one  meaning,  and  that  must  be 
strictly  followed.  Everything  was  done  as  the  law  required,  as  nearly 
as  they  could  comprehend  it.  As  ah  illustration  showing  that  these 
were  the  cardinal  principles  of  the  early  fathers,  we  refer  to  one 
especial  act,  taken  from  the  records  of  the  Commissioners'  Court. 
Roads  were  laid  out  by  the  county,  as  required  by  the  people  of 
various  sections.  A  resident  would  present  a  petition,  signed  by 
"  sundry  citizens,"  for  a  road,  on  depositing  $10,  to  defray  the  ex- 
pense of  viewing.  Should  the  road  prove  not  to  be  of  general  utility, 
a  commission  was  appointed  to  ''view  out"  the  desired  road.  They 
then  made  a  report  to  the  Court  whether  or  not  the  road  was  required. 
In  1832  a  petition  was  presented  by  some  of  the  citizens  for  a  road 
from  Henderson  toward  Rock  Island,  as  far  as  the  county  line. 
Viewers  were  appointed,  who,  after  carefully  examining  the  proposed 
route  and  surroundings,  made  a  report  to  the  Commissioners  recom- 
mending the  laying  out  of  the  road.  Indeed,  they  urged  that  the  road 
would  be  of  the  greatest  possible  utility.  On  that  point,  however,  the 
Commissioners  were  fully  satisfied,  but  after  a  close  examination  of 
the  report  they  decided  that  it  was  not  made  out  according  to  law,  and 
the  law  must  be  rigidly  followed.  The  people  all  with  one  accord  de- 
sired the  road,  but  as  the  report  failed  to  comply  with  the  strict  letter 
of  the  law  in  its  construction,  the  Court  refused  to  grant  the  request. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  139 

For  making  the  assessment  of  taxes  for  1831,  John  G.  Sanburn  re- 
ceived $8,  which  is  only  about  one-tenth  the  amount  now  paid  for 
assessing  a  single  township.  The  city  of  Galesburg  alone  pays  nearly 
eighty  times  that  sum  for  assessing  its  own  taxes.  The  total  amount 
of  taxes  collected  for  that  year  was  $43.47;  for  the  year  1877  the 
amount  was  $340,000.  Sheriff  Osborn  collected  15  cents  unjustly 
from  Joseph  Hoff,  who  was  a  resident  of  Warren  county.  The  Com- 
missioners ordered  the  Treasurer  to  return  15  cents  to  the  Sheriff,  and 
gave  him  public  instructions  to  convey  the  same  to  Hoff. 

The  unfortunate  and  helpless  ones  of  our  race  appeared  in  the 
county  simultaneously  with  civilization;  and  that  spirit  of  charity 
which  is  so  nobly  evinced  to-day  by  the  people  of  this  county  in  the 
care  of  its  poor  and  helpless,  was  implanted  in  the  hearts  of  the  fathers, 
and  as  far  back  as  1831  manifested  itself  in  noble  arid  generous  deeds. 
On  the  2d  day  of  May  of  that  year  first  mention  of  a  pauper  is  made 
on  the  public  records.  Joshua  Stinson  was  that  day  let  out  to  Stephen 
Osborn,  "he  being  the  lowest  bidder."  The  benevolence,  the  desire 
to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  man,  that  was  displayed  in  the  infancy  and 
poverty  of  the  county  has  kept  pace  with  its  wonderful  progress  in 
public  improvements,  in  wealth  and  in  refinement. 

SCHOOL    COMMISSIONER. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  the  16th  section  of  land  in  each  township 
was  set  apart,  and  the  proceeds  of  its  sale  used,  for  common-school 
purposes.  A  Commissioner  was  accordingly  appointed  in  each  county 
to  superintend  the  sale  of  such  land  and  take  charge  of  its  proceeds. 
On  the  5th  of  September,  1831,  Abraham  Swartz  received  -the  ap- 
pointment from  the  County  Commissioners  as  Commissioner  of  school 
lands.  Although  fully  as  remunerative  as  any  other  official  position 
in  the  county,  evidently  Mr.  Swartz  did  not  desire  it,  for  we  find  he 
did  not  furnish  the  required  bond.  This  he  could  have  easily  done, 
no  doubt.  The  Commissioners  who  appointed  him  would  have  as 
willingly  become  his  bondsmen.  A  little  over  a  year  elapsed  before 
anything  further  was  done  in  regard  to  this  office.  Then  (September, 
1832)  William  McMurtry,  long  one  of  the  most  popular  citizens  of 
the  county,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  position.  He  served  in  that 
capacity  for  many  years,  and  by  his  excellent  judgment  and  personal 
integrity,  together  with  the  studions  attention  he  gave  to  the  advance- 
ment of  our  common-school  system,  much  good  was  done  for  the  pro- 
gress of  the  educational  interests  of  the  county,  and  a  large  revenue 
derived  from  the  sale  of  school  lands.  He  gave  bonds  in  the  sum  of 


140  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

$12,000,  this  being  the  largest  furnished  by  any  official  for  several 
years. 

That  elections  were  not  as  expensive  in  the  earlier  years  as  at  pres- 
ent is  plainly  shown  by  the  cost  of  the  election  in  1832.  The  expense 
for  the  entire  county  was  but  50  cents.  The  general  elections  were 
held  in  August  during  the  first  few  years  of  the  county's  existence, 
or  until  1849.  No  tickets  were  used,  each  voter  casting  his  "  ballot" 
in  the  old  viva  voce  way. 

LOG  JAIL. 

Necessarily,  as  faithful  historians,  we  must  mar  the  pleasant  progress 
of  this  chapter  by  reference  to  prison  bars.  Among  the  pioneers  there 
were  wicked  and  vicious  people, — those  who  wantonly  violated  law 
and  order,  thus  making  themselves  odious  and  dangerous  to  the  com- 
munity. Such  characters  must  be  restrained  and  punished.  To  ac- 
complish this  a  place  of  confinement  must  be  erected  wherein  they 
might  be  incarcerated.  Accordingly,  Sept.  14,  1832,  a  contract  was 
entered  into  with  John  G.  Sanburn  to  build  a  jail,  the  stipulated  price 
being  $250.  However,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  the  Commis- 
sioners deducted  $5.25  from  the  original  amount.  The  building  was  not 
accepted  and  the  money  paid  over  until  June  7, 1838,  although  it  had 
been  completed  and  in  use  for  several  years.  This  primitive  prison  was 
constructed  of  logs,  and  was  about  20  feet  square.  It  stood  on  the 
west  side  of  the  square,  north  of  the  court-house.  After  the  old  brick 
jail  at  Knoxville  was  erected  the  log  structure  was  abandoned,  and 
some  years  afterward  was  moved  into  the  country  on  the  northwest, 
quarter  of  section  20,  Knox  township,  owned  by  Chris.  Burrell,  and 
used  for  a  corn-crib.  This  old  jail  served  in  its  day  as  well  perhaps 
as  the  modern  and  much  more  costly  structure.  It  is  quite  certain, 
however,  that  the  experienced  criminals  of  to-day  would  be  confined 
in  its  wooden  walls  but  a  short  time  ere  they  would  effect  their  liberty. 
Various  attempts  were  made  by  prisoners  to  make  their  escape  from 
this,  the  first  jail  building  in  the  county.  One  effort,  long  remem- 
bered by  the  earlier  residents  of  Knoxville,  was  made  by  a  Mr.  Din- 
gle, a  blacksmith,  who  had  been  incarcerated  unjustly  for  the  alleged 
crime  of  obtaining  cattle  under  false  pretenses,  at  Henderson.  It  was 
on  Sunday  forenoon,  while  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  quiet  little 
village  of  Knoxville  were  attending  religious  services.  Rev.  William 
Clark,  an  old  soldier  of,  the  Cross*  now  residing  at  Abiugdon,  was 
preaching.  During  the  discourse  the  alarm  of  fire  was  given;  the 
jail  was  burning.  Everybody  rushed  from  the  meeting.  Dingle,  in 
order  to  liberate  himself,  had  set  fire  to  the  wooden  door,  and  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  14:1 

attempt  he  came  near  losing  his  life,  besides  making  confusion  of  the 
peace  and  quietude  of  the  religious  services. 

KNOXVILLE    NAMED. 

Apparently  the  people  soon  grew  to  dislike  the  name  by  which  their 
county-seat  had  been  christened.  Perhaps,  however,  it  was  not  be- 
cause they  really  disliked  the  name  "Henderson,"  but  because  they 
had  greater  love  for  another  which  they  desired  their  town  should 
wear.  Steps  were  taken  as  early  as  1832  to  make  this  change.  Dur- 
ing December  of  that  year  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and 
approved  the  22d,  changing  the  name  of  the  town  of  "  Henderson  " 
to  that  of  "Knoxville."  Since  that  time  the  little  log  settlement  has 
grown  into  a  neat  and  beautiful  city.  The  first  mention,  however,  of 
the  new  name  on  the  records  does  not  occur  until  Monday,  March  4, 
1833. 

LICENSES. 

The  rate  of  tavern  or  saloon  license  was  advanced  in  1834  to  $5, 
while  the  price  of  whisky  was  reduced  from  12|-  cents  to  6J  cents  per 
half  pint.  This  seems,  without  explanation,  to  be  an  injustice  to  the 
vendors  of  ardent  spirits;  but  the  sagacious  Commissioners  evidently 
saw  in  the  traffic  too  great  profit,  and  with  the  same  fidelity  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  county  always  manifested  they  deemed  it  well  to  make 
this  change.  While  it  might  appear  to  the  reader  that  the  fathers 
acted  from  personal  motive  in  making  this  reduction,  yet  a  glance  at 
their  past  official  acts  would  convince  the  most  skeptical  that  the 
county's  interests  were  above  personal  gain.  License  for  peddling 
clocks  was  raised  in  1835  from  $12.50  per  year  to  $50  a  quarter.  The 
Commissioners  no  doubt  thought  this  class  of  dealers  were  imposing 
upon  their  constituency,  and  evidently  charged  this  exorbitant  license 
fee  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  them  out  of  the  county  entirely. 

Dealers  in  general  merchandise  paid  $8  per  year  for  the  privilege 
of  supplying  the  people  with  the  necessities  of  life,  that  being  the 
standard  price  for  this  license  (excepting  the  first  year,  when  it  was 
$10)  until  1837,  when  all  traffic  and  trade  was  commenced  to  be  car- 
ried on  without  license.  Even  "taverns" — the  saloons  of  early  days 
—were  not  restricted  by  any  county  enactments.  The  amount 
charged  for  ferry  license  was  small,  being  only  $2.  It  was  the  mini- 
mum of  all  licenses  ever  issued  excepting  those  granted  to  run  taverns 
the  first  year.  There  being  no  bridges  over  the  streams,  there  was  a 
large  field  for  the  ferry  business.  "With  each  license  the  Commission- 


142  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

ers  made  special  rates.  In  doing  this  they  took  into  consideration 
the  location,  tfie  amount  of  travel,  etc.  As  a  specimen  tariff  for 
ferries  we  copy  from  the  records  the  one  regulating  Asa  Crook's  ferry  on 
Rock  river  near  Prophetstown :  "  Wagons  with  4  horses  or  4  oxen,  $1. 
Wagons  with  two  horses,  75  cents.  Wagon  or  carriage  with  1  horse, 
50  cents.  Man  and  1  horse,  25  cents.  One  person,  12£  cents.  Cattle 
5  cents  a  head.  Sheep  3  cents  a  head/' 

It  was  one  of  the  curious  provisions  of  the  law,  in  the  times  of 
which  we  are  writing,  that  each  person  could  let  his  cattle  and  hogs 
run  at  large,  and  that  he  could  identify  them  by  certain  ear-marks, 
which  were  to  be  recorded  in  a  book  kept  by  the  County  Clerk.  The 
vast  prairies  were  then  in  their  native  condition,  free  from  fences,  cul- 
tivation or  any  sort  of  improvement.  By  many  they  were  thought  to 
be  worthless  for  all  practical  farming  purposes,  except  to  furnish 
grazing  for  stock.  Horses  and  cattle  often  wandered  into  adjoining 
counties.  There  was,  however,  means  by  which  such  stock  might  be 
recovered.  In  each  county-seat  was  an  estray  pen  wherein  all  un- 
claimed and  unknown  stock  was  confined.  Notice  was  made  quite 
often  of  the  number,  kind  and  marks,  of  the  stock  taken  up.  In 
1832  an  estray  pen  was  built  upon  the  same  lot  on  which  the  court- 
house stood,  at  a  cost  of  $17.50. 

For  many  years,  or  until  1837,  Henry  county  was  attached,  for  ju- 
dicial purposes,  to  this  county.  It  was  much  larger  then  than  at 
present,  including,  as  it  did,  a  greater  portion  of  Whiteside  county. 
All  taxes  were  assessed  and  collected  over  this  large  territory  by  Knox 
county  authorities.  Elections  were  ordered  and  judges  appointed  by 
the  Commissioners  of  this  county.  Licenses  were  granted,  roads 
opened  and  all  other  matters  were  attended  to  by  them.  In  1835r 
owing  to  high  water,  the  Assessor  of  Henry  county  was  unable  to 
reach  Knox  county  with  his  books  within  the  legally  required  time. 
They  were,  however,  accepted  on  arrival. 

The  house  of  Asa  Crook  on  Rock  river  was  generally,  if  not  alwaysr 
appointed  as  the  place  for  holding  the  elections.  Crook  was  allowed 
mileage  for  60  miles  travel,  at  5  cents  a  mile  (this  being  pay  for  but 
one  way),  for  bringing  election  returns  from  his  house  to  Knoxville. 
He,  living  near  Prophetstown,  Whiteside  county,  then  known  as 
Prophet's  village,  Henry  county,  ran  a  ferry-boat  across  Rock  river* 
about  20  miles  below  the  present  city  of  Sterling.  The  license  being 
issued  to  him  by  the  Commissioners  of  Knox  county,  they  also  gran  ted 
to  William  A.  Cushman  the  privilege  of  running  a  ferry  across  the 
same  river,  on  section  19,  township  19  north,  4  east,  being  some 
miles  below  Crook's  ferry. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  143 

Thus  we  see  the  Commissioners,  although  unlearned  in  law  and 
unacquainted  with  science  and  literature,  had  jurisdiction  over  a  large 
territory,  and  that  they  conducted  the  public  affairs  rightly,  and  built 
a  firm  and  solid  foundation  upon  which  the  future  prosperity  and 
greatness  of  this  portion  of  our  beloved  State  should  rest.  This  is 
plainly  evident  from  the  unparalleled  strides  made  in  'agricultural  and 
mechanical  progress;  from  the  more  than  100,000  busy  inhabitants 
now  dwelling  within  this  territory;  and  from  the  vast  stores  of  wealth 
accumulated  solely  from  resources  within  it.  Those  great  and  un- 
concealed wonders  reflect  honor  and  credit  each  day  upon  their  found- 
ers; and  as  days  and  years  multiply,  when  the  same  territory  over 
which  they  presided  shall  be  teeming  with  millions  of  earnest  and 
energetic  people,  then  will  greater  honors  and  more  exultant  praise 
and  adoration  be  expressed  for  the  brave,  sturdy  pioneers  who  ex- 
plored and  opened  up  a  region  so  prolific,  and  founded  a  community 
that  for  genius,  enterprise  and  wealth  will' in  the  near  future  out 
rank  many  older  settled  countries,  and  indeed  will  vie  with  many 
kingdoms  of  the  earth.  Then  these  vast  prairies  will  be  cultivated 
as  a  garden.  Every  forest  tree  and  woodland  will  be  utilized,,  and 
populous  cities  with  numerous  factories  and  vast  stores  of  commerce 
may  be  numbered  by  the  score.  Then  will  the  modes  of  travel  be 
superior  to  the  remarkable  railroad  facilities  of  to-day,  and  transport 
the  increased  products  with  greater  facility.  Indeed,  everything  shall 
then  be  as  different  and  as  superior  to  what  they  are  at  present  as  the 
things  of  to-day  are  as  compared  with  those  of  fifty  years  ago.  Our 
readers  may  regard  this  as  wild  and  unreasonable  speculation — as 
wholly  visionary;  but  they  are  only  the  conclusions  deduced  from  a 
careful  study  of  history, — of  a  comparison  of  what  has  been  accom- 
plished, with  certain  advantages,  with  the  results  that  the  superior 
advantages  now  enjoyed  will  as  certainly  accomplish. 

BRICK  COURT-HOUSE. 

By  1836  the  county  had  become  quite  populous;  at  least  it  was  then 
so  regarded,  for  so  many  new  comers  had  arrived  that  several  of  the 
earlier  pioneers  concluded  they  were  becoming  too  greatly  crowded, 
and  accordingly  pushed  further  westward.  However,  as  early  as  these 
years  the  people  began  to  regard  the  old  log  court-house  as  wholly 
inadequate  for  the  increasing  business,  and  also  unworthy  of  this  fair 
county.  They  now  aspired  to  a  more  pretentious  structure  in  which 
to  transact  the  public  business,  and  consequently  began  the  agitation 
of  building  a  new  court-house.  September  6,  1836,  the  Commission- 
ers ordered  the  clerk  to  advertise  for  plans  for  a  new  court-house.  On 


144  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  10th  day  of  March.  1838,  the  contract  was  let  to  Alvah  Wheeler 
and  Zelotes  Cooley  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  the  consideration 
being  $15,450,  and  the  contractors  stipulating  that  they  would  com- 
plete the  building  by  May  1,  1840. 

According  to  the  original  plan,  the  building  would  contain  no 
cupola.  The  Commissioners  however,  in  January,  ordered  that  one 
be  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $725.  They  also  decided  to  paint  the  walls? 
selecting  cream  color  as  the  most  appropriate.  Eldert  Runkie,  a 
Commissioner,  was  appointed  inspector,  whose  duty  it  was  to  inspect 
all  material  which  entered  into  the  construction  of  the  building,  and 
to  see  that  the  work  was  performed  according  to  contract.  This 
court-house  was  erected  in  the  center  of  the  northern  portion  of  the 
public  square  at  Knoxville,  where  it  still  stands.  It  is  a  two-story 
brick  structure,  42  feet  5  inches  by  62  feet  5  inches  in  size,  and  con- 
tains six  rooms  and  a  hall.  In  earlier  times  it  was  considered  one  of 
the  finest  court-houses  in  the  State,  and  indeed  it  was  a  building  of 
more  than  ordinary  pretentious;  and,  although  more  than  forty  years 
have  passed  since  it  was  begun,  it  is  yet  a  good  and  substantial  build- 
ing. Since  the  county-seat  has  been  removed  from  Knoxville  it  has 
been  used  as  an  opera-house  and  office  building. 

Now  that  the  new  court-house  was  about  ready  for  occupation, 
some  disposition  must  be  made  of  the  faithful  log  building  which  had 
sheltered  the  official  heads  of  the  county  for  ten  years.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  Commissioners,  March  7,  1840,  the  Clerk  was  ordered  to  give 
notice  that  it  would  be  sold  on  the  first  day  of  April.  On  that  day  it 
was  bid  off  to  Alvah  "Wheeler  for  the  sum  of  $89.50,  giving  him  the 
privilege  of  letting  it  remain  upon  the  lot  for  two  years.  It  was  then 
moved  one  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Knoxville,  upon  the  farm  of  Alvah 
Wheeler,  now  owned  by  Chris.  Burrell,  and  converted  into  a  dwelling- 

In  1836  the  court-house  was  removed  from  its  original  site  to  a  lot 
on  the  corner  of  South  and  West  streets,  near  the  present  location  of 
the  barn  in  the  rear  of  the  residence  of  John  Cams,  Esq.  Charles 
Price  took  the  contract  of  moving  the  building  for  the  consideration 
of  $67.50.  In  November  of  the  same  year  the  lot  upon  which  the 
log  court-house  originally  stood,  being  lot  10,  block  5,  was  subdivided 
into  nine  lots.  Eight  of  these  were  sold  for  an  aggregate  of  '$3,901- 
The  adjoining  lot,  at  the  first  sale,  brought  $37.50.  This  advance  in 
value  of  real  estate  was  marvelous,  and  scarcely  has  a  parallel.  Reck- 
oning its  value  upon  the  basis  of  the  price  of  lots,  at  the  first  sale,  we 
find  the  enormous  increase  of  10,000  per  cent,  within  five  years,  or  an 
average  of  2,000  per  cent,  each  year.  While  the  price  of  property  had 
advanced  rapidly,  yet  this  is  an  exceptional  case,  and  does  not  fairly 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  145 

represent  the  increase.     The  advance  during  these  five  years  ranged 
from  300  to  1,000  per  cent. 

JAIL  AT  KNOXVILLE. 

The  new  court-house  had  scarcely  been  completed  before  it  was 
thought  best  to  build  a  new  jail.  At  the  January  term  of  the  Com- 
missioners' Court  in  1841  they  let  the  contract  for  erecting  the  pro- 
posed prison  to  Zelotes  Cooley  for  $8,724.  This  contract,  however, 
was  rescinded  shortly  afterward  and  re-let  to  Alvah  Wheeler,  who  in 
1845  completed  the  building.  Lot  3  of  the  subdivision  of  lot  10, 
block  5,  the  lot  upon  which  the  jail  stood,  together  with  the  jail  build- 
ing, was  exchanged  some  time  before  this  to  Jonathan  Rice  for  the 
south  half  of  lot  1,  block  5,  which  is  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square.  Upon  this  lot  the  new  brick  and  stone  jail  was  erected.  It 
is  no  longer  used  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  built,  but  as  a  ten- 
ement house.  It  is  a  two-story  brick,  30  by  50  feet  in  size,  and  con- 
tained six  cells. 

It  appears  that  the  new  jail  was  scarcely  more  secure  than  the  log 
one,  and  that  the  people  soon  wanted  it  replaced  by  one  more  §ub- 
stantial,  as  evinced  by  the  following  article  taken  from  the  "  Knox 
Republican"  of  Wednesday,  March  18,  1857: 

ESCAPE   OF    PRISONERS. 

"  On  Saturday  evening, while  the  Sheriff  was  from  home  on  business, 
five  persons  escaped  from  our  insecure  county  jail.  The  prisoners 
were  all  locked  up  in  their  cells  at  dark.  The  gentleman  in  charge 
examined  the  lock  that  was  put  on  the  door, — one  of  the  best  locks 
about  the  jail  and  the  most  difficult  to  be  picked, — and  found  it  all  safe, 
and  left  the  premises  for  a  little  while  ;  and  on  returning  found  a 
door  opened,  which  he  had  left  fastened;  and,  on  entering  the  prison, 
found  that  all  the  doors  had  been  opened,  the  prisoners  had  fled,  and 
no  traces  of  them  could  be  found.  The  night  was  exceedingly  dark. 
The  only  conjecture  we  can  form  from  an  examination  of  the  circum- 
stances and  the  premises  is,  that  one  of  the  prisoners  must  have  had 
a  false  key  and  unlocked  the  door  with  his  left  hand,  and  then  pro- 
cured the  keys  from  a  table  in  the  dwelling,  and  with  them  must  have 
unlocked  the  rest  of  the  doors  and  let  his  fellow  prisoners  free.  If 
the  county  intends  to  hold  the  prisoners  taken  for  crimes,  and  secure 
the  citizens  from  the  marauding  thief,  they  must  elect  such  supervi- 
sors as  will  have  the  courage  to  build  a  new  and  substantial  jail.  As 
some  parts  of  the  jail  could  not  be  used,  from  their  insecurity,  the 


146  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Sheriff  was  compelled  to  put  two  into  one  cell  and  three  into  another, 
together;  and  when  thus  permitted  to  associate,  they  were  able  to 
concoct  and  execute  their  deliverance." 

HORSE-THIEVES. 

•  The  earlier  settlers  were  greatly  troubled  with  marauding  bands  of 
thieves.  Horses  were  generally  the  desired  booty.  So  numerous  and 
bold  had  these  desperadoes  become  that  to  protect  themselves  the 
citizens  banded  together,  forming  the  "  Knox  County  Society  for  the 
Detection  of  Thieves."  Yearly  meetings  of  this  society  were  held  in 
June.  The  Commissioners,  in  order  to  aid  this  society  and  to  shield 
the  people,  in  1845  offered  a  reward  of  $50  for  the  detection  of  a  per- 
son stealing  a  horse. 

LAST    MEETING. 

Taxes  were  very  light  in  1845,  being  only  10  cents  on  the  $100. 
This  is  perhaps  the  minimum  per  cent,  of  taxation  ever  reached  in 
this  county.  The  last  meeting  of  the  county  Commissioners'  Court 
was  held  October  12,  1849.  Manyweather  Brown,  Alfred  Brown  and 
Amos  Ward,  being  members,  were  all  present.  After  the  transaction 
of  such  business  as  properly  came  before  them,  they  adjourned  "until 
court  in  course,"  but  never  re-assembled.  And  so  passed  away  the 
time-honored  and  economical  system  of  county  management  by  three 
commissioners. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  149 


CHAPTER  III. 

BLACK  HAWK  WAE. 

Happily  for  the  few  settlers  of  Knox  county,  the  atrocities  com- 
mitted during  the  war  with  the  Indians  in  1832  were  all  enacted  with- 
out its  boundaries.  There  were,  however,  so  many  depredations 
committed  in  adjoining  counties  that  great  fear  was  manifested  by  the 
settlers  here  lest  their  own  homes  would  be  the  scene  of  similar  mas- 
sacres. It  must  be  remembered  that  at  this  time  all  the  country 
lying  north  of  this  county  extending  to  Rock  river  was  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Commissioners  of  Knox  county,  and  therefore 
virtually  a  portion  of  the  county,  which  had  the  tendency  to  make  the 
murders  committed  there  seem  the  nearer.  Upon  Rock  river  the  bloody 
battles  were  fought  between  the  Indians  and  whites.  Yarious  and 
terrible  depredations  were  committed  on  peaceable  whites,  which 
tended  more  than  the  war  to  horrify  the  pioneers  here.  A  settler  was 
shot  by  six  Indians  just  over  the  line  in  Warren  county.  One  man 
was  killed  near  Princeton;  another  in  Buffalo  Grove;  another  be- 
tween Fox  River  and  the  Illinois,  and  two  near  Ottawa,  A  party  of 
about  70  Indians  made  a  descent  upon  a  small  settlement  on  Indian 
creek,  a  tributary  of  Fox  river,  and  massacred  15  persons, — men, 
women  and  children, — and  took  two  young  women  prisoners, — one  15, 
the  other  17  years  old.  These  people,  composing  three  families,  lived 
in  one  house.  The  Indians  approached  the  house  in  the  day  time, 
and  entered  suddenly,  with  but  little  notice.  Some  of  the  inmates 
were  immediately  shot  down,  others  were  pierced  through  with  spears 
or  dispatched  with  the  tomahawk.  The  Indians  afterwards-  related, 
with  an  infernal  glee,  how  the  women  had  squeaked  like  geese  when 
they  were  run  through  the  body  with  spears,  or  felt  the  tomahawk 
entering  their  heads.  All  the  victims  were  carefully  scalped;  their 
bodies  were  mutilated  and  mangled;  the  little  children  were  chopped 
to  pieces  with  axes;  and  the  women  were  tied  up  by  the  heels  to  the 
walls  of  the  house.  The  two  young  ladies  were  hurried  by  forced 
marches  beyond  pursuit.  After  a  long -and  fatiguing  journey  with 
their  Indian  conductors,  through  a  wilderness  country,  with  but  little 
to  eat,  and  being  subjected  to  a  variety  of  fortune,  they  were  at  last 
rescued,  $2,000  being  given  as  a  ransom. 


150  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

As  early  as  1831  trouble  was  feared,  and  even  expected,  with  the 
Indians.  To  learn  positively  the  condition  of  affairs,  the  few  families 
at  Henderson  sent  Thomas  McKee,  Thos.  Maxwell,  Joseph  Kowe,  and 
Robert  Greenwell  to  Rock  Island  to  consult  with  Gen.  Gains,  who  was 
commander  of  the  military  post  on  Rock  Island.  The  General  assured 
the  gentlemen  that  no  danger  need  be  apprehended.  He  also  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  people  telling  them  they  need  not  fear  any  trouble  from  the 
Indians.  This  communication  had  the  tendency  to  dispel  the  uneasiness 
the  settlers  had  experienced  for  their  safety.  On  making  this  trip,  after 
crossing  Pope  creek  the  messengers  struck  an  Indian  trail  which  soon 
led  them  upon  quite  a  band  of  mounted  Indian  warriors.  As  soon 
as  seen  by  the  savages  half  of  them  defiled  to  either  side,  thus  sur- 
rounding the  pioneers.  McKee,  being  able  to  address  them  in  their 
own  language,  told  them  they  meant  no  harm,  and  showed  them  they 
had  no  guns;  but  still  the  Indians  were  in  doubt,  and  took  them  to 
be  spies.  Finally  McKee  told  them  they  were  on  their  way  up  to 
trade  with  Davenport.  The  name  of  Davenport  carried  with  it  a 
charm  for  the  Indian;  soon  this  occasion,  the  statement  had  the  de- 
sired effect,  and  they  were  permitted  to  pass  peaceably  on,  but  were 
closely  watched.  Passing  through  the  Indian  headquarters  on  Rock 
river,  Prophet's  village,  they  saw  hundreds  of  Indians. 

They  reached  the  fort  in  safety,  and  started  on  their  return  trip 
only  to  encounter  more  dangers.  Coming  to  Rock  river,  Mr.  McKee, 
without  investigating,  rode  in  on  his  faithful  horse,  thinking  he  could 
ford  the  stream  without  trouble,  as  he  had  done  before.  Soon  the 
horse  went  under;  the  saddle-bags,  filled  with  shelled  corn,  floated 
off  down  the  stream;  a  struggle  ensued.  Finally,  Mr.  McKee,  seeing 
the  animal  could  not  gain  the  shore,  turned  him,  and  after  an  ex- 
haustive struggle,  reached  the  shore  he  left.  A  squaw  and  young  In- 
dian got  in  a  canoe  and  recovered  his  saddle-bags,  for  which  he  gave 
them  the  contents.  They  then  gave  an  Indian  25  cents  to  show  them 
a  shallow  ford.  The  Indians  were  suspicious  of  these  messengers  and 
sent  one  of  their  number  to  follow  them  as  far  as  Pope  creek. 

For  a  time  no  danger  was  felt;  but  early  in  the  spring  of  1832,  when 
Black  Hawk  recrossed  the  Mississippi,  the  feelings  of  fear  were  again 
kindled  among  the  isolated  settlers,  and  now  many  of  them  deter- 
mined for  their  safety  to  leave  the  country  where  they  were  liable  to 
be  slaughtered  any  day  and  return  to  older  settlements,  for  in  their 
defenseless  condition  they  could  afford  no  security  to  their  families. 
Thomas  McKee,  then  a  young  man,  strongly  objected  to  any  move- 
ment which  would  lead  to  abandonment  of  their  homes.  He  held 
forth  the  idea  that  if  the  settlers  all  were  armed  they  could  protect 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  151 

themselves  from  invasion  by  the  Indians,  and  it  was  his  belief  that 
arms  could  be  obtained  by  applying  to  the  commander  of  Fort  Arm- 
strong. Many  of  the  settlers  thought  not,  and,  being  desirous  of 
leaving,  naturally  opposed  any  attempt  that  might  be  made  to  secure 
guns.  They  thought  it  wise  and  best  to  return  to  their  old  towns. 
There  was,  however,  one  man,  F.  Y.  Barber,  formerly  a  lieutenant  in 
the  regular  army,  who  with  Mr.  McKee  thought  arms  could  be  ob- 
tained on  application.  Mr.  McKee  resolved  to  make  the  attempt  at 
all  hazards,  and,  accordingly,  in  company  with  James  McMurtry  and 
Fantelroy  Freeman,  set  out  for  Rock  Island.  After  a  long  and  weary 
journey  through  a  wild,  uninhabited  country,  they  reached  the  fort, 
where,  without  delay  or  trouble,  they  secured  100  guns  with  accou- 
trements. These  were  sent  down  the  river  to  Oquawka,  and  from 
there  brought  in  wagons  to  this  county,  where  they  were  distributed 
among  72  men  living  in  Knox  and  Warren  counties,  which  at  the 
time  included  almost  every  man  in  this  county.  Major  McKee  and 
his  companion  were  more  fortunate  than  were  Mr.  St.  Train  with  a 
few  other  men  who  were  sent  to  Rock  Island  by  General  Atkinson 
about  this  same  time.  On  their  way  they  fell  in  with  a  party  of 
Indians  led  by  a  chief  well  known  to  St.  Yrain,  who  was  an  Indian 
agent.  This  chief  was  called  "The  Little  Bear."  He  had  been  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  the  agent,  and  had  adopted  him  as  a  brother.  Mr. 
St.  Yrain  felt  no  fear  of  one  who  was  his  friend, — one  who  had  been 
an  inmate  of  his  house,  and  who  had  adopted  him  as  brother,  and  ap- 
proached the  Indians  with  the  greatest  confidence  and  security.  But 
the  treacherous  Indian,  untrue  in  war  to  the  claims  of  gratitude, 
friendship  and  brotherhood,  no  sooner  got  him  in  power  than  h£  mur- 
dered and  scalped  him  and  all  his  party  with  as  little  compassion  as 
if  he  had  never  known  him  or  professed  to  be  his  friend. 

The  following  receipt  was  signed  by  those  who  received  arms,  and 
included  rifles,  flasks,  bullet-molds,  screw-driver,  wiper,  spring-vice, 
powder,  lead,  rifle-flint.  The  dates  of  receipts  range  from  April  21 
to  June  3,  almost  all  of  them,  however,  being  distributed  on  the  former 
date:  "We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  Henderson  river  and  Knox  and 
Warren  counties,  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  received  of  Thomas 
McKee,  Jr.,  and  Fantelroy  Freeman  the  several  articles  of  arms  and 
accoutrements  set  opposite  our  respective  names."  Those  marked 
with  star  subsequently  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

F.  R.  Freeman,  William  McMurtry,*  James  McMurtry,*  Edward 
Martin,*  J.  B.  Criswell,*  Ebenezer  Criswell,*  J.  M.  E.  Criswell, 
Westly  Pennington,  John  McGeehee,  Nicholas  Rice,*  John  McMur- 
try,* Edmond  Adcock,*  John  Robertson,*  Elbert  Robertson,*  Joseph 


Wallace*  Joseph  Hoffidaj,*  John  McAdams,  Bees  Jones.*  Alex. 
Williams  James  MeGeehee,  John  Criswell,  Jesse  Adkms*  Stephen 
Pennington.*  James  MeMurtry.  Sir.,  Joseph  Boe,  John  Miks,  Benja- 
min Brown,*  William  H.  Beii*  Daniel  Fuqua.*  Junes  Boondtree* 
Matthew  Cor,  Thomar  Maxwell,*  Willis  Peeenpangh,*  Henry  Pecen- 
iwngh.  JohnVa^hn.*  Henij  D.  Bell,  Elijah  Osbora,  Erbin  D.Goj,* 
James  BejnoUs,* Andrew  Osbora*  James  Maxwell,*  James  B.  At- 
wood.  Stephen  Gabon.  Robert  Beit  Alexander  Osbora,  Wiffiam 
Lewis*  Jesse  D.  Gam.  Jones  Osbora,  Hour  Maxwell,*  Obadiah  Fu- 
qna*  Nicholas  Toiles.  John  Ifortoa,  JosiahVanghn,*  J.  G. Sanbora, 
Henry  M.  GiUett.*  Ghaifas  Hansfard,  Brbin  Reynolds,  Benjamin 
Jennings,*  Daniel  Tanner,*  Biggs  Pennington.  Jacob  Adams,*  F.  V. 
Barber,*  Benjamin  Tnefaer,  Wilson  Brown.*  Pleasant  McGeehee, 
IV  .  j-  -.  C  :  m  ^waingtam,  Ahsnnda  FWbv,*  Jon». 
Biee*  George  Brown*  William  ffin,  Moses  F.  Freeman. 

Of  the  7^  men  who  are  represented  in  die  above  list  there  are  bat 
fire  now  firing  in  Knox  eonntr.  Almost  the  entire  number  hare 
from  earth,  and  bat  a  few  more  Tears  win  roll  bj  nntil  not  a 
win  be  represented  among  men. 

The  mflitarj  organization  formed  in  this  county  was  called  the 
-Volunteer  Bangers,*7  and  was  commanded  bj  Captain  William  Mc- 
Murtrr. — Turner  Thmndliu  ,  First  Lieutenant,  and  George  Larimer. 
Second  Lieutenant.  They  did  not  wear  mflitarj  uniforms,  bat  eon- 
tinned  in  eituen's  dress.  The  battalion  was  mounted,  each  man  fur- 
nishing his  own  horse.  They  ranged  orer  the  country  from  this 
county  to  the  Ifinniniipui  riTer  in  the  neighborhood  of  Oquawka. 
Althongh  oat  about  60  days,  they  were  fortunate  enough  not  to  hare 

~ 

from  service  at  Macomb,  being  out 


oter  two  months,  and  received  therefor  the  remunerative  sum  of  86 
cents  per  day  for  self  and  horse.  Afterward  the  General  Government 
m  kind  enough  to  give  to  each  participant  80  acres  of  land. 
For  further  protection  three  log  forts  were  constructed, — two  in 
enderaon  township  and  one  in  Bio;  also  another  three  miles  south 
of  KnoxrOle^  bat  was  nerer  occupied.  Those  m  Henderson  stood 
one  on  section  10  and  the  other  on  section  33.  Fort  Aggie,  as  the 
one  in  Bio  was  termed,  stood  on  section  37.  These  places  of  refuge 
were  rather  a  stockade  than  a  fort,  except  die  one  below  Knoxville, 
although  known  among  the  early  settlers  onl j  by  the  latter  name. 
A  description  of  Lewis'  fort,  as  the  one  on  section  33  was  known, 
wfll  snfiee  for  alL  It  was  boflt  under  the.  supervision  of  Wiffiam 
Lewis,  who.  with  16  others,  constructed  it  in  the  short  time  of  four 


HISTOKT   OF  K5OX   COOTTT.  153 

weeks,  which,  considering  the  vast  amount  of  physical  labor  required, 
is  a  case  almost  without  a  parallel.  It  stood  a  short  distance  from 
the  timber,  and  was  210  feet  square,  being  boilt  of  oak  timbers  12 
feet  each  in  length,  set  close  together  in  the  ground,  forming  a  fence 
about  8  or  9  feet  high,  which  was  lined  with  sod,  ploughed  2  feet 
wide  and  4  inches  thick,  and  cut  in  pieces  2  feet  in  length.  Every  4 
feet  port-holes  were  made.  On  two  of  the  corners  were  erected  Mock 
houses,  at  which  each  of  the  four  sides  of  the  fort  could  be  protected 
by  the  guard.  These  were  16  by  20  feet,  and  a  few  feet  from  the 
ground,  projected  beyond  the  walls  of  the  main  structure,  thus  enab 
ling  the  guard  to  prevent  an  approach  of  incendiaries.  These  were 
covered  with  clapboards.  On  the  inside  and  adjoining  die  outer  walk 
was  a  shed  extending  all  the  way  around.  One  doorway.  12  feet  wide, 
which  was  closed  with  a  heavy  puncheon  door,  was  the  only jdace  of 
entry.  They  were  preparing  to  construct  a  sham  cannon  of  basswood. 
which  they  intended  to  place  above  the  wall  pointing  toward  the  tim- 
ber, from  which  place  they  expected  the  Indians;  but  peace  was  de- 
clared ere  it  was  finished.  The  only  shelter  being  the  shed  referred 
to,  consequently  the  exposure  of  those  *  forted '"  was  often  great.  On 
one  occasion,  when  many  of  the  setden  had  taken  refuge,  Mrs.  Hans- 
ford  commenced  packing  up  her  things  preparatory  to  leaving  for  home, 
which  aroused  the  curiosity  of  the  others,  who  anxiously  inquired  if  she 
intended  to  leave.  She  told  them  that  she  "would  rather  be  killed  at 
home  by  the  Indians  than  die  from  exposure,  as  they  were  all  bound 
to  if  they  staid  there.7*  Late  one  night,  while  everything  was  quiet 
around  their  cabin,  this  same  lady  awoke  thSulriiig  she  heard  tike 
stealthy  tread  of  red  men.  She  aroused  her  husband,  telling  him  the 
Indians  were  coming  and  that  they  must  be  off  to  the  fort.  He  was 
not  so  easily  frightened,  and  said  he  ~  wouldn't  go,  as  no  Ti"Jsnrir  vore 
near/*  Soon  Mr.  Coy's  family  came  and  knocked  for  admittance. 
They  were  on  their  way  to  the  fort. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  Coy  family,  with  die  startling  intelligence 
of  the  approach  of  the  treacherous  enemy.  Dr.  Hansford  and  family 
joined  them,  and  they  all  hurried  toward  die  fort.  They,  however, 
stopped  at  Peter  Bell's  the  remainder  of  the  night.  The  settlers, 
especially  the  more  timid  women,  had  no  trouble  in  discovering  bands 
of  marauding  Indians  lurking  in  every  grove  of  timber.  Cattle, 
stumps,  trees,  and  other  objects,  by  their  imaginations,  were  easily 
converted  into  Indians.  Everybody  could  see,  as  one  old  lady  re- 
marked, "whole  mountains  of  Indians  any  time."  The  following 
incident  illustrates  the  verity  of  this  statement;  although  ludicrous 
now,  if  we  could  realize  the  real  situation  of  the  women  it  would  be 
10 


154  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

quite  serious:  Mrs.  Hansford  and  Mrs.  Lewis,  the  latter  with  a  little 
daughter,  were  returning  home  late  in  die  afternoon  from  a  neighbor's. 
where  they  had  been  visiting.  Coming  in  sight  of  one  of  the  forts 
they  saw  several  wagons  there,  which  they  readily  conceived  were 
Indians.  Indeed  they  could  see  hundreds  of  them  slaying  the  few 
whites  that  had  reached  the  place.  Mrs.  Lewis  in  agony  cried  out, 
"For  God's  sake,  run;  I  smell  the  powder!"  and,  at  a  speed  women 
seldom  go,  they  ran  for  Peter  Bell's  cabin.  They  were  compelled  to 
pass  through  a  piece  of  timber,  and  here  they  were  positive  they  could 
see  the  lurking  red-skins  on  every  hand.  They  never  slackened  their 
run  until  they  reached  Bell's,  who  was  much  diverted  at  their 
timidity. 

Two  young  men,  Jones  and  De  Hart  by  name,  had  pushed  away 
out  upon  the  frontier,  and  naturally  had  become  accustomed  to  "  rough- 
ing it."  De  Hart,  nevertheless,  was  greatly  frightened  one  day  when 
no  danger  was  near.  They  had  broken  ten  acres  of  prairie  land  in 
Walnut  Grove  township,  on  what  was  afterward  the  farm  of  Amos 
Ward.  While  De  Hart  was  plowing  with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  an  old 
Indian  squaw  came  out  of  the  woods  and  waved  a  red  blanket.  This, 
he  surmised,  was  a  signal  for  him  to  flee  for  his  life.  Accordingly 
he  started  immediately  for  the  fort  at  Henderson,  leaving  his  oxen  in 
the  furrow.  On  hearing  it  was  only  a  scare,  he  returned  the  follow- 
ing day  for  his  team  and  effects;  but  left  the  county  and  never  re- 
turned. His  experience  of  border  life  had  been  sufficient  to  convince 
him  that  a  more  civilized  community  would  be  as  congenial.  Several 
times  during  the  Black  Hawk  war  did  the  settlers  flee  to  the  forts, 
leaving  their  homes  in  such  haste  that  but  little  preparation  could  be 
made.  Rumors  were  ever  rife  of  the  coming  of  Indians;  and  as  the 
settlers  really  expected  them,  it  is  no  wonder  that  many  believed 
every  rumor  afloat. 

The  faithful  Indian  Chief,  Shaubena,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this 
book,  was  a  friend  to  the  white  man,  and  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  Although  not  so  conspicuous  as  Tecumseh  or  Black  Hawk, 
yet  in  point  of  merit  he  was  superior  to  either  of  them.  Shaubena 
was  born  at  an  Indian  village  on  the  Kankakee  river,  now  in  Will 
county,  about  the  year  1775.  While  young  he  was  made  chief  of  the 
band,  and  went  to  Shanbena  Grove  (now  in  De  Kalb  county),  where 
they  were  found  in  the  early  settlement  of  that  section.  In  the  war 
of  1812  Shanbena,  with  his  warriors,  joined  Tecumseh,  was  aid  to 
that  great  chief,  and  stood  by  his  side  when  he  fell  at  the  battle  of  the 
Thames.  At  the  time  of  the  Winnebago  war,  in  1827,  he  visited 
almost  every  village  among  the  Pottawatomies,  and  by  his  persuasive 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  155 

arguments  prevented  them  from  taking  part  in  the  war.  By  request 
of  the  citizens  of  Chicago,  Shaubena,  accompanied  by  Billy  Caldwell 
(Sauganash),  visited  Big  Foot's  village  at  Geneva  Lake,  in  order  to 
pacify  the  warriors,  as  fears  were  entertained  that  they  were  about  to 
raise  the  tomahawk  against  the  whites.  Here  Shanbena  was  taken 
prisoner  by  Big  Foot,  and  his  life  threatened,  but  on  the  following 
day  was  set  at  liberty.  From  that  time  the  Indians  (through  reproach) 
styled  him  the  "  white  man's  friend,"  and  many  times  his  life  was 
endangered. 

Before  the  Black  Hawk  war  Shaubena  met  with  his  men  in  coun- 
cil at  two  different  times,  and  by  his  influence  prevented  his  people 
from  taking  part  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  After  the  death  of  Black 
Partridge  and  Senachwine,  no  chief  among  tlie  Pottawatomies  exerted 
so  much  influence  as  Shaubena.  Black  Hawk,  aware  of  this  influ- 
ence, visited  him  at  two  different  times,  in  order  to  enlist  him  in  his 
cause,  but  was  unsuccessful.  While  Black  Hawk  was  a  prisoner  at 
Jefferson  Barracks  he  said,  had  it  not  been  for  Shaubena  the  whole 
Pottawatomie  nation  would  have  joined  his  standard,  and  he  could 
have  continued  the  war  for  years. 

To  Shaubena  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  owe  the 
preservation  of  their  lives,  for  he  was  ever  on  the  alert  to  save  the 
whites.  He  visited  the  settlement  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
county,  telling  them  if  they  did  not  leave  they  would  be  killed.  John 
Essex,  David  Cooper,  Thomas  Essex,  Sr.,  and  Thomas,  Jr.,  with  their 
families,  immediately  set  out  for  the  fort  near  Pekin.  Here  they  re- 
mained until  December,  when  all  returned  to  their  homes  except 
Thomas  Essex,  Jr.,  who  never  came  back  to  the  county,  but  moved 
near  Peoria,  where  he  yet  lives. 

Shaubena,  by  saving  the  lives  of  the  whites  endangered  his  own, 
for  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  threatened  to  kill  him,  and  made  two  attempts 
to  execute  their  threats.  They  killed  Pypeogee,  his  son,  and  Pyps, 
his  nephew,  and  hunted  him  down  as  though  he  was  a  wild  beast. 

Shaubena  had  a  reservation  of  two  sections  of  land  at  his  grove,  but 
by  leaving  it  and  going  west  for  a  short  time  the  government  declared 
the  reservation  forfeited,  and  sold  it  the  same  as  other  vacant  land. 
Shaubena  finding  on  his  return  his  possessions  gone,  was  very  sad 
and  broken  down  in  spirit,  and  left  the  grove  for  ever.  The  citizens 
of  Ottawa  raised  money  and  bought  him  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
Illinois  river,  above  Seneca,  in  Grundy  county,  on  which  they  built  a 
house  and  supplied  him  with  means  to  live  on.  He  lived  here  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  17th  of  July,  1859,  in  the  84th 
year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  with  great  pomp  in  the  cemetery  at 


156  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Morris.  His  squaw  Pokanoka  was  drowned  in  Mazen  creek,  Grundy 
county,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1864,  and  was  buried  by  his  side. 
In  1861  subscriptions  were  taken  up  in  many  of  the  river  towns  to 
erect  a  monument  over  the  remains  of  Shaubena,  but,  the  war  break- 
ing out,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  Only  a  plain  marble  slab 
marks  the  resting-place  of  this  friend  of  the  white  man. 

Shaubena  often  came  to  the  house  of  John  Essex,  of  Lynn  town- 
ship. He  always  was  very  kind  to  them,  and  on  one  occasion  brought 
them  a  quarter  of  deer  which  he  had  killed  himself.  In  after  times 
when  the  younger  Indians,  knowing  the  popularity  of  Shaubena  with 
the  whites,  called  for  something  to  eat  and  were  asked  whose  papooses 
they  were,  they  would  invariably  answer  Shaubena's,  thinking  they 
would  certainly  get  the  food  then,  which  they  alwa}Ts  did. 

Shaubena  came  to  William  Morris,  who  lived  in  Persifer  township, 
and  told  him  if  he  would  go  with  him  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township  he  would  show  him  a  silver  mine,  which  was  marked  by  a 
big  flat  rock.  Mr.  Morris,  not  knowing  that  Shaubena  was  a  friend 
to  the  whites,  was  afraid  to  go,  for  he  thought  the  Indian  wanted  to 
kill  him.  Finally,  in  his  travels  over  the  country,  in  company  with 
his  wife,  he  found  a  bee-tree  laded  with  honey.  On  their  way  home 
with  their  honey  they  came  across  the  rock  Shaubena  had  told  them 
about.  The  location  and  description  being  as  the  Chief  had  defined, 
he  several  times  after  the  first  visit  went  in  search  of  the  rock,  but 
failed  to  find  it. 

During  the  Black  Hawk  war  two  Indians  came  to  Mr.  Essex's, 
when  his  wife  was  alone.  She  was  a  brave  pioneer  woman,  and  ordi- 
narily would  have  experienced  no  fear  had  the  number  been  a  dozen; 
but  this  time  she  felt  quite  timid.  She  believed  them  to  be  spies, 
which  indeed  they  were,  as  was  subsequently  discovered.  They  were 
learning  the  movements  of  the  people,  whether  or  not  they  were  pre- 
paring to  leave.  On  their  arrival  they  asked  for  some  potatoes  to 
cook  and  honey  to  eat  with  them  as  they  would  gravy. 

As  referred  to  above,  the  Black  Hawk  war  caused  no  little  uneasi- 
ness to  the  Fraker  Grove  settlement.  For  two  summers  the  settlers, 
finding  it  unsafe  to  remain  there,  sought  refuge  at  Henderson  fort. 
The  first  season,  hearing  that  peace  was  declared,  they  returned  to 
their  homes  about  harvesting  time.  They  repeated  their  journey  to 
the  fort  the  next  spring.  On  their  first  trip,  as  they  came  to  "Walnut 
creek  they  found  the  stream  so  greatly  swollen  by  recent  rains  that 
they  could  not  cross.  While  waiting  for  the  water  to  fall  the  Indian 
chief  Miximack,  who  had  followed  them,  came  up.  He  quietly^took 
•his  steel,  struck  fire  and  lit  his  pipe.  Sullenly  he  sat  smoking. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  157 

doubtless  musing  on  the  slaughter  of  whites  of  this  county,  which  he 
thought  would  soon  occur.  Mrs.  Fraker,  who  also  was  accustomed  to 
smoking,  as  many  of  the  pioneer  women  were,  asked  him  for  some 
fire  to  light  her  pipe.  On  complying  with  her  request  he  said, 
"  You'll  have  plenty  of  fire  by  and  by."  She  interpreted  this  to  mean 
that  the  Indians  engaged  in  the  war  would  soon  give  them  plenty  of 
fire.  This  statement  frightened  her  still  more.  Miximack  was  a 
rough,  burly  Indian,  and  feared  by  all  the  settlers. 

The  following  year  the  Rangers  came  to  Fraker's  settlemoit  and 
told  them  to  go  to  the  fort.  The  soldiers  remained  in  the  neighbor- 
hood that  night,  and  the  next  day  the  settlers,  before  leaving,  intended 
to  give  them  a  dinner  of  chicken;  but  when  they  went  after  them  in 
the  morning  not  a  chicken  was  to  be  found.  The  soldiers  had  doubt- 
less feasted  upon  chicken  without  giving  the  settlers  the  trouble  of 
serving  them. 

A  few  of  the  Rangers  remained  and  accompanied  the  people  to  the 
fort.  Their  crops  had  all  been  put  in,  and  were  growing  finely. 
They  returned,  however,  in  time  to  harvest  their  small  grain.  All 
returned  to  their  homes  except  Miss  Amelia  Fraker,  now  Mrs.  James 
Jackson  of  La  Fayette,  Stark  county,  who  remained  with  friends  at 
Henderson. 

The  greatest  scare  ever  given  the  settlers  was  by  young  Atwood,  son 
of  Mr.  Atwood  who  lived  in  Warren  county.  He  was  in  the  timber 
hunting  the  cows,  when,  knowing  the  timidity  of  the  settlers  and 
being,  like  his  father,  fond  of  a  joke  at  others'  expense,  he  conceived 
the  idea  of  giving  the  settlers  a  "  big  scare."  Knowing  the  people 
would  discredit  any  statement  he  might  make  without  other  proof 
than  his  word,  he  divested  himself  of  his  clothing,  hung  it  on  the 
limb  of  a  tree,  and  shot  several  bullet  holes  through  the  different 
garments.  In  order  to  show  the  effects  of  the  bullets  on  his  body,  he 
took  a  stick  and  irritated  the  flesh  near,  or  in  range,  with  the  various 
bullet  holes  in  his  clothing,  afterward  claiming  the  balls  only  grazed 
him.  Everything  being  at  length  arranged  to  suit  him,  he  started 
for  home,  running  at  full  speed,  and  yelling  with  all  his  power,  "  The 
Indians  are  coming!  The  Indians  are  coming!"  Of  course  the 
settlers  were  soon  in  a  great  degree  of  commotion.  Men,  women 
and  children  were  starting  pell-mell  toward  the  forts.  Consternation 
was  so  great  among  the  easily  duped  and  frightened  people  that 
nothing  was  thought  of  but  fleeing  from  the  corning  savages  and  the 
saving  of  their  lives;  so  that  everything  in  their  homes  was  conse- 
quently left  in  the  greatest  haste  and  most  disorderly  manner.  When 


158  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  people  learned  how  cruelly  their  fears  had  been  played  upon  and 
they  had  been  deceived,  their  indignation  knew  no  bounds. 

After  the  surrender  of  Black  Hawk  in  August,  1832,  hostilities 
ceased.  There  now  being  no  danger  of  Indians  molesting  the  settlers, 
vigorous  and  active  preparations  were  made  and  measures  inaugu- 
rated by  them  for  the  improvement  of  their  homes. 

In  1833  the  quiet  and  tranquillity  into  which  the  pioneers  had 
settled  was  partially  disturbed  by  the  rumor  that  the  Indians  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  treaty  they  had  made,  and  were  resolved  upon 
another  war.  This  report,  however,  happily  proved  to  be  unfounded ; 
and  never  since  have  the  rumors  of  ''  Indians  coming"  been  heard  in 
Knox  county. 


if*,   i 


/  ' 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  161 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GEOLOGY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  following  chapter  is  gleaned  from  a  geological  survey  made  by 
the  State  geologist,  A.  H.  Worthen,  in  1870.  Knox  county  com- 
prises a  superficial  area  of  twenty  townships,  or  seven  hundred  square 
miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Henry  county,  on  the  east  by 
Stark  and  Peoria,  on  the  south  by  Fulton,  on  the  west  by  Warren 
and  Mercer.  The  fourth  principal  meridian  passes  along  its  west- 
ern border;  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county  is  intersected  by 
Spoon  river,  which  enters  it  in  township  11,  range  4,  and  passes  out 
in  township  9,  range  2;  French  and  Littler's  creeks  lie  to  the  east; 
while  Haw  and  Court  creeks,  with  their  branches,  the  larger  of  which 
are  Brush,  Middle,  North  and  Sugar  creeks,  lie  on  the  west.  In  the 
northeast  is  Walnut  creek,  a  branch  of  Spoon  river,  while  in  the 
northwest  Cedar,  Henderson  and  Pope  creeks  have  their  origin,  and 
run  to  the  westward. 

By  these  and  some  smaller  streams  this  county  is  well  watered- 
Springs,  though  not  numerous,  are  occasionally  found  along  the 
lower  lands.  G.ood  wells  may  generally  be  found  at  a  depth  varying 
from  15  to  50  feet.  A  larger  portion  of  the  country  is  prairie,  but  so 
numerous  are  the  streams  that  the  prairies  are  commonly  but  a  few 
square  miles  in  extent.  The  soil  does  not  present  any  material  dif- 
ference from  other  counties  in  this  portion  of  the  State,  and  is  of  the 
usual  dark-colored  vegetable  loam,  with  a  brown  clay  sub-soil.  That 
along  the  water  courses  is  generally  of  less  depth  and  lighter  in  color. 

SURFACE  GEOLOGY. 

This  embraces  the  usual  subdivisions  of  the  quarternary,  with  the 
exception  of  the  loess,  which  was  not  noticed.  The  alluvial  deposits 
are  riot  extensive,  seldom  over  a  mile  or  so  in  width  and  commonly 
much  less,  and  comprise  the  bottom  lands  found  along  nearly  all  the 
water  courses.  The  soil  is  dark-colored  loam,  frequently  intermin- 
gled with  sand  and  gravel.  The  drift  is  spread  over  the  entire  sur- 
face of  the  uplands,  to  a  depth  of  from  ten  to  sixty  feet,  perhaps 
occasionally  a  little  more.  It  comprises  a  series  of  yellow  and  blue 


162  HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

clay,  here  and  there  mixed  with  sand  and  gravel.  Boulders  of  igne- 
ous and  metamorphic  rocks  are  not  uncommon  in  it,  and  may  be  fre- 
quently seen  along  the  courses  of  the  streams.  Wells  are  not 
usually  sunk  entirely  through  this  deposit,  an  abundant  supply  of 
good  water  being  found  before  the  coal  measures  are  reached,  though 
occasionally  they  go  deeper,  and  good  water  is  sometimes  found  in 
the  coal  measures.  All  the  stratified  rocks  exposed  in  Knox  county 
belong  to  the  coal  measures,  and  they  comprise  a  series  of  sandstones, 
limestones,  clays,  shales,  and  seams  of  coal,  and  represent  the  middle 
and  lower  part  of  the  series  of  coal  'No.  6  of  the  Illinois  section  to 
coal  No.  1  inclusive. 

The  upper  seam,  No.  6,  is  found  principally  in  the  eastern  half  of 
the  county.  It  varies  in  thickness  from  four  to  six  feet  and  affords  a 
good  quality  of  coal.  In  this  and  the  adjoining  counties  it  has  a  clay 
band  about  a  foot  and  a  half  to  two  feet  from  the  bottom  and  fre- 
quently several  other  clay  partitions.  In  the  western  half  of  Victoria 
township,  a  coal  seam  has  been  extensively  worked.  Mines  have  also 
been  opened  in  sections  5,  17,  18,  19,  29,  30,  31,  and  32.  In  some 
mines  coal  runs  as  thick  as  six  feet.  At  the  mines  of  P.  Peterson, 
Esq.,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32,. 
and  some  others  in  the  vicinity,  the  coal  was  thicker  than  in  the 
mines  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  The  overlying  limestone 
is  here  quite  hard  and  durable,  and  is  worked  somewhat  for  building 
stone.  In  township  12,  range  3,  mines  have  been  worked  in  sections 
1,  10, 11,  18,  19,  and  20;  east  of  Wataga,  township  12,  range  2,  in  sec- 
tions 13,  15,  22,  23,  and  24.  Much  coal  has  been  taken  from  this  seam 
in  the  mines  of  John  A.  Lighten,  Esq.  In  section  12  the  following 
section  was  obtained: 

1  Clay  shale,  not  measured 

2  Limestone, 1  foot  6  in.  to  2  feet. 

3  Clay, 6  in. 

4  Black  slate 8  in.  to  2  feet. 

5  Coal, 4  feet  2  in. 

8  Clay,  not  measured 

The  center  of  section  24,  limestone  is  found  in  considerable  quan- 
tities which  makes  good  lime. 

In  township  11,  range  3,  there  are  mines  in  sections  3, 4  and  5,  and 
the  coal  is  reported  to  belong  to  this  seam,  and  to  be  from  4  to  5  feet 
thick.  In  section  15,  township  10,  range  4,  the  coal  appears  along 
the  bluffs  a  number  of  feet  above  the  stream.  A  seam  of  limestone 
is  worked  at  this  place.  This  limestone  is  again  exposed  and  worked 
in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25,  township  9,  range  4.  It  is 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  163 

quite  hard  at  this  point  and  makes  a  valuable  building  stone  and 
being  4  feet  thick  can  be  quarried  more  readily  than  at  most  other 
localities  in  the  region  where  it  is  thinner.  It  also  forms  a  good  roof 
for  the  coal  below,  there  being  but  6  inches  of  shale  limestone  be- 
tween. This  seam  is  worked  in  sections  23,  24,  31,  and  probably  32 
and  33.  There  is  also  a  mine  in  35,  township  9,  range  3.  At  this 
point  the  coal  is  found  high  up  in  the  hill,  and  is  reported  to  be  some- 
what rotten. 

The  mines  formerly  worked  by  Messrs.  Camp  &  Powell  at  Oneida, 
section  36,  township  13,  range  2,  also  belongs  to  this  seam.  The  next 
seam,  No.  4,  of  the  Illinois  section,  usually  lies  from  forty  to  sixty  feet 
below  this  one.  This  coal  is  seldom  less  than  three  or  more  than  four 
feet  in  thickness.  Mines  which  appear  to  be  in  this  seam  are  worked 
in  2  and  3,  township  13,  range  1.  In  the  cannel  coal,  No.  4  of  this 
section,  there  are  the  remains  of  fishes  and  plants,  some  of  which  are 
beautifully  preserved,  though  generally  quite  fragmentary. 

The  mines  along  Sugar  creek  and  its  branches,  in  township  12, 
range  3,  may  belong  to  this  seam,  or  perhaps  to  No.  6.  The  coal 
furnished  by  these  mines  was  reported  to  be  of  superior  quality,  and 
this  would  seem  to  indicate  that  it  belonged  to  No.  6. 

South  of  Spoon  river  there  are  a  number  of  mines  along  Littler's 
creek  in  sections  26,  27,  28,  34  and  35,  township  9,  range  3.  A  sec- 
tion here  gave: 

Feet. 

1  Sandstone, 3  to    5 

2  Clay   shale 8  to  12 

3  Clay, •          2 

4  Black  slate, 2  to    4 

5  Coal, 2  to    3 

6  Clay  shale, not  measured. 

This  seam,  though  not  as  extensively  worked  as  No.  6,  underlies  a 

much  larger  portion  of  the  country.  It  probably  underlies  township 
13,  ranges  2,  3  and  4,  and  the  eastern  part  of  range  1. 

A  short  distance  southwest  of  Milroy  a  thin  seam  was  reported. 
A  thin  seam  was  reported  somewhere  from  twenty  to  forty  feet  below 
the  one  now  worked  there,  which  appears  to  be  No.  6.  Should  this 
lower  seam  be  No.  4,  it  is  much  thinner  here  than  it  is  usually,  and  is 
probably  No.  5.  It  probably  underlies  township  12,  ranges  2,  3  and 
4,  township  11,  range  2,  and  the  southeastern  part  of  range  1,  and 
the  northern  borders  of  ranges  3  and  4,  perhaps  the  eastern  part  of 
township  10,  range  4,  and  township  9,  range  4,  and  the  southern 


164  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

half  of  range  3.  The  coal  from  this  seam  is  generally  of  fair  quality, 
but  is  a  little  harder  and  not  as  well  liked  as  that  from  Wo.  6. 

In  township  10,  range  1,  there  is  a  coal  seam  worked  in  several 
places  which  may  be  No.  3  (?)  of  the  Illinois  section. 

Abundance  of  fossil  plants  were  found  in  some  portions  of  the  shale 
overlying  the  coal  seam  of  this  section,  for  which  there  are  scientific 
names;  but  as  there  are  no  English  names,  we  give  no  list  here. 

Wear  the  former  site  of  D.  E.  Hall's  mill,  section  5,  township  13, 
range  1,  there  is  an  outcrop  of  limestone  along  Pope  creek  close  to  the 
water's  edge.  It  is  supposed  there  is  abed  of  coal  but  a  few  feet  below 
this,  but  the  matter  had  not  been  thoroughly  tested  when  I  was  there. 
Should  it  prove  to  be  so,  it  seems  quite  probable  that  it  may  be  the 
same  seam,  Wo.  3  of  the  general  section,  and  the  same  as  the  one 
formed  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township  14,  range  2  west, 
in  Mercer  county.  Much  of  the  limestone  in  this  outcrop  is  highly 
fossiliferous,  and  contains  many  well  preserved  remains. 

The  next  coal  seam,  number  2  of  the  Illinois  section,  is  generally 
from  a  foot  and  a  half  to  three  feet  in  thickness.  This  coal  is  con- 
sidered fully  equal  in  quality  to  that  of  any  other  seam  found  in  the 
county.  In  township  12,  range  1,  a  coal  that  appears  to  be  the  equiv- 
alent of  this  seam  is  worked  in  sections  20,  21,  29,  30,  32  and  33.  The 
seam  is  from  two  to  three  feet  thick,  with  from  one  to  three  feet  of  clay 
shale  and  a  band  of  limestone  above,  and  a  floor  of  fire-clay.  In  sec- 
tion 23  and  near  the  south  west  corner  of  16,  township  11,  range  2  it 
is  again  worked.  From  here  along  down  Court  creek  to  its  mouth, 
and  on  some  of  its  branches,  this  seam  has  been  more  or  less  worked 
in  sections  19,  22  and  23,  township  11,  range  3,  also  in  sections  13  and 
35.  In  Truro,  township  11,  range  4,  it  appears  in  or  near  the  bed  of 
Spoon  river,  and  has  been  worked  at  various  places.  From  here  there 
are  outcrops  along  the  river,  at  intervals,  to  near  the  south  line  of  the 
county. 

West  of  the  river,  in  township  10,  range  3,  this  seam  is  worked  in 
sections  8,  16,  19  and  29,  also  in  township  10,  range  2,  in  sections  14, 
22,  23,  25,  26,  27,  29,  33  and  34.  In  section  33,  along  Hog  creek, 
specimens  of  cone-in-cone  were  found  in  considerable  quantities. 
West  of  this  the  coal  has  been  found  in  sections  10,  14  and  23. 

The  lower  seam,  number  1,  is  not  worked  to  any  extent  in  but  one 
locality  in  Knox  county,  on  section  21,  township  12.  range  1.  It  is 
here  worked  by  means  of  a  shaft,  which  is  about  30  feet  deep.  The 
coal  is  6  feet  thick,  but  as  much  of  the  roof  is  not  very"  firm,  and  the 
upper  part  of  the  coal  is  of  an  inferior  quality,  from  1  to  2  feet  of 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  165 

coal  is  left  to  strengthen  the  roof.     In  section  36.  township  9,  range 

I,  this  seam   has  been  found  several  feet  below  the  bed  of  the  little 
stream  that  passes  through  it.     In  section  31,  township  9,  range  2,  it 
crops  out  in  the  bed  of  a  small  run,  and  a  little  coal  has  been  taken 
out  here. 

Coal  number  2  first  outcrops  in  the  bed  of  Walnut  creek,  in  sec- 
tion 17,  township  12,  range  5,  in  Stark  county.  South  of  this  it  is 
not  again  exposed,  as  far  as  I  learned,  between  that  point  and  section 
14,  township  11,  range  4,  in  Knox  county.  From  this  point,  upon 
Spoon  river,  with  its  various  windings,  it  runs  to  the  west  for  about  5 
miles,  and  south  about  9  miles,  from  whence  it  passes  to  the  south- 
west till  it  leaves  the  county.  From  where  this  coal  first  appears  in 
Knox  county  it  is  occasionally  exposed  along  the  river,  and  near  its 
bed  to  a  point  a  little  beyond,  where  the  river  turns  south.  In  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  6,  township  10,  range  4,  it  lies  low  in 
the  bed  of  the  river,  and  is  frequently  torn  up  in  considerable  quan- 
tities by  the  action  of  the  current  at  high  water,  and  is  sometimes 
worked  when  the  river  is  very  low.  Some  2  or  3  miles  south,  near 
the  bridge,  it  appears  a  little  above  the  bed  of  the  river.  At  Bur- 
nett's mill,  section  34,  township  10,  range  3,  the  coal  lies  some  10  or 
more  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river;  but  southwest  of  this,  in  sec- 
tion 10,  township  9,  range  3,  it  is  worked  in  the  bed  of  the  river.  In 
sections  26  and  27,  township  9,  it  again  appears. 

ECONOMICAL    GEOLOGY. — STONE   FOR   BUILDING. 

Knox  county  has  but  a  limited  supply  of  good  building  stone. 
Some  portions,  however,  have  sufficient  for  their  own  wants.  •  North 
of  Knoxville,  in  the  western  half  of  sections  16  and  21,  township 

II,  range  2,  quarries  have  been  opened  in  a  heavy  sandstone  bed. 
Some  portions  of  the  rock  do  not  appear  to  be  of  much  value,  while 
others,  though  soft,  form  a  durable  material  for  the  use  of  the  builder. 
In  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  16  there  is  a  quarry  that  affords 
an  entirely  different  rock.     It  is  a  dark-drab-colored  conglomerate, 
spotted  by  darker,  slate-colored  pebbles.     By  exposure  it  changes,  on 
its  surface,  to  a  lighter  and  yellowish  color  that  is  mellow  and  pleas- 
ing in  its  effect.     It  is  compact,  moderately  hard  and  makes  a  valu- 
able building  stone.     The  foundation  stone  of  the  "  fire-proof"  build- 
ing attached  to  the  court-house  in  Knoxville  was  obtained  from  this 
locality.     Sections  27,  33  and  34,  township  10,  range  2,  furnish  some 
building  stone.     Some  of  the  other  localities  are  section  14,  township 
10,  range    3;  section  27,  township  10,  range  4;  and  sections  21,  27, 


166  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

35  and  36,  township  9,  range  3.      Some  of  these  quarries  are  large, 
and  considerable  amount  of  material  have  been  taken  from  them. 

The  ledge  of  limestone,  which  lies  just  above  coal  number  6,  and  is 
from  1  to  4  feet  thick,  has  been  considerably  worked  where  so  ex- 
posed as  to  be  readily  obtained.  One  of  the  largest  quarries  in  this 
limestone  is  south  of  Yates  City,  in  section  25,  township  9,  range  4. 
The  bed  is  here  4  feet  thick,  and  yields  a  hard,  dark-drab  or  grayish- 
colored  compact  rock,  which  readily  breaks  into  good  shape  for  build- 
ing purposes. 

LIMESTONE    FOR    LIME. 

This  is  rarely  found  in  any  abundance.  In  township  12,  range  2, 
near  the  center  of  section  24,  considerable  quantities  of  limestone  are 
found,  which  is  manufactured  into  lime,  yielding  a  fair  article.  Else- 
where the  manufacture  has  been  attempted  only  on  a  small  scale.  For 
the  most  part  Knox  county  has  to  depend  upon  localities  more  favored 
in  this  respect  for  its  supply  of  lime. 


COAL. 


The  best  and  largest  quantity  is  furnished  by  the  upper  seam,  num- 
ber 6.  This  is  principally  worked  in  township  12,  ranges  2,  3  and  4, 
and  in  townships  9  and  10,  range  4.  This  seam  is  from  4  to  6  feet 
thick,  and  at  many  of  the  mines  it  is  comparatively  free  from  foreign 
substances,  and  hence  requires  but  little  sorting.  "  Horsebacks"  or 
slips,  which  in  some  places  greatly  injure  this  seam,  are  not  so 
numerous  in  this  county  as  elsewhere.  The  coal  is  somewhat  lighter 
than  that  from  seam  number  4,  and  is  preferred  by  blacksmiths. 

Number  4  furnishes  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  with  a 
good  supply  of  coal  of  a  fair  quality,  and  the  mines  in  this  seam  are 
among  the  best  in  the  county.  Nearly  all  the  coal  obtained  in  town- 
ship 11,  range  2,  is  probably  from  this  seam,  and  also  that  from 
township  9,  range  3.  It  is  also  worked  in  some  other  places,  and 
affords  a  coal  of  good  quality,  and  harder  than  that  from  number  6. 
It  does  not  kindle  as  easily,  but  lasts  longer,  and  for  some  purposes 
is  preferred. 

Coal  number  3.  This  is  worked  in  township  10,  range  1,  and  fur- 
nishes a  good  coal,  and  the  larger  part  of  the  supply  for  this  section. 

The  remaining  portions  of  the  county  are  furnished  by  mines,  which 
probably  are  in  coal  number  2.  At  most  places  where  worked  this 
coal  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  usually  pretty  free  from  admixture 
with  other  substances.  It  is  largely  used  for,  and  well  adapted  to, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  16V 

blacksmithing  purposes.     Though  this  is  the  thinnest  seam  worked, 
yet  the  amount  obtained  from  it  is  quite  large. 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  Knox  county  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  good  coal,  there  being  but  three  townships  in  which  coal  is  not 
mined  now,  viz.,  township  13,  ranges  2,  3  and  4;  and  in  two  of  them 
it  has  been  worked  formerly,  and  probably  not  less  than  two  workable 
seams  may  be  found  in  every  part  of  these  townships. 


168  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

ZOOLOGY  AND  BOTANY. 
QUADRUPEDS. 

Many  of  the  various  species  of  animals  that  roamed  the  native 
prairies  of  Knox  count}',  or  made  their  homes  in  the  wild  forests 
within  its  borders,  and  lived  undisturbed  and  free  from  the  haunt  of 
the  hound  or  the  crack  of  the  hunter's  rifle,  are  gone  from  this  sec- 
tion forever.  Not  even  a  specimen  is  preserved  in  taxidermy.  The 
buffalo  which  grazed  upon  the  verdant  prairies  has  been  driven  west- 
ward. With  or  before  it  went  the  beaver,  elk,  badger,  panther,  black 
wolf  and  black  bear.  Some  animals  that  were  quite  numerous  have 
become  very  rare,  such  as  the  gray  fox,  the  catamount,  otter,  lynx, 
and  the  beautiful  Virginia  deer. 

There  still  remain  many  of  the  different  species,  mostly  inhabiting 
the  country  adjacent  to  Spoon  river  and  a  few  of  the  other  larger 
streams.  These  are,  however,  fast  disappearing,  and  ere  long  will  be 
known  only  in  history,  as  are  the  deer,  the  beaver,  and  the  bison. 
Among  those  still  to  be  found  here  are  the  gray  wolf,  which  is  numer- 
ous in  some  parts,  the  opossum,  raccoon,  mink,  muskrat,  the  common 
weasel,  the  small  brown  weasel,  skunk,  woodchuck,  or  Maryland  mar- 
mot, prairie  mole,  common  shrew  mole,  meadow  and  deer  mouse,  and 
the  gray  rabbit.  Of  squirrels  there  are  the  gray  timber  squirrel,  the 
fox,  chipmunk,  the  large,  gray  prairie  squirrel,  the  striped  and  the 
spotted  prairie  squirrel,  and  the  beautiful  flying  squirrel.  The  dark 
brown  and  the  reddish  bat  are  common.  Other  small  animals  have 
been  found  here  which  have  strayed  frorti  other  localities. 

BIRDS. 

Of  the  5,000  existing  species  of  birds  many  have  sojourned  in  this 
county,  some  temporarily,  and  others  for  a  considerable  time.  Many 
migratory  species  come  only  at  long  intervals,  and  therefore  but  little 
is  known  of  them. 

There  are  certainly  no  more  beautiful  ornaments  for  parlor  or 
drawing-room  than  a  well  preserved  collection  of  stuffed  birds;  and  it 
is  a  matter  of  great  wonder  that  more  of  the  schools  of  the  county 
have  not  turned  their  attention  in  this  direction.  There  is  not  a  more 
fascinating  study  than  that  afforded  by  our  feathered  friends.  Their 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  169 

free  movement  through  seemingly  boundless  space,  the  joyous  songs 
of  many,  and  the  characteristic  tones  of  all,  their  brilliant  colors,  their 
lively  manners,  and  their  wonderful  instincts,  have  from  the  earliest 
ages  made  a  strong  impression  on  men's  minds,  and  in  the  infancy  of 
intellect  gave  rise  to  many  peculiar  and  mysterious  associations. 
Hence  the  flight  of  birds  was  made  the  foundation  of  a  peculiar  art 
of  divination.  Religion  borrowed  many  symbols  from  them  and 
poetry  many  of  its  ornaments.  Birds  avail  themselves  of  their  powers 
of  wing  to  seek  situations  adapted  for  them  in  respect  to  temperature 
and  supply  of  food.  The  arrival  of  summer  birds  is  always  a  wel- 
come sign  of  advancing  spring,  and  is  associated  with  all  that  is  cheer- 
ful and  delightful.  Some  birds  come  almost  at  the  same  date  annu- 
ally; others  are  more  influenced  by  the  character  of  the  season,  as 
mild  or  severe. 

A  collection  of  bird's  eggs  make  a  beautiful  ornament  also,  and  are 
easy  of  access,  require  but  little  care,  and  will  create  a  lively  interest 
in  the  study  of  birds  and  their  habits.  The  following  list  is  as  nearly 
correct  as  can  be  compiled  from  the  available  information  upon  the 
subject: 

Perchers. — This  order  of  birds  is  by  far  the  most  numerous,  and 
includes  nearly  all  those  which  are  attractive  either  in  plumage  or  in 
song.  The  ruby-throated  humming-bird,  with  its  exquisite  plumage 
and  almost  ethereal  existence,  is  at  the  head  of  the  list.  This  is  the 
humming-bird  which  is  always  the  delight  of  the  children,  and  is  the 
only  one  found  in  Illinois.  The  chimney  swallow,  easily  known  from 
other  swallows  by  its  very  long  wings  and  forked  tail,  and  which  is  a 
true  swift,  is  quite  numerous.  Of  the  whippoorwill  family  thbre  are 
two  representatives, — the  whippoorwill  proper,  whose  note  enlivens 
the  forests  at  night,  and  the  night-hawk.  The  belted  king-fisher,  so 
well  known  to  the  school  boy,  is  the  only  member  of  its  family  in 
this  region.  At  the  head  of  the  fly-catchers  is  the  king-bird,  the 
crested  fly-catcher  and  the  wood  pewee. 

Of  the  sub-order  of  singers  there  are  the  following:  The  robin, 
the  wood  thrush,  Wilson's  thrush,  the  blue-bird,  the  ruby-crowned 
and  the  golden-crested  wren,  tit-lark,  the  black  and  the  white  creeper, 
blue  yellow-backed  warbler,  yellow-breasted  chat,  worm-eating  war- 
bler, blue-winged  yellow  warbler,  Tennessee  warbler,  and  golden- 
crowned  thrush.  Shrike  family. — This  family  is  represented  by  the 
great  northern  shrike,  red- eyed  fly-catcher,  white-eyed  fly-catcher, 
the  blue-headed  and  the  yellow-throated  fly-catcher.  Swallow  family. 
— This  family  of  birds  are  very  numerous  in  Knox  county.  Among 
them  are  the  barn  swallow,  white-bellied  swallow,  bank  swallow, 


1YO  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

cliff  swallow,  and  purple  martin.  Wax-wing  family. — The  cedar 
bird  is  the  representative  of  the  wax-wing  in  America.  Mock- 
ing-Bird  family.  —  The  genera  of  this  family  are  the  cat-bird, 
brown  thrush,  the  house  and  the  winter  wren.  Finch  and  Spar- 
row family. — The  snow  bunting  and  Smith's  bunting  appear  only 
in  winter.  The  purple  finch,  the  yellow  bird  and  the  lark  finch 
inhabit  this  county.  Of  the  passerine  genus  of  this  family  are  the 
Savannah  sparrow,  the  field  and  the  chipping  sparrow,  the  black  snow- 
bird, the  tree  sparrow,  the  song  sparrow,  the  swamp  and  the  fox- 
colored  sparrow,  the  black-throated  bunting,  the  rose- breasted  gros- 
beak and  the  ground  robin.  Titmouse  family — are  represented  by 
the  chickadee  and  the  tufted  titmouse.  Creeper  family. — There  are 
two  specimens  of  this  family, — the  white-bellied  nut-hatch  and  the 
American  creeper.  Skylark  family. — This  melodious  family  is  rep- 
resented here  by  only  the  common  skylark  of  the  prairie.  Black- 
bird family. — The  rusty  blackbird,  the  crow  blackbird,  the  cow-bird, 
the  red-winged  blackbird,  the  meadow  lark,  the  orchard  and  the  Balti- 
more orioles  of  this  family,  are  the  most  beautiful  and  brilliant  of 
birds  that  inhabit  this  region.  Crow  family. — The  blue-jay  and 
the  common  crow  comprise  the  species  of  this  family. 

Birds  of  Prey. — This  order  of  birds  comprises  all  those,  with  few 
exceptions,  which  pursue  and  capture  birds  and  other  animals  for 
food.  They  are  mostly  of  large  size,  the  females  are  larger  than  the 
males,  they  live  in  pairs,  and  choose  their  mates  for  life.  Most  rap- 
torial birds  have  disappeared.  Among  them  are  the  golden  eagle, 
which  was  always  rare  but  now  no  longer  seen  here;  the  bald  eagle, 
or  properly  the  white-headed  eagle,  once  quite  common,  now  very 
scarce,  no  longer  breeds  here,  but  strays  from  the  heavy  timber  on 
the  Illinois  river.  Some  well  preserved  specimens  of  this  genus  are 
in  the  county.  This  eagle  enjoys  the  honor  of  standing  as  our 
national  emblem.  Benjamin  Franklin  lamented  the  selection  of  this 
bird  as  emblematical  of  the  Union,  for  its  great  cowardice.  It  has  the 
ability  of  ascending  in  circular  sweeps  without  any  apparent  motion 
of  the  wings  or  the  tail,  and  it  often  rises  in  this  manner  until  it  dis- 
appears from  view;  when  at  an  immense  height,  and  as  if  observing 
an  object  on  the  ground,  it  sometimes  closes  it  wings,  and  glides 
toward  the  earth  with  such  velocity  that  the  eye  can  scarcely  follow 
it,  causing  a  loud  rustling  sound  like  a  violent  gust  of  wind  among 
the  branches  of  the  forest.  The  Hawk  family  are  eight  or  nine 
species,  some  but  seldom  seen,  others  common.  The  turkey-buzzard 
has  almost,  if  not  quite,  disappeared.  Of  the  owl  genera  are  several 
species,  though  all  are  but  seldom  seen  because  of|their  nocturnal 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  173 

habits.  Among  them  are  the  barn  owl,  the  screech  owl,  the  long 
and  the  short-eared  owl,  the  barred  owl,  and  the  snowy  owl,  the  latter 
being  the  rarest. 

Climbers. — But  few  of  this  order  remain  in  the  county,  the  most 
common  of  which  are  the  woodpeckers.  Of  the  various  kinds  there 
are  the  golden-winged,  the  pileated,  the  hairy,  the  downy,  the  yel- 
low-bellied, red- bellied  and  the  red-headed.  At  an  early  day  the  Car- 
olina parrot  was  often  seen,  but  has  now  entirely  deserted  this  sec- 
tion. The  yellow  and  black-billed  cuckoos  are  occasionally  seen. 

Scratchers. — This  order  contains  but  few  genera  in  this  county. 
The  wild  turkey,  the  choicest  of  game,  has  almost  entirely  disappeared, 
and  was  the  only  one  of  its  family  that  ever  sojourned  here.  In  an 
early  day  they  were  in  abundance.  Grouse  family. — The  chiefest 
among  this  family  is  the  prairie  chicken,  which,  if  not  carefully  pro- 
tected, must  ere  long  follow  the  wild  turkey,  never  to  return.  The 
ruffled  grouse,  wrongfully  called  "  pheasant,"  has  of  late  made  its  ap- 
pearance. It  is  quite  fond  of  cultivated  fields,  and,  if  properly  pro- 
tected and  encouraged  until  it  becomes  firmly  settled,  will  make  a 
fine  addition  to  the  game,  and  fill  the  place  of  the  prairie  chicken. 
Partridge  family. — The  fate  of  that  excellent  bird,  the  quail,  is  only 
a  question  of  a  short  time.  The  Dove  family. — The  wild  pigeons 
continue  to  make  their  semi-annual  visits,  but  not  in  such  vast  num- 
bers as  years  ago.  Acres  of  forest  were  often  so  filled  at  night  with 
these  birds  that  the  breaking  of  boughs  and  the  flying  of  pigeons 
made  a  noise  that  could  be  heard  for  miles,  and  the  shot  of  a  sports- 
man's gun  could  not  be  heard  at  a  distance  of  ten  feet.  Highly  in- 
teresting is  the  description  by  Audubon  of  the  enormous  flights  which 
he  observed  on  the  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1813;  they  obscured  the  day- 
light and  lasted  three  days  without  interruption.  According  to  a  very 
moderate  estimate  of  his,  each  flight  contained  the  stupendous  number 
of  one  billion,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  million,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  thousand  pigeons.  These  flights  caused  a  general  com- 
motion among  the  entire  rural  population.  Desirous  of  booty  and  anx- 
ious lest  their  crops  should  be  spoiled,  the  farmers,  arming  themselves 
with  rifles,  clubs,  poles,  torches  and  iron  pots  filled  with  sulphur,  pro- 
ceed to  the  resting-places  of  the  birds.  The  work  of  slaughter  being 
accomplished,  everybody  sat  down  among  mountains  of  dead  pigeons, 
plucking  and  salting  the  birds  which  they  selected,  abandoning  the 
rest  to  the  foxes,  wolves,  raccoons,  opossums  and  hogs,  whole  herds  of 
which  were  driven  to  the  battle  field.  The  plaintive  notes  of  the  Car- 
olina dove,  commonly  known  as  the  turtle-dove,  are  still  heard. 

Swimmers. — This  order  of  birds,  which  formerly  frequented  this 
11 


174  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

county  in  large  numbers,  have  almost  disappeared.  They  are  migra- 
tory, and  in  their  usual  season  would  appear  coining  from  the  north 
or  south,  as  winter  passes  into  summer  or  summer  into  winter. 

Diver  family. — The  great  northern  diver,  or  loon,  sometimes 
visits  this  section,  but  inhabits  the  frigid  zone.  Gull  family. — Of 
this  family  are  "Wilson's  tern  and  the  silvery  gull.  Pelican  family. 
—The  rough-billed  pelican  was  the  only  genus  of  this  family  that 
ever  stopped  in  Knox  county,  and  it  has  now  altogether  ceased  to  make 
its  visits  here.  Cormorant  family. — The  double-crested  cormorant,  or 
sea  raven,  has  been  seen  here.  Duck  family. — This  family  of  mi- 
gratory birds  visited  the  ponds  and  streams  of  this  county  in  large 
numbers  before  it  became  so  thickly  settled,  both  on  their  northern 
and  southern  passage.  There  are  the  wood  duck,  the  big  black-headed 
duck,  the  ring- necked  duck,  the  red-head,  the  canvas-back,  the  dipper, 
the  sheldrake  or  goosander,  the  fish  duck,  the  red -breasted  and  the 
hooded  merganser,  the  mallard  and  the  pintail,  the  green-winged  and 
the  blue-winged  teal,  the  spoonbill  and  the  gadwall,  the  baldpate,  the 
American  swan,  the  trumpeter  swan  and  the  white-fronted  goose, — 
all  of  which  often  swam  upon  the  waters  of  Knox. 

Waders. — Probably  less  is  known  of  this  order  of  birds  than  of 
any  other,  because  of  their  slyness  and  solitary  habits.  They  fre- 
quented the  marshes,  but  cultivation  has  drained  their  favorite  haunts. 
Crane  family. — The  whooping  crane,  always  rare,  is  now  never  seen. 
The  sandbill  cranes  stop  on  their  journeys  north  and  south.  Heron 
family. — The  great  blue  heron  or  crane,  least  bittern,  the  green 
heron,  night  heron  and  the  American  bittern,  compose  those  of  this 
family  visiting  this  region.  His  family. — The  glossy  ibis  has  been 
seen'here.  Plover  family. — The  golden  plover,  the  killdeer  and  the 
king  plover  comprise  this  family  known  here.  Phalarope  family. — 
The  Wilson's  and  the  red  phalarope  have  frequented  the  swamps  of  this 
county.  Snipe  family. — Various  birds  of  this  family  have  been 
common  in  and  around  the  swamps  of  this  county.  Among  them 
were  Wilson's  snipe,  gray  or  red-breasted  snipe,  the  least  and  the 
semi-palmated  sandpiper,  the  willett,  the  tell-tale,  the  yellow-leg,  the 
solitary  sandpiper,  the  spotted  sandpiper,  the  field  plover,  long-billed 
curlew,  the  common  rail,  the  clapper  rail  or  mud  hen,  and  the  coot. 

Reptiles. — All  of  the  species  of  this  class  that  ever  inhabited  this 
region  are  still  to  be  found  here  except  the  poisonous  snakes.  The 
rattlesnake,  of  the  genus  crotalus,  is  of  a  yellowish  brown  color, 
and  has  a  series  of  horny  joints  at  the  end  of  the  tail,  which  make 
a  rattling  sound.  These  were  the  most  venomous  of  all  snakes  found 
here,  and  were  numerous  in  the  early  settlement.  There  are  two 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  175 

kinds,  the  bandy  or  striped  and  the  prairie  rattlesnake,  the  latter  being 
still  occasionally  found.  The  copperhead  was  always  rare.  Among 
the  harmless  snakes  are  the  water- snake,  the  garter- snake,  the  bull- 
snake,  the  milk-snake,  the  black-snake  and  the  blue  racer. 

Many  reptiles  found  here  are  erroneously  called  lizards,  but  are  sal- 
amanders and  other  like  innocent  creatures.  Lizards  are  never  found 
in  this  county.  Among  the  tortoises  or  turtles  are  found  the  map 
turtle,  the  snapping  and  the  soft-shelled  turtle.  Of  the  batrachian, 
or  naked  reptiles,  there  are  a  few,  and,  though  loathsome  to  sight  and 
touch,  are  harmless.  The  toad,  the  bull-frog,  the  leopard  frog,  the 
tree  toad,  with  some  tailed  batrachia,  comprise  the  most  of  this  order. 

FISHES. 

Although  fishes  are  the  lowest  class  of  vertebrates,  their  varied 
forms  and  colors,  which  often  rival  those  of  precious  stones  and  bur- 
nished gold,  the  wonderful  power  and  velocity  of  some,  the  whole- 
some food  furnished  by  many,  and  the  exciting  sport  of  their  capture, 
combine  to  render  fishes  subjects  of  great  interest  to  the  casual  ob- 
server, as  well  as  to  the  amateur  and  professional  naturalist.  The 
number  of  known  species  of  fishes  is  about  ten  thousand.  The 
waters  of  Knox  county  are  not  as  prolific  of  fish  as  many  other 
streams  in  this  latitude,  yet  they  are  not  barren  of  the  finny  tribe, 
and  the  sportsman  often  returns  home  heavily  laden  with  choice 
fish.  Sickle-backed  family. — This  family  furnishes  the  game  fish, 
and  are  never  caught  larger  than  four  pounds  in  weight.  The  various 
genera  found  here  are  the  black  bass,  goggle-eye,  the  croppy,  or  big 
black  sun-fish,  and  the  two  common  sun-fish.  Pike  family. — There 
is  but  one  species  of  this  family,  the  pickerel,  which  is  caught  weigh- 
ing from  five  to  twenty-five  pounds.  Sucker  family. — Of  this 
tribe  are  the  buffalo,  red- horse,  white  sucker,  two  species  of  black- 
suckers,  mullet  ranick.  Fish  of  this  family  are  found  in  all  the 
streams  of  the  county.  They  abound  wherever  there  is  water.  Cat- 
fish, family. — Of  this  voracious  family  the  channel  cat-fish,  the  mud 
cat-fish  and  two  species  of  the  small  cat-fish  inhabit  the  waters  of  this 
county,  and  are  caught  ranging  in  weight  from  one  to  thirty  pounds. 
Besides  these  varieties  there  are  the  chub,  silver-sides  and  fresh- water 
herring,  and  large  numbers  of  other  species  denominated  minnows, 
which  are  found  in  the  smallest  spring  branches,  as  well  as  the  larger 
streams. 


176  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

BOTANY. 

There  are  probably  over  500  species  of  plants  growing  spontane- 
ously within  the  bounds  of  Knox  county,  but  we  will  not  attempt  to 
give  a  complete  list  of  the  herbaceous  plants,  or  indeed  name  any  of 
the  mosses,  mushrooms,  etc. 

TKEES    AND    SHRUBS. 

While  Nature  has  not  given  a  great  quantity  of  these,  she  has 
furnished  a  liberal  variety.  In  this  respect  Knox  county  is  in  ad- 
vance of  most  of  the  Northern  States.  No  one  or  two  species  of  tree 
monopolizes  the  ground  in  the  forest,  as  they  do  in  many  sections  of 
the  United  States.  Some  of  the  less  hardy  shrubs,  like  the  wild 
prairie  flowers,  are  slowly  disappearing  before  the  encroachments  of 
civilization,  yet  we  shall  endeavor  to  enumerate  them  all,  as  well  as 
the  trees. 

Oak  Family. — The  White  Oak  is  king  of  the  forest  trees  in  this 
country  in  respect  to  grandeur,  strength  and  general  utility,  and  in 
early  day  afforded  "  mast,"  a  first-class  feed,  for  hogs  running  at  large. 
Those  which  wintered  in  the  wild  woods  were  often  fat  enough  for 
market  in  the  spring,  although  not  fed  a  grain  by  human  hand.  The 
Burr  Oak  is  a  fine  tree,  with  a  rich  and  beautifully  cut  foliage.  The 
wood  is  valuable,  and  the  acorns  are  sweet.  They  are  buried  in  deep, 
mossy  cups,  whence  the  tree  is  also  called  "  overcup  oak."  The 
Swamp  White  Oak  is  a  tall  tree  and  grows  in  low  grounds.  The  Yel- 
low Chestnut  Oak  is  a  tree  of  medium  height  and  has  leaves  like  those 
of  the  chestnut.  The  Laurel  Oak  is  a  very  common  tree  on  gentle 
slopes  of  ground,  having  the  leaves  undivided  and  somewhat  like 
laurel  leaves  in  appearance:  whence  the  name.  In  the  days  before  the 
railroads  brought  pine  so  plentifully  into  this  prairie  country,  the  peo- 
ple found  this  one  of  the  best  trees  for  making  shingles:  whence  it  is 
also  called  "  shingle  oak."  Barren  Oak,  or  "  black  jack,"  is  scarce, 
being  found  mostly  in  sandy  barrens.  It  seldom  exceeds  25  feet  in 
height.  Leaves,  wedge-shaped  and  three-lobed.  Black  Oak,  or  "yel- 
low oak,"  has  the  inner  bark  yellower  than  the  other  oaks  have,  and  is 
valuable  for  dyeing  and  tanning.  Externally  the  bark  is  very  rough 
and  almost  black.  The  tree  is  large  and  quite  common.  Red.Oak  is 
a  tall,  handsome  tree  on  northern  hill-sides  and_in  shady  woods.  The 
acorn  cup  is  flat  and  saucer-shaped.  Swamp-  Spanish  Oak,  or  i{  pin 
oak,"  is  found,  but  is  scarce.  The  tree  is  much  like  red  oak,  but  is 
not  so  tall.  All  the  white-barked  oaks  decay  on  the  outside  first,  and 
all  the  black-barked  varieties  decay  first  on  the  inside.  Hence  rail& 
made  of  any  of  the  black  oaks  have  a  hard  exterior  and  seem  sound 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  177 

long  after  all  the  inside  is  rotten,  thus  being  very  deceptive;  but 
white-oak  rails  last  many  years  longer  in  the  fence.  The  up-land 
black  oaks  make  a  hotter  fire  than  any  other  kind  of  wood.  The  Ha- 
jzel-nut  and  two  species  of  Iron-wood  belong  also  to  the  oak  family, 
botanically  speaking.  The  iron- wood,  which  is  also  called  "  American 
hornbeam,"  "  blue  beech,"  and  "  water  beech,"  is  a  beautiful  tree,  but 
is  scarce.  The  more  common  species  have  the  seeds  of  the  appear- 
ance of  hops. 

Birch  Family. — The  Red  Birch  is  the  only  member  of  this  family 
found  in  Knox  county.  The  outer  bark  peels  itself  off  horizontally 
around  the  trunk  and  limbs,  like  that  of  the  cherry. 

Willow  Family. — The  Prairie  Willow  is  small,  and  was  very  com- 
mon before  the  white  man's  plow  deprived  it  of  its  native  home. 
The  Glaucous  Willow  grows  8  to  10  feet  high,  and  is  common.  The 
Black  Willow  grows  15  to  25  feet  high,  twigs  brittle  at  the  base,  bark 
of  the  trunk  somewhat  black,  and  the  leaves  pointed  at  each  end. 
Common.  The  Long-leaved  Willow  occurs,  growing  generally  as  a 
small  shrub.  The  Shining  Willow,  and  possibly  one  or  two  other 
species,  can  be  found.  To  the  Willow  Family  belong  also  the  Quak- 
ing Asp,  or  Aspen,  the  Cotton- wood,  the  Silverleaf  Poplar,  Lombardy 
Poplar,  and  Balm-of-Gilead,  all  of  which  grow  spontaneously  in  this 
county,  although  the  last  three  have  been  introduced  by  the  settlers. 
Of  the  Aspen  there  are  two  kinds, — the  American  and  the  Large- 
toothed.  The  poplars  and  the  Balm-of-Gilead  have  a  great  ten- 
dency to  sprout  from  the  roots.  The  Lombardy  poplar  does  not 
prosper  well  in  this  windy  country.  It  grows  too  tall. 

'Walnut  Family. — The  Black  Walnut  is  a  large,  noble  and  most 
valuable  tree,  too  well  known  to  need  description.  It  is  yet  u  com- 
mon "  in  this  county.  A  few  Butternuts,  or  "  white  walnut,"  are 
also  found.  The  wood  is  of  a  lighter  color  and  more  brittle  than  that 
of  black  walnut.  It  is  now  being  used  for  veneering.  Of  the  Shell- 
bark  Hickory  there  are  two  kinds, — one  with  a  scaly  bark  and  fur- 
nishing most  of  our  hickory-nuts  in  the  market,  and  the  other  with  a 
smoother  bark  and  lighter  heart-wood,  and  bearing  the  largest  kind 
of  hickory-nut.  The  Bitter-nut  Hickory  is  very  common. 

Plane-tree  Family. — The  only  representative  in  America  is  the 
Button-wood,  or  "  sycamore,"  a  large,  coarse,  white-barked  tree  com- 
mon in  river  "  bottoms,"  but  is  of  little  value.  A  few  grow  within 
the  limits  of  Knox  county. 

Nettle  Family. — At  the  head  of  this  family  stands  the  American 
or  White  Elm.  Although  so  common  in  the  forest,  it  promises  to  be- 
come one  of  the  most  popular  ornamental  or  shade  trees.  The  Red 


178  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Elm  ("slippery-elm")  is  scarce.  Called  "red"  on  account  of  having 
red  heart-wood,  while  the  white  elm  has  white  heart-wood.  The 
Hackberry  is  a  beautiful  tree,  of  full  forest  height,  hardy  and  tough. 
The  Mulberry  is  very  scarce. 

Rose  Family. — The  Crab-apple,  Wild  Plum,  "Wild  Black  Cherry 
and  Ked  Haw  (two  species)  are  abundant, — the  cherry  on  high  land 
and  the  rest  along  the  streams.  There  are  also  found  the  Choke- 
cherry,  Nine-bark  (a  shrub),  Black  Raspberry,  Blackberry  (and  possi- 
bly the  Dewberry),  Chokeberry,  two  species  of  wild  rose  (Early  and 
Dwarf),  and  a  very  few  June-berry.  The  Blackberry  has  been  very 
abundant,  but  its  ground  the  farmer  finds  more  valuable  for  corn. 
The  other  berries  are  very  scarce.  The  Dwarf  Wild  Rose  used  to 
ornament  the  prairies,  especially  their  margins,  but  there  is  scarcely 
any  room  left  now-a-days  for  the  modest  little  thing  by  the  rough 
hand  of  agriculture. 

Maple  Family. — The  White  Maple,  commonly  called  "soft  maple," 
is  by  far  the  most  abundant,  especially  as  a  shade-tree  in  the  towns 
and  villages;  but  is  soft  and  brittle  and  the  limbs,  are  easily  broken 
off  by  the  wind,  so  that  it  is  now  about  to  be  abandoned  as  a  shade 
or  ornamental  tree.  As  an  example  of  the  adaptability  of  the  prairie 
to  the  growth  of  timber,  we  may  refer  to  the  fact  that  the  first  set- 
tlers here  30  to  40  years  ago  planted  the  common  locust  ;  and  after  it 
grew  up  20  to  35  feet  high  the  worms  and  the  winds  made  an  unsight- 
ly tree  of  it,  and  the  white  maple  (acer  dasycarpurn)  was  next  resorted 
to,  which  has  already  attained  the  height  of  40  and  50  feet,  with  top 
and  trunk  in  due  proportion.  Box  Elder  and  Sugar  Maple  (both  mem- 
bers of  this  family)  and  white  elm  are  now  being  substituted,  thus 
making  the  third  crop  of  good  sized  forest  trees  raised  on  this  prairie 
within  the  short  space  of  civilized  life  here.  The  Sugar,  or  "  hard," 
Maple  makes  the  most  beautiful  and  durable  shade-tree,  as  well  as 
ornamental  tree,  but  it  is  of  slow  growth.  Indeed,  durability  and 
slowness  of  growth  necessarily  go  together.  Box. Elder  is  of  a  scrub- 
by form,  and  the  least  esteemed  of  the  three  most  popular  shade  trees. 
As  members  of  this  family  there  are  also  the  Bladder-nut,  a  beautiful 
little  bush,  and  the  Buckeye,  a  tree  of  heavy  foliage,  soft  wood,  and 
large,  poisonous  nuts,  and  growing  only  in  the  river  bottoms.  Like 
the  currant,  it  sheds  its  leaves  in  August. 

Custard-Apple  Family. — The  Pawpaw  is  found  in  this  county. 
This  fruit  is  abundant  along  the  Illinois  river. 

Linden  Family. — Bass-wood  everybody  knows.  It  is  also  called 
"  white- wood,"  "linden,"  and  "lime-tree,"  and  in  the  Southern  States 
is  known  only  by  the  name  of  "  lin,"  from  its  old  European  name  lind, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  179 

which  gave  the  family  name  to  the  great  Linnaeus,  the  father  of  botan- 
ists. 

Rue  Family. — The  Prickly  Ash  used  to  be  a  common  bush  or 
shrub,  but  is  now  fast  disappearing.  It  is  characterized  by  a  very 
rank  and  pungent  odor  and  taste,  is  covered  with  short  briers  or  thorns, 
and  bears  a  small,  brown  berry.  The  Hop-tree,  or  "  wafer  ash,"  is  a 
small  tree  sometimes  met  with. 

Cashew  Family,  or  Sumachs. — The  Smooth  Sumach  is  by  far  the 
most  abundant,  growing  even  as  weeds  upon  prairie  farms.  The 
Fragrant  Sumach  and  the  Poison  Ivy  are  said  also  to  be  found  in 
Knox  county. 

Buck-tliorn  Family. — Red-root,  or  New  Jersey  Tea,  was  abundant 
in  the  margin  of  the  uncultivated  prairies,  but  is  pretty  well  de- 
stroyed at  the  present  day.  A  decoction  of  its  leaves  has  been  em- 
ployed as  a  substitute  for  China  tea.  Possibly  a  species  of  common 
Buck-thorn  may  be  found  in  this  county. 

Staff -tree  Family. — Burning-bush  ("  waahoo  ")  is  a  beautiful  bush, 
sometimes  cultivated  for  the  fine  show  of  odd-shaped  crimson  berries 
it  displays  after  the  leaves  have  fallen  off.  The  Climbing  Bittersweet 
is  also  to  be  found  in  this  county;  but  at  the  most  is  exceedingly  rare. 

Pulse  Family. — Trees  and  plants  of  this  family  are  characterized 
by  bearing  pods  of  seeds  like  beans.  The  Red-bud  is  a  shrubby  kind 
of  tree,  and,  contrary  to  waahoo,  displays  a  red  top  in  early  spring, 
before  leaves  appear  on  it  or  any  other  tree.  The  color  is  a  beautiful 
crimson,  and  is  made  by  the  buds  and  flowers.  The  Honey  Locust  is 
famous  for  its  large  thorns  and  long  pods,  the  inner  border  of  the  lat- 
ter containing  a  large  quantity  of  a  sweet  substance  which  tastes  some- 
thing like  honey.  A  species  or  variety  is  said  to  occur  which  has  but 
few  thorns,  if  any.  A  few  specimens  of  the  Kentucky  Coffee-tree 
grow  in  this  county.  The  seeds  of  this  tree  are  of  the  size  of  gum- 
drops,  and  have  a  hard,  glossy,  beautiful  shell.  A  small  shrub  often 
called  "  swamp  locust "  is  probably  False  Indigo. 

Saxifrage  Family. — The  Gooseberry,  and  Wild  and  Black  Currants 
thrive  in  this  section,  though  the  latter  are  not  abundant. 

Dogwood  Family. — Four  species  of  Dogwood  flourish  here,  the 
most  abundant  of  which  is  the  Panicled  Cornel,  bearing  white  berries 
about  the  size  of  peas. 

Honeysuckle  Family. — The  most  "  extensive  individual  "  of  this 

family  is  the  common  Elder,  growing  like  weeds  in  gardens  and  farms. 

The  Yellow  Honeysuckle  and  Sweet  Viburnum,  or  kt  sheep-berry," 

re  found  in  this  vicinity,  but  are  exceedingly  rare.     The  Black  Haw 


180  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

is  a  common  bush,  averaging  10  feet  in  height,  and  producing  very 
edible  sweet  fruit. 

Madder  Family. — The  Button -bush  flourishes  on  the  borders  of 
ponds  and  streams. 

Olive  Family. — It  would  sound  more  natural  to  Westerner's  to  call 
this  the  Ash  family,  as  the  ash  is  the  principal  representative  here. 
The  White  Ash  is  the  most  prevalent  kind,  and  is  valuable  on  account 
of  its  strength,  hardness,  durability  and  freedom  from  warping,  as 
well  as  its  quality  for  making  a  blazing  fire.  The  Blue  Ash  is  about 
as  good.  Distinguished  from  the  White  by  having  square  twigs. 
Perhaps  two  other  species  of  ash  can  be  found  in  the  county, — the 
Green  and  the  Swamp. 

VINES. 

Vine  Family. — The  Winter  or  Frost  Grape  is  common,  and  the 
Summer  Grape  rare.  The  Virginia  Creeper  is  also  common. 

HERBACEOUS    PLANTS. 

We  will  name  only  about  200  of  the  most  common,  growing  spon- 
taneously, and  give  them,  as  nearly  as  we  can  conveniently  estimate, 
in  the  order  of  their  abundance,  the  more  common  first: 

Growing  Wild. — Besides  several  species  each  of  grass,  sedge,  ferns, 
aster,  golden-rod,  wild  sunflower,  evening  primrose,  cone-flower,  flea- 
bane,  cinquefoil,  tick  trefoil,  violet,  crowfoot,  milk-weed,  cress,  loose- 
strife, and  beggar's-lice,  there  are  the  sneeze-weed,  wood  sorrel,  wild 
bergamot,  strawberry,  wild  cranesbill,  boneset,  spring  beauty,  clear- 
weed,  arrow-head,  tick-seed,  blue  cardinal  flower,  May  apple,  self-heal, 
scouring  rush,  spider-wort,  ginseng,  sweet  William  (two  species), 
meadow  parsnip  (two  or  three  species),  cow-bane,  wild  onion,  louse- 
wort,  vetchling,  ditch  stone-crop,  cardinal  flower,  milk-vetch,  three- 
seeded  mercury,  pepper-root,  wild  mint,  spotted  touch-me-not,  soft 
rush  (and  probably  one  or  two  other  species  of  rush),  rue  anemone, 
liver-leaf,  marsh  marigold,  early  meadow  rue,  blood-root,  Indian 
turnip,  mitre-wort,  white  and  purple  trilliums,  cat-tail  flag,  cup-plant, 
everlasting,  avens,  bell-flower,  ox-eye,  blue-joint  grass,  white  lettuce, 
hawk-weed,  lobelia  (medical),  gentian,  yellow  adder's-tongue,  harbin- 
ger of  spring,  skull-cap,  hare-bell,  stone-root,  groundsel,  catch-fly, 
false  Solomon's  seal,  Gerardia  (two  species),  dodder,  wild  senna,  wood 
sage,  American  pennyroyal,  wood  nettle,  black  snake-root,  water  plan- 
tain, rattle- snake  master,  Dutchman's  breeches,  button  snake-root, 
Solomon's  seal,  blue  cohosh,  Seneca  snake-root,  bastard  toad-flax, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  181 

arrow-leaved  tear-thumb,    iron-weed,  water   star-grass,   peppermint, 
Greek  valerian,  trumpet  weed,  hop,  bell-wort,  rosin-weed,  prairie  dock. 

Growing  in  Cultivated  and  Waste  Places. — Blue-grass,  white 
clover,  dandelion,  water  smart- weed,  hog- weed  ("  rag-weed  "),  plan- 
tain, door-weed  ("goose-grass,"  two  species),  sneeze- weed, "wire-grass, 
panic-grass  (several  species),  fox-tail  grass,  hair-grass  ("tickle-grass"), 
spear-grass,  shepherd's  purse,  green  pig-weed,  Spanish  needle  (three 
species),  chick-weed,  purslane,  common  smart-weed,  May-weed,  goose- 
foot  ("  lamb's-quarter"),  ground  ivy,  blue  vervain,  hedge  mustard, 
yarrow,  nightshade,  cinquefoil  (two  species),  mild  water-pepper,  mal- 
low, burdock,  white  pig-weed  ("  tumble-weed  "),  wild  sunflower  (sev- 
eral species),  mother-wort,  black  mustard,  chenopodium  urbicum  and 
murale.  Euphorbia  maculata,  orchard  grass,  wood  sorrel,  polygonum 
Pennsylvanicum,  clear- weed,  wild  pepper-grass,  black  bindweed,  barn- 
yard grass,  biennial  wormwood,  sow  thistle  (?)  (two  species),  scurvy 
grass,  convolvulus  bindweed  (three  species?),  catnip,  cockle-bur,  com- 
mon thistle,  three-seeded  mercury,  toad-flax,  false  red- top  (grass),  fes- 
cue (grass),  jimson-weed,  red-top  (grass),  red  clover,  bouncing  Bet, 
curled  dock  ("yellow  dock"),  mullein,  great  rag-weed  ("horse- weed"), 
white  vervain,  timothy,  cirsium  altissimum,  Indian  mallow,  ground 
cherry,  hemp,  fetid  marigold,  cud- weed,  bugle- weed,  wire-grass  (two 
species),  swamp  milk-weed,  horse-tail,  green  milk-weed,  morning-glory, 
speedwell,  silk-weed,  hop,  scrophularia  nodosa,  verbena  Aubletia 
hoary  vervain,  climbing  false  buckwheat,  wild  balsam-apple,  sida, 
hedge  nettle,  fire-weed,  tansy,  chess,  wild  rye,  buckwheat,  white  sweet 
clover,  asparagus,  white  mustard,  poke,  prince's  feather  (polygonum 
orientale). 

All  plants  growing  in  cultivated  and  waste  grounds,  except  four 
or  five  repeated  in  each  of  the  above  lists,  may  be  considered  as  intro- 
duced by  Anglo-Saxon  civilization.  While  the  wild  plants  in  the 
woods  are  supposed  to  be  the  same  now  as  originally,  the  prairie  has 
changed  its  grassy  clothing  for  cultivated  crops  and  hundreds  of  dif- 
ferent weeds.  Before  settlement  by  the  whites  the  prairie  was  mostly 
covered  by  one  kind  of  grass.  Several  other  kinds  could  be  found, 
especially  in  places  here  and  there,  notably  the  blue-joint,  which  grew 
the  tallest  of  any.  Along  the  sloughs  and  in  other  wet  places  there 
was  the  slough  grass  and  several  species  of  golden  rod,  aster  and  wild 
sunflower.  All  other  kinds  of  weeds  were  scarce.  Here  and  there 
were  patches  of  rosin  weed.  But  the  golden-rod,  aster,  and  sunflower 
made  beautiful  yellow  stripes  across  the  prairies  in  low  places,  which 
were  peculiarly  charming.  In  the  earliest  stages  of  the  growth  of 
prairie  grass  it  was  interspersed  with  little  flowers — the  violet,  straw- 


182  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

berry-blossom  and  others  of  the  most  delicate  structure.  Soon  these 
disappeared,  and  taller  flowers,  displaying  more  lively  colors,  took 
their  place,  and  still  later,  a  series  of  still  higher,  but  less  delicately 
formed  flowers  appeared.  While  the  grass  was  green  the  prairies 
were  adorned  with  every  imaginable  variety  of  color.  In  the  summer 
the  plants  grew  taller  and  the  colors  more  lively;  in  autumn  another 
generation  of  flowers  came.  A  poetess  writes  in  the  Rnoxville  Jour- 
nal of  March  7,  1850,  as  follows: 

Where'er  I  turn  my  eyes 

There  springs  a  lily:  here  the  wild  pink  vies 

With  clustering  roses  and  the  rich  blue-bell, 

The  morning-glories  and  the  daffodil, 

And  countless  others.     How  and  whence  they  came, 

I  leave  for  botanists  to  tell  and  name. 

The  original  prairie  grass  can  scarcely  be  found  anywhere  now.  It 
cannot  stand  close  pasturage.  The  blue  or  June  grass  bears  pastur- 
age the  best  of  any;  but  where  live  stock  are  kept  off  this  grass,  it 
will  be  eradicated  by  other  kinds  of  grass.  A  curious  fact  similar  to 
this,  and  of  interest  to  botanists,  is  the  eradication  of  the  May-weed 
along  the  road-sides  by  hog-weed,  smart-weed  and  Spanish  needles. 
Possibly  this  has  been  aided  by  the  greater  amount  of  wet  weather 
for  a  few  years  past. 

The  most  troublesome  weeds  which  are  on  the  increase  at  the  pres- 
ent time  are  the  common  and  the  tall  thistle,  Indian  mallow,  toad- 
flax, wild  lettuce  or  sow  thistle,  and  jimson-weed.  Clear- weed  and 
mercury  are  becoming  abundant  in  the  gardens  and  door-yards  where 
shade  trees  are  plentiful,  but  they  are  not  troublesome. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  185 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ARCHAEOLOGY. 

A  history  of  the  county  might  be  considered  incomplete  without 
some  reference  to  the  antiquities  of  the  county.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  the  subject  has  been  left  so  long  without  investigation.  Many 
of  the  aboriginal  remains  have  been  removed  from  the  county,  no 
record  being  left  of  their  character  or  locality  where  found.  Many 
more  have  been  lost.  Attention  was  called  to  the  subject  by  the 
Smithsonian  Institution  a  few  months  ago,  and  M.  A.  McClelland, 
of  Knoxville,  has  made  some  examinations  and  a  short  report  to  the 
Institution,  which  he  designs  supplementing  by  further  examinations 
and  a  subsequent  report.  His  first  report  was  accompanied  by  some 
very  perfect  specimens  of  stone  axes,  celts,  discoidal  stones,  and  arrow- 
heads. His  present  collection  consists  in  some  unique  specimens, 
notably  a  double-bitted  war-ax,  hour-glass  in  shape,  with  very  perfect 
grooves  sunk  in  the  constricted  part  for  the  firm  attachment  of  a 
withe  handle.  This  specimen  and  a  large  stone  ax  were  found  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  trail  leading  from  near  the  mouth  of  Court  creek, 
northwest  to  Henderson  Grove,  or  to  the  trail  known  as  the  old  Galena 
trail,  running  northwest  from  Maquon  through  the  county. 

Among  his  present  specimens  are  seven  very  perfect  arrow-points, 
so  near  alike  in  size,  shape  and  character  of  stone  from  which  they 
are  made,  as  not  easily  to  be  distinguished.  These  were  found  en  cache 
on  the  farm  of  Myers  A.  Eiker,  northeast  quarter  of  section  16, 
Orange  township.  Numerous  other  specimens  were  obtained  from 
the  same  locality.  In  ancient  times  there  was  a  small  grove  on  this 
part  of  the  section,  and  it  being  the  highest  point  of  ground  on  the 
west  bank  of  Haw  creek,  in  this  vicinity,  it  doubtless  was  a  favorite 
camping  spot  for  roving  bands  of  Indians  that  were  making  their 
way  up  the  creek  from  Spoon  river  to  the  head  waters  of  streams 
running  west  from  the  northwest  part  of  the  county  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

Of  the  numerous  specimens  already  sent  to  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution most  were  found  on  section  16,  Knox  township,  on  the  farms 
of  Mr.  Wm.  E.  Higgins  and  Mrs.  Wilts.  Mr.  Willard  Witherell,  of 
Knoxville,  has  a  large  number  of  specimens  from  this  locality.  The 


186  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

north  part  of  Mrs.  Wilts'  farm  is  probably  the  highest  point  in  Knox 
township,  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country  being  had  from  it. 
Along  the  eastern  face  of  the  hill  composing  it,  ran,  within  the  recol- 
lection of  many  citizens  of  the  county,  one  of  the  trails  from  Maquon 
to  Henderson  Grove.  This  trail  ran  across  what  now  are  the  homes 
of  Geo.  A.  Charles  and  D.  B.  Huggins,  in  the  city  of  Knoxville.  To 
the  east  of  this  trail,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  top  of  the 
hill,  there  is  a  fine  spring  of  water.  The  entire  eastern  slope  of  the 
hill  presents  evidences  of  having  been  the  site  of  a  somewhat  per- 
manent Indian  settlement.  The  ground  for  several  acres  in  extent  is 
covered  with  flakes  and  chips  of  the  same  kind  of  stone  the  arrow- 
points  are  made  of;  and  beneath  the  surface  a  few  inches,  at  the 
distance  of  a  rod  or  two  apart,  are  found  collections  of  flat  stones  that 
have  evidently  undergone  the  action  of  fire. 

South  of  the  top  of  the  hill  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  is  an  Indian 
mound,  thirty-six  feet  across,  and  raised  in  the  center  about  three  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  surrounding  surface.  This  mound  had  been 
dug  into  several  years  ago,  but  nothing  was  found  except  decided 
traces  of  charcoal,  at  a  depth  corresponding  with  the  surrounding 
surface.  The  mound  was  more  fully  examined  in  the  summer  of  1878 
by  McClelland  and  Witherell,  of  Knoxville.  Nothing  was  discovered 
at  this  examination  except  that  the  general  features  of  the  several 
strata  of  the  mound  were  the  same  as  those  found  in  the  mound  a  inile 
and  a  half  west  of  Knoxville,  and  south  of  Harvey  Montgomery's  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  This  mound  was  much  larger  than  the  one  on  sec- 
tion 16,  and  it  also  had  been  dug  into.  The  examinations  made  by 
McClelland  were  pretty  thorough,  a  trench  some  ten  to  fifteen  feet 
long  being  cut  from  the  center  of  the  mounds  and  carried  toward  the 
edge,  extending  to  a  foot  or  more  beneath  the  general  surface.  Nothing 
was  found  in  this  mound  except  traces  of  ashes  at  a  depth  correspond- 
ing with  the  level  of  the  general  surface.  About  a  hundred  feet  to 
the  west-southwest  of  the  center  of  the  mound  is  a  mardelle,  or  pit, 
from  which  doubtless  the  material  composing  the  mound  was  obtained. 

There  are  numerous  other  mounds  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 
On  section  33,  Chestnut  township,  there  is  a  group  of  three,  and 
about  half  a  mile  south,  in  Fulton  county,  there  are  three  more. 
These  are  found  on  the  western  bluffs  of  Spoon  river,  and  north  of 
Cedar  creek,  on  and  near  the  farm  of  Elaminder  Bond.  Near  Tren- 
ton Mills  there  are  other  mounds.  One  was  taken  as  the  site  upon 
which  to  build  a  house  many  years  ago,  and  in  excavating  the  cellar 
a  large  number  of  human  bones  were  unearthed.  At  Maquon,  on  or 
near  what  is  known  as  the  Barbaro  mound  or  hill,  there  is  an  ancient 
Indian  cemetery.  This  point  on  Spoon  river  was  a  favorite  settle- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  187 

raent  of  the  Indians,  within  the  recollection  of  many  living  citizens 
of  the  county.  Both  here  and  at  Trenton  their  primitive  sepulture 
was  among  the  branches  of  trees.  This  was  changed  for  burial  at  the 
instance  of  the  whites. 

Mr.  Eiker,  upon  whose  farm  the  arrow-points  spoken  of  were  found, 
says  that  the  grove  that  formerly  stood  upon  his  farm,  constituted,  in 
the  days  of  "  ring  hunts,"  or  wolf  hunts,  the  objective  point  towards 
which  the  circle  of  hunters  directed  their  course.  This  may  perhaps 
serve  to  identify  it  in  the  minds  of  some  readers. 

Yarious  trails  crossed  the  county.  The  old  Galena  trail,  running 
from  Peoria  to  Galena,  crossed  Spoon  river  at  Maquon,  and  ran  north- 
west to  Henderson  Grove.  Another  trail  ran  from  the  mouth  of 
Court  creek,  west-northwest,  to  strike  it  in  the  vicinity  of  the  grove. 
One  branch  of  the  Galena  trail  crossed  Court  creek  near  Pleasant 
Henderson's,  near  the  northwest  corner  of  section  21,  Knox  township. 
Another  bore  more  to  the  west,  crossing  Orange  and  Knox  townships 
diagonally  from  southeast  to  northwest.  This  branch  passed  through 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  was 
another  trail  further  west  in  Orange  township,  connecting  Brash 
creek  with  the  head  waters  of  Haw  creek.  On  the  eastern  side  of  one 
of  the  little  streams  running  into  this  latter  creek,  and  probably  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  trail,  is  located  the  mound  south  of  Harvey 
Montgomery's  house. 

There  are  numerous  collections  of  arrow-points,  celts,  axes,  etc.,  in 
the  county.  The  Hon.  Rufus  W.  Miles,  of  Persifer,  has  one.  Mr. 
Willard  Witherell,  and  Dr.  McClelland,  of  Knoxville,  have  each  one. 
None  of  these  specimens  have  ever  been  figured  or  described,  except 
in  the  report  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  above  referred  to.  Knox 
College  and  Lombard  University  have  each  a  collection.  Many  more 
isolated  specimens  are  doubtless  in  possession  of  citizens  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  many  have  been  taken  away. 

The  Smithsonian  Institution  is  engaged  in  collecting  the  material 
for  an  extended  work  on  American  archaeology,  and  to  this  end  de- 
sires to  collect  from  every  available  source  whatever  is  now  known, 
or  can  be  ascertained  by  special  investigation,  of  the  antiquities  of 
North  America;  and  it  desires  not  only  specimens,  but  also  the  de- 
scription of  the  localities  where  found,  so  that  the  geographical  distri- 
bution of  each  form  may  be  accurately  determined.  All  specimens  will 
be  duly  accredited  to  the  donor,  in  the  reports  of  the  Institution,  and 
also  in  the  proposed  work  on  American  archaeology,  and  on  the  labels 
of  the  specimens.  Parties  having  such  specimens  are  assured  they 
will  reach  the  proper  destination  if  they  will  forward  them  to  M.  A. 
McClelland,  at  Knoxville. 


188  HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PIONEER  LIFE. 

* 

LOG  CABINS. 

We  shall,  in  this  chapter,  give  a  clear  and  exact  description  of 
pioneer  life  in  this  county,  commencing  with  the  time  the  sturdy  set- 
tlers first  arrived  with  their  scanty  stores.  They  had  migrated  from 
older  States,  when  the  prospects  for  even  a  competency  were  very  poor, 
many  of  them  coming  from  Kentucky,  for,  it  is  supposed,  they  found 
that  a  good  State  to  emigrate  from.  Their  entire  stock  of  furniture, 
implements  and  family  necessities  were  easily  stored  into  one  wagon, 
and  sometimes  a  cart  was  their  only  vehicle. 

As  the  first  thing  after  they  arrived  and  found  a  suitable  location, 
they  would  set  about  the  building  of  a  log  cabin,  a  description  of 
which  may  be  interesting  to  the  younger  readers,  and  especially  their 
descendants,  who  may  never  see  a  structure  of  the  kind.  Trees  of 
uniform  size  were  selected  and  cut  into  pieces  of  the  desired  length, 
each  end  being  saddled  and  notched  so  as  to  bring  the  logs  as  near 
together  as  possible.  The  cracks  were  "chinked  and  daubed"  to  pre- 
vent the  wind  from  whistling  through.  This  had  to  be  renewed  every 
fall  before  cold  weather  set  in.  The  usual  height  was  one  story  of 
about  seven  or  eight  feet.  The  gables  were  made  of  logs  gradually 
shortened  up  to  the  top.  The  roof  was  made  by  laying  small  logs  or 
stout  poles  reaching  from  gable  to  gable,  suitable' distances  apart,  on 
which  were  laid  the  clapboards  after  the  manner  of  shingling,  show- 
ing two  feet  or  more  to  the  weather.  The  clapboards  were  fastened 
by  laying  across  them  heavy  poles  called  "  weight  poles,"  reaching 
from  one  gable  to  the  other,  being  kept  apart  and  in  their  places  by 
laying  pieces  of  timber  between  them  called  "runs."  A  wide  chim- 
ney place  was  cut  out  of  one  end  of  the  cabin,  the  chimney  standing 
entirely  outside,  and  built  of  rived  sticks,  laid  up  cob-house  fashion, 
and  filled  with  clay  or  stone, — often  using  two  and  three  cords  of  stone 
in  building  one  chimney.  For  a  window  a  piece  about  two  feet  long 
was  cut  out  of  one  of  the  wall  logs,  and  the  hole  closed,  sometimes 
with  glass  but  oftener  with  greased  paper  pasted  over  it.  A  doorway 
was  also  cut  through  one  of  the  walls,  and  the  door  was  made  of  spliced 
clapboards  and  hung  with  wooden  hinges.  This  was  opened  by  pull- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  189 

ino-  a  leather  latch-string  which  raised  a  wooden  latch  inside  the  door. 

&  o 

For  security  at  night  this  latch-string  was  pulled  in,  but  for  friends 
and  neighbors,  and  even  strangers,  the  "  latch-string  was  always  hang- 
ing out,"  as  a  welcome. 

In  the  interior,  upon  one  side,  is  the  huge  fire-place,  large  enough 
to  contain  a  back-log  as  big  as  the  strongest  man  could  carry,  and 
holding  enough  wood  to  supply  an  ordinary  stove  a  week;  on  either 
side  are  huge  poles  and  kettles,  and  over  all  a  mantle  on  which  was 
placed  the  tallow  dip.  In  one  corner  stood  the  larger  bed  for  the  old 
folks,  imder  this  the  trundle-bed  for  the  children;  in  another  corner 
stood  the  old-fashioned  large  spinning-wheel,  with  a  smaller  one  by 
its  side;  in  another  the  pine  table,  around  which  the  family  gathered 
to  partake  of  their  plain  food ;  over  the  door  hung  the  ever  trustful 
rifle  and  powder-horn ;  while  around  the  room  were  scattered  a  few 
splint-bottomed  chairs  and  three-legged  stools;  a  rude  cupboard  hold- 
ing the  table  ware,  which  consisted  of  a  few  cups  and  saucers  and 
blue-edged  plates,  standing  singly  on  their  edges  against  the  back,  to 
make  the  display  of  table  furniture  more  conspicuous. 

These  simple  cabins  were  inhabited  by  a  kind  and  true-hearted  peo- 
ple. They  were  strangers  to  mock  modesty,  and  the  traveler,  seeking 
lodgings  for  the  night  or  desirous  of  spending  a  few  days  in  the  com- 
munity, if  willing  to  accept  the  rude  offering,  was  always  welcome, 
although  how  they  were  disposed  of  at  night  the  reader  cannot  easily 
imagine;  for,  as  described,  a  single  room  was  made  to  serve  the  pur- 
pose of  kitchen,  dining-room,  sitting-room,  bed-room,  and  parlor, and 
many  families  contained  six  or  eight  members. 

SELECTIONS    OF   HOMES. 

The  early  settlers  universally  settled  in  the  timber  or  along  its  mar- 
gin. Judge  Clark  tells  us  that  the  people  in  general  thought  the 
Yankees  who  settled  Galesburg  had  done  themselves  a  great  injury 
by  going  so  far  out  on  the  prairie.  Old  Joseph  Latimer,  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  the  ancestor  of  the  several  fami- 
lies of  Latimer  now  residing  in  the  county,  often  remarked  about  the 
fine  range  the  settlers  would  always  have  for  their  stock.  All  they 
would  need  to  do  would  be  to  turn  their  stock  out  upon  the  vast  prai- 
ries from  year  to  year.  Thus  the  cost  of  raising  stock  would  be  noth- 
ing. But  where  now  can  stock  find  an  open  prairie  to  graze  upon? 
Certainly  not  in  Knox  county. 

We  often  hear  remarks  made  in  regard  to  the  pioneers  settling  along 
the  timber,  in  a  manner  as  though  the  selections  of  such  locations  im- 
plied a  lack  of  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  fathers.  But  when  we 


190  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

consider  that  they  had  always  lived  in  the  shelter  of  groves,  it  cer- 
tainly is  not  strange  that  they  should  select  such  sites  for  their  homes 
in  a  new  country.  To  many  of  them  the  cultivation  of  the  prairies 
was  an  untried  experiment,  and  it  was  a  prevailing  opinion  that  the 
timber  would  soon  become  very  scarce,  a  fear  since  proven  to  be  with- 
out foundation.  So  the  pioneer  laid  his  claim  on  a  timber  quarter, 
knowing  when  the  state  of  his  exchequer  permitted  there  would  be 
plenty  of  prairie  land  to  buy  if  not  to  enter. 

Then  many  of  their  cabins  were  poor,  half- finished  aifairs,  and  pro- 
tection from  the  driving  storms  was  very  desirable.  The  timber  also 
sheltered  stock  till  such  times  as  sheds  and  out-buildings  could  be 
erected.  That  the  time  soon  came  when  intelligent,  enterprising 
farmers  saw  that  their  interest  lay  in  improving  prairie  farms,  and 
ceased  clearing  fields,  when  there  were  boundless  acres  presenting  no 
obstacle  to  the  most  perfect  cultivation,  argues  nothing  to  the  policy 
of  sheltering  for  a  time  in  the  woods.  Even  35  years  ago  scarcely  any- 
thing could  have  been  seen  through  this  portion  of  the  State,  in  the 
way  of  human  habitation,  save  these  log  cabins.  The  railway  was  a 
greater  factor  in  opening  up  and  developing  the  prairie  than  any 
other,  and  this  the  pioneer  knew  nothing  about;  and  instead  of  it 
showing  a  lack  of  judgment  in  selecting  homes  in  and  along  the  tim- 
ber, we  conclude  it  augured  in  their  favor,  and  showed  them  to  be  men 
of  superior  judgment. 

Clearing  of  timbered  land  was  attended  with  much  hard  labor.  The 
underbrush  was  cut  away,  piled  into  heaps  and  burned.  The  large 
trees  were  in  many  cases  left  standing  and  deadened  by  girdling.  This 
was  done  by  cutting  through  the  bark  into  the  wood,  generally  through 
the  "  sap,"  all  round  the  trunk. 

Not  the  least  of  the  hardships  of  the  pioneer  was  the  procuring  of 
bread.  The  first  settlers  must  be  supplied  at  least  one  year  from 
other  sources  than  their  own  lands. 

MILLING. 

But  the  first  crops  of  the  earliest  settlers,  however  abundant,  gave 
only  partial  relief,  there  being  no  mills  to  grind  the  grain.  Hence 
the  necessity  of  grinding  by  hand  power,  and  many  families  were 
poorly  provided  with  the  means  of  doing  this.  Another  way  was  to 
grate  the  corn.  A  grater  was  made  from  a  piece  of  tin,  sometimes 
taken  from  an  old,  worn-out  tin  bucket  or  other  vessel.  It  was  thickly 
perforated,  bent  into  a  semi-circular  form,  and  nailed,  rough  side  up- 
wards, on  a  board.  The  corn  was  taken  in  the  ear  and  grated  before 
it  was  quite  dry  and  hard.  Corn,  however,  was  eaten  in  various  ways. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  191 

Soon  after  the  county  became  more  generally  settled,  enterprising 
men  were  ready  to  embark  in  the  milling  business.  Sites  along  the 
streams  were  selected  for  water-power.  A  person  looking  for  a  mill- 
site  would  follow  up  and  down  the  stream  for  a  desired  location,  and 
when  found  he  would  go  before  the  County  Commissioners  arid  secure 
a  writ  of  ad  quod  damnum.  This  would  enable  the  miller  to  have  the 
adjoining  land  officially  examined,  and  the  amount  of  damage  by  mak- 
ing a  dam  was  named.  Mills  being  such  a  great  public  necessity,  they 
were  permitted  to  be  located  upon  any  person's  land  if  the  miller  thought 
the  site  desirable.  The  first  year  after  Mr.  Amos  Ward  arrived  in 
the  county,  he  took  a  bag  of  corn  on  his  horse  and  went  to  Andover 
mills.  On  arriving  there  he  found  they  had  stopped  running  during 
the  dry  weather.  He  returned  home  and  the  following  day  went  to 
Centerville.  There  the  miller,  a  Mr.  Leek,  was  grinding  a  little  when 
he  could.  Mr.  Ward  left  his  grist  and  in  a  few  days  returned  for  it, 
but  it  was  not  ground;  returned  the  second  day,  and  even  the  third; 
and  not  discouraged,  he  kept  going  until  he  got  his  bag  of  corn 
ground,  traveling  over  100  miles  to  accomplish  it.  In  the  mean  time 
Mr.  Ward  and  Mr.  Thompson,  a  neighbor,  were  compelled  to  resort 
to  grating  corn.  They  gathered  green  corn  from  the  fields  and  grated 
it  on  a  lantern.  This  meal  was  made  in  batter-cakes,  which  was  an 
excellent  and  palatable  article  of  food.  The  sides  of  the  lantern 
referred  to  were  made  of  perforated  tin.  The  lantern  had  no  glass 
about  it.  Often  in  after  years  they  would  take  this  mode  of  pre- 
paring corn  to  remind  themselves  and  to  show  their  children  how 
they  lived  in  olden  times. 

Mr.  Ward's  next  method  for  a  grater  was  the  use  of  a  tin  pan, 
which  had  been  found.  This  was  thickly  perforated  with  nail  holes 
and  fastened,  rough  side  out  and  concave  side  in,  to  a  board.  This 
was  used  for  four  weeks,  when  the  corn  became  too  hard  to  grate. 
Then  came  a  rain  which  raised  the  water  in  the  streams  and  they 
could  get  their  milling  done. 

Frank  Ward,  a  son  of  Amos  Ward,  relates  some  very  interesting 
experience  in  going  to  mill.  He  took  a  grist  to  Rochester  on  Spoon 
river,  some  15  miles  distant.  The  low  water  necessitated  his  return 
without  his  meal.  After  every  shower  his  father,  anxious  to  have 
food  for  his  family,  would  send  Frank  back  to  mill,  hoping  his  grist 
had  been  ground.  Not  until  he  had  made  his  tenth  trip  did  he  suc- 
ceed in  getting  his  meal ! 

It  was  well  for  the  people  in  those  days  that  civilization  was  not  so 
far  advanced  as  to  have  introduced  rats;  for  had  rats  been  as  numer- 
ous then  as  now  Frank  would  have  had  very  little  grist  left. 
12 


192  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Mr.  B.  Bruington  says  when  he  first  came  to  the  county  he  had  to  go 
at  different  times  to  Moline,  which  was  60  miles  distant,  to  Rushville, 
which  was  75  miles,  and  to  Aurora,  which  was  125  miles,  to  get  his 
grist  ground.  He  went  witli  an  ox  team  and  a  heavy  "  Hoosier 
wagon."  He  also  made  several  journeys  to  Chicago  with  wheat,  con- 
suming on  each  trip  two  weeks'  time. 

John  Montgomery,  an  early  settler  of  Knox township,  made  several 
trips  to  mill  at  Rushville,  with  two  yoke  of  oxen,  each  trip  taking 
him  14  days. 

William  Lewis  returned  to  Sangamon  county  after  flour  and  bacon, 
and  not  having  the  money  to  purchase  the  articles,  had  to  work  until 
he  earned  enough  to  pay  for  them.  He  had  to  swim  the  Illinois  river 
at  Beardstown  with  two  yoke  of  cattle,  and  when  he  returned  home  to 
Knox  county  a  companion  came  with  him  bringing  also  a  load.  Com- 
ing to  the  river,  and  neither  having  enough  money  to  pay  ferriage  for 
both  wagons  (which,  by  the  way  were  nothing  but  two-wheeled  carts), 
they  put  all 'the  meal  upon  one  cart  and  drove  upon  the  ferry,  Lewis 
himself  again  swimming  the  river  with  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart. 
One  of  his  oxen  swam  faster  than  the  other,  and  thns  caused  nearly 
all  to  be  drowned.  They,  however,  reached  home  after  four  weeks  of 
absence. 

Mr.  Lewis  made  a  buckskin  flour  sieve,  which  he  used  for  years, 
and  the  old  gentleman  avers  that  it  was  better  than  any  sieve  of  the 
present  day. 

Yery  often,  when  men  would  go  to  mill,  they  would  have  to  work 
a  week  and  even  longer  upon  the  mill-dam. 

A.  Kendell  ground  corn  and  wheat  in  a  coffee-mill  at  his  house  in 
Henderson  township.  He  then  took  it  down  to  the  creek  and  ran  it 
by  water  power. 

John  Snyder  and  brother  went  to  Chicago  in  1846  with  two  loads 
of  wheat,  each  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  contained  50  bushels 
of  wheat.  They  got  56  cents  a  bushel  and  had  to  take  half  in  trade. 
On  arriving  home  they  had  $3  each,  in  money.  Another  instance  a 
man  sent  his  two  sons  from  Galesburg  with  a  load  of  wheat,  giving 
them  $10  to  defray  their  expenses.  They  returned  with  just  $10  in 
money,  thus  taking  the  proceeds  of  their  load  to  pay  expenses.  The 
lowest  price  we  have  any  record  of  Knox  county  wheat  being  sold  in 
the  Chicago  market  was  by  Sheldon  W.  Allen,  who  has  sold  wheat  in 
that  city  for  37f  cents  a  bushel. 

Jones  and  DeHart,  two  young  men  who  lived  on  the  farm  where 
Amos  Ward  afterwards  so  long  resided,  made  themselves  one  of  the 
original  corn-mills  of  this  country.  These  mills  were  usually  made 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  193 

by  boring  a  hole  in  the  top  of  a  large  stnmp,  and  then  burning  it  out 
in  the  shape  of  a  rnortar  ;  then,  attaching  a  pounder  to  a  long,  bent 
spring-pole,  they  pounded  their  corn  and  grain,  making  unbolted 
meal  or  flour,  which  although  not  so  delicious,  perhaps,  as  bread 
made  from  fine  bolted  flour  was  more  healthful. 

Judge  Dennis  Clark  in  an  early  day  often  went  to  mill  for  the  neigh- 
bors. One  trip  he  made  to  Ellisville  with  three  yoke  of  oxen.  The 
weather  was  quite  cold.  As  usual  he  had  to  wait  several  days,  and 
his  provision,  which  he  always  took  along,  gave  out.  He  had  not 
a  penny  of  money,  so  he  untied  one  of  his  sacks  of  corn,  and  in  the 
dirt  and  ashes  in  a  part  of  the  mill  he  parched  it.  He  ate  corn 
and  drank  water,  his  only  food,  for  two  or  three  days.  Finally,  late 
one  evening,  his  grist  was  given  him.  So  anxious  was  he  to  get 
home  that  he  started,  although  the  shades  of  a  moonless  night  were 
fast  gathering,  and  he  had  a  wild  country  to  travel  through  with 
his  six  oxen.  He  kept  on,  crossing  bridgeless  streams,  going  through 
timber  and  over  prairie,  yelling  at  his  oxen.  Often  the  dismal  road 
over  the  prairie  would  be  obliterated  by  the  burning  of  the  grass. 
Many  times  during  that  dark  night  did  Mr.  Clark  go  ahead  of  his  oxen 
and  on  his  hands  and  knees  feel  around  for  the  road,  being  able  to  dis- 
tinguish the  track  where  the  grass  had  been  killed  by  wagons  from 
the  burnt  stubble.  He  arrived  home  safely,  but  the  memory  of  that 
night's  trials  will  never  be  obliterated  from  his  mind  this  side  of  the 
grave. 

The  earliest  mode  of  baking  was  to  place  the  dough  on  a  smooth 
board  or  piece  of  iron  placed  on  the  hearth,  slanting  toward  the  fire. 
When  lard  was  plentiful,  the  bread  was  well  shortened,  and  called 
"  Johnny  cake."  Some  baked  in  a  Dutch  oven  when  that  article  could 
be  obtained.  Sometimes  the  dough  was  made  into  lumps,  which, 
when  baked,  were  called  "corn  dodgers."  Others  raised  the  dough 
with  yeast  and  baked  in  a  Dutch  oven  ;  this  was  called  "pone." 
Mush  and  milk  was  a  common  diet,  especially  for  supper.  Hominy 
and  roasted  corn  were  also  used  to  a  great  extent. 

NATIVE   ANIMALS. 

The  wild  animals  infesting  this  county  at  the  time  of  its  settlement, 
were  the  deer,  wolf,  bear,  wild-cat,  fox,  otter,  raccoon,  wood-chuck  or 
ground-hog,  skunk,  mink,  weasel,  muskrat,  opossum,  rabbit,  and  squir- 
rel ;  and  the  principal  feathered  game  were  the  quail,  prairie-chicken, 
and  wild  turkey.  Several  of  these  animals  furnished  meat  for  the 
early  settlers  ;  but  their  principal  meat  did  not  long  consist  of  game. 
Pork  and  poultry  were  soon  raised  in  abundance.  The  wolf  was  the 


194  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

most  troublesome  animal,  it  being  the  common  enemy  of  the  sheep. 
It  was  quite  difficult  to  protect  the  sheep  from  their  ravages.  Some- 
times pigs  and  calves  were  also  victims  of  the  wolf.  Their  howling 
in,  the  night  would  often  keep  families  awake,  and  set  all  the  dogs  in 
the  neighborhood  to  barking.  Their  yells  were  often  terrific.  Says 
one  old  settler  :  "  Suppose  six  boys,  having  six  dogs  tied,  whipped 
them  all  at  the  same  time,  and  you  would  hear  such  music  as  two 
wolves  would  make."  To  effect  the  destruction  of  these  animals  the 
county  authorities  offered  a  bounty  for  their  scalps,  and  besides  big 
hunts  were  inaugurated  for  their  destruction,  and  "wolf  hunts"  are 
prominent  among  the  memories  of  the  early  settlers.  Such  events 
were  generally  turned  into  a  holiday,  and  everybody  that  could  ride  a 
nag  or  stand  the  tramp  on  foot  joined  in  the  deadly  pursuit.  A  large 
circuit  was  generally  made  by  the  hunters,  who  then  closed  in  on  every 
side,  driving  the  hungry  wolves  into  the  center  of  the  corral,  where 
they  were  dispatched.  The  return  home  with  the  carcasses  was  the 
signal  for  a  general  turn-out,  and  these  "  pleasure  parties  "  are  still  re- 
ferred to  by  old  citizens  as  among  the  pleasantest  memories  of  early 
life  in  Knox  county.  Many  a  hungry  wolf  has  been  run  down  on  the 
prairies  where  now  is  located  a  town  or  fine  farm  residence.  Thi& 
rare  old  pastime,  like  much  of  the  early  hunting  and  fishing  the  pio- 
neers indulged  in  here,  departed  at  the  appearance  of  the  locomotive. 

The  following  notice  was  published  in  several  numbers  of  the  Knox- 
ville  Journal  of  1853.  The  hunt  proved  a  success  both  in  the  interest 
manifested  and  in  scaring  the  wolf  from  that  region. 

"  Wolf  Hunt. — The  citizens  of  Orange  township  invite  the  neigh- 
boring towns  to  join  in  a  circular  hunt  Saturday,  April  15  (1853). 
The  following  arrangements  it  is  hoped  will  be  fully  carried  out : 

"  Mr.  Isaac  B.  West  will  take  charge  of  the  men  meeting  at  Knox- 
ville,  and  form  a  line  from  Knoxville  to  Isaac  Dempsey's.  Mr.  Demp- 
sey  will  with  his  men  form  a  line  to  Rev.  Wm.  Clark's  ;  Mr.  Clark 
will  take  charge  and  form  a  line  to  Maquon  ;  David  Housh  will  form 
a  line  to  Chas.  McGrew's,  near  Mt.  Harmony  ;  Mr.  McGrew  will  form 
a  line  to  Harrisonville,  from  which  place  John  Terry  will  form  a  line 
to  Dawdy's  ;  Mr.  Dawdy  will  form  a  line  to  Abingdon  ;  from  which 
place  Capt.  Ellison  will  form  a  line  to  Louisville  ;  Mr.  Swartz  will  there 
form  a  line  to  Mr.  Crawford's  ;  Mr.  Crawford  will  form  a  line  to 
Abr'm  Lightrier's  ;  Mr.  Lightner  will  from  there  form  a  line  to  Knox- 
ville, the  place  of  beginning. 

"  The  company  will  meet  in  time  to  be  ready  to  move  from  their 
stations  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  closing  slowly  and  carefully  to  a  center 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  197 

pole,  with  a  flag,  erected  on  the  big  prairie  east  of  Asa  Hayne's  and 
south  of  Thomas  Gilbert's,  as  nearly  at  one  o'clock  as  possible. 

"  No  guns  or  fire  arms  allowed  in  the  company.  If  either  of  the 
gentlemen  named  above  cannot  attend,  they  will  please  appoint  a  suit- 
able substitute.  Let  there  be  a  general  turn-out,  that  we  may  rid  the 
-country  of  a  great  pest." 

Another  grand  hunt  was  had,  the  centre  of  which  was  on  the  prairie 
southwest  of  Galesburg,  the  hunt  extending  from  Knoxville  to  Mon- 
mouth.  Dr.  Hansford  had  command  of  the  eastern  division.  Many 
•deer  as  well  as  wolves  were  enclosed,  but  a  break  in  the  line  came  near 
making  it  a  failure. 

Andrew  Thomson,  with  three  other  men,  started  a  wolf  in  the  spring 
of  1843  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Chris.  Burrell,  but  then  open 
prairie.  It  ran  into  the  edge  of  Galesburg,  then  north  to  Henderson 
Orove,  thence  east  along  the  south  side  of  the  grove.  With  the  assist- 
ance of  others  they  succeeded  in  keeping  him  out  of  the  timber,  and 
he  ran  on  to  where  Wataga  now  is  located,  then  turning  south  ran 
over  the  mound  and  to  the  creek  in  which  he  was  captured. 

COOKING. 

To  witness  the  various  processes  for  cooking  in  those  days  would 
alike  surprise  and  amuse  those  who  have  grown  up  since  cooking 
stoves  and  ranges  came  into  use.  Kettles  were  hung  over  the  large 
tire,  suspended  on  trammels  which  were  held  by  strong  poles.  The 
long-handled  frying-pan  was  used  for  cooking  meat.  It  was  held  on 
the  fire  by  hand  ;  or,  to  save  time,  the  handle  was  laid  across  the  back 
of  a  chair.  This  pan  was  also  used  for  baking  short-cake.  A  better 
article  was  a  cast-iron  spider,  which  was  set  upon  coals  on  the  hearth. 
But  the  best  thing  for  baking  bread  was  the  flat-bottomed  bake- kettle, 
of  greater  depth,  with  closely  fitting  cast-iron  cover,  and  commonly 
known  as  the  "  Dutch  oven."  With  coals  over  and  under  it  bread  and 
biscuit  would  quickly  and  nicely  bake.  Turkeys  and  spare-ribs  were 
sometimes  roasted  before  the  fire,  suspended  by  a  string,  a  dish  being 
placed  underneath  to  catch  the  drippings. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

The  agricultural  implements  used  by  the  first  farmer  here  would  in 
this,  age  of  improvements  be  great  curiosities.  The  plow  used  was 
called  the  bar-share  plow.  The  iron  point  consisted  of  a  bar  of  iron 
-about  two  feet  long,  and  a  broad  shear  of  iron  welded  to  it.  At  the 
•extreme  point  was  a  coulter  that  passed  through  a  beam  six  or  seven 
feet  long,  to  which  were  attached  handles  of  corresponding  length. 


198  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  mold-board  was  a  wooden  one  split  out  of  winding  timber,  or 
hewed  into  a  winding  shape  in  order  to  turn  the  soil  over.  Sown  seed 
was  brushed  in  by  a  sapling  with  a  bushy  top  being  dragged  over  the 
ground.  In  harvesting  the  change  is  most  striking.  Instead  of  the 
reapers  and  mowers  of  to-day,  the  sickle  and  cradle  were  used.  The 
grain  was  threshed  with  a  flail,  or  trodden  out  oy  horses  or  oxen. 

A  pioneer  wagon  was  a  wonderfully  constructed  vehicle;  and  if  one 
was  drawn  down  the  busy  thoroughfare  of  our  cities,  it  would  be  such 
a  curiosity  that  everybody  would  rush  to  have  a  view  of  it.  A.  W. 
Miller,  of  Walnut  Grove  township,  came  to  Knox  county  with  one  of 
these  wagons,  and  used  it  for  some  time  afterward.  It  was  all  made 
of  wood,  there  being  no  iron  about  it.  The  wheels  were  about  10 
inches  thick  and  2£  feet  in  diameter.  Thus  we  see  the  wagon  was 
quite  low.  These  wheels  were  sawed  from  the  end  of  a  log,  and  were 
solid.  A  plank  was  pinned  on  the  side  to  prevent  season-cracking- 
The  axles  were  about  six  inches  square,  rounded  at  the  ends  for  a  six- 
inch  hole  in  the  wheel.  Four  or  five  yoke  of  oxen  were  hitched  to  the 
wagon,  and  it  was  slowly  dragged  over  the  prairies.  When  in  use  it 
would  be  known  for  miles  around  by  its  terrible  squeaking,  even  when 
well  greased  with  soft  soap.  One  load  of  wood,  such  as  this  wagon 
was  capable  of  hauling,  would  last  the  family  nearly  all  summer. 

The  first  two-horse  Yankee  wagon  ever  in  the  county — or,  at  least, 
the  first  Judge  Clark  or  Jonathan  Latimer  ever  saw — was  brought 
from  New  York  in  1831,  by  a  man  who  settled  in  Warren  county,, 
township  10  north,  1  west.  He  had  never  seen  the  land  until  he  ar- 
rived with  his  family.  They  were  greatly  dissatisfied  with  the  coun- 
try; thought  they  .would  never  have  any  neighbors,  and  no  market 
for  their  produce.  Jonathan  Latimer  and  Dennis  Clark  (who  was  in 
the  employ  of  Latimer,  receiving  $5  per  month)  were  breaking  prairie 
within  a  mile  of  where  this  Yankee  settled.  He  became  so  thor- 
oughly disgusted  with  the  country  that  he  determined  to  return  to- 
New  York,  but  did  not  have  teams  enough,  some  of  his  horses  having 
failed  him.  He  oifered  Latimer  his  wagon,  if  he  would  let  Clark  take 
an  ox-team  and  big  wagon  load  of  goods  to  Chicago  for  him.  Neither 
Latimer  nor  Clark  had  seen  a  Yankee  wagon  before,  so  they  were  to  take 
it  on  trial  for  a  few  days.  They  brought  it  down  to  Latimer's  home 
fastened  behind  their  heavy  ox- wagon.  As  they  had  no  harness,  they 
were  obliged  to  bring  the  Yankee  harness  also.  They  finally  Suc- 
ceeded in  hitching  their  horses  to  it,  but  only  after  long  and  tedious- 
work,  as  they  were  not  accustomed  to  harness;  and  Judge  Clark 
affirms  that  one  of  the  most  difficult  jobs  he  ever  performed  was  to- 
adjust  the  check  reins  so  they  would  work.  He  thought  they  were  so- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  199 

complicated  that  their  use  was  impracticable.  They  drove  around 
over  the  prairies,  traveling  over  the  present  site  of  Abingdon,  with 
tjieir  new  wagon.  They  thought  it  was  a  "  pretty  good  thing — too 
light  for  general  use,  but  just  the  thing  to  ride  to  town  in."  The 
trade  was  not  made;  but  the  Yankee  left  the  country,  and  was  never 
heard  from  afterwards  by  Clark. 

The  only  wagons  in  general  use  here  then  were  heavy  ox,  or  the 
"  prairie  schooner"  wagons. 

WOMEN'S  WORK. 

The  men  were  not  called  upon  to  endure  alone  all  the  hardships 
and  labor  of  frontier  life.  The  women  also  had  their  physical  labor 
to  perform,  and  much  of  it  was  quite  arduous.  Spinning  was  one  of 
the  common  household  duties.  .This  exercise  is  one  which  few  of  the 
present  generation  of  girls  have  ever  enjoyed.  The  wheel  used  for 
spinning  flax  was  called  the  "little  wheel,"  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
"big  wheel"  used.for  spinning  yarn.  These  stringed  instruments 
furnished  the  principal  music  of  the  family,  and  were  operated  by  our 
mothers  and  grandmothers  with  great  skill,  attained  without  pecu- 
niary expense,  and  with  far  less  practice  than  is  necessary  for  the 
girls  of  our  period  to  acquire  a  skillful  use  of  their  costly  and  elegant 
instruments. 

The  loom  was  not  less  necessary  than  the  wheel.  Not  every  house, 
however,  in  which  spinning  was  done  had  a  loom;  but  there  were 
always  some  in  each  settlement  who,  besides  doing  their  own  weav- 
ing, did  some  for  others.  Settlers,  having  succeeded  in  spite  of  tbe 
wolves  in  raising  sheep,  commenced  the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloth; 
wool  was  carded  and  made  into  rolls  by  hand-cords,  and  the  rolls  were 
spun  on  the  "  big  wheel."  We  occasionally  find  now,  in  the  houses 
of  the  old  settlers,  one  of  these  big"  wheels,  sometimes  used  for  spin- 
ning and  twisting  stocking  yarn.  They  are  turned  with  the  hand, 
and  with  such  velocity  that  it  will  run  itself  while  the  nimble 
worker,  by  her  backward  step,  draws  out  and  twists  her  thread 
nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  cabin.  A  common  article  woven  on 
the  loom  was  linsey,  also  called  linsey-woolsey,  the  chain  being  linen 
and  the  filling  woolen.  This  cloth  was  used  for  dresses  for  the  girls 
and  mothers.  Nearly  all  the  clothes  worn  by  the  men  were  also 
home-made.  Rarely  was  a  farmer  or  his  son  seen  in  a  coat  made  of 
any  other.  If.  occasionally,  a  young  man  appeared  in  a  suit  of 
"  boughten"  clothes,  he  was  suspected  of  having  gotten  it  for  a  par- 
ticular occasion,  which  occurs  in  the  life  of  nearly  every  man. 

Not  until  the  settlers  had  supplied  themselves  with  the  more  useful 


200  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

articles  of  clothing  and  with  edibles  of  various  kinds,  did  wheat  bread 
become  a  common  article  of  food.  It  is  true  they  had  it  earlier,  but 
this  was  only  served  on  extra  occasions,  as  when  visitors  came,  or  on 
Sundays;  and  with  this  luxury  they  would  have  a  little  "store 
coifee." 

PLEASURES   OF   PIONEEK   LIFE. 

The  history  of  pioneer  life  generally  presents  the  dark  side  of  the 
picture;  but  the  toils  and  privations  of  the  early  settlers  were  not  a 
series  of  unmitigated  sufferings.  No;  for  while  the  fathers  and 
mothers  toiled  hard,  they  were  not  averse  to  a  little  relaxation,  and 
had  their  seasons  of  fun  and  enjoyment.  .They  contrived  to  do  some- 
thing to  break  the  monotony  of  their  daily  life  and  furnish  them  a 
good,  hearty  laugh.  Among  the  more  general  forms  of  amusements 
were  the  "  quilting-bee,"  "  corn-husking,"  and  the  "  apple-paring," 
and,  in  timbered  sections,  " log-rolling"  and  "house-raising."  Our 
young  readers  will  doubtless  be  interested  in  a  Description  of  these 
forms  of  amusement,  when  labor  was  made  to  afford  fun  and  enjoy- 
ment to  all  participating.  The  "  quilting-bee,"  as  its  name  implies, 
was  when  the  industrious  qualities  of  the  busy,  little  insect  that  "im- 
proves each  shining  hour"  were  exemplified  in  the  manufacture  of 
quilts  for  the  household.  In  the  afternoon  ladies  for  miles  around 
gathered  at  the  appointed  place,  and  while  their  tongues  would  not 
cease  to  play,  their  hands  were  as  busily  engaged  in  making  the  quilt; 
and  desire  was  always  manifested  to  get  it  out  as  quickly  as  possible, 
for  then  the  fun  would  begin.  In  the  evening  the  gentlemen  came, 
and  the  hours  would  then  pass  swiftly  by  in  playing  games  or  danc- 
ing. "  Corn-huskings"  were  when  both  sexes  united  in  the  work. 
They  usually  assembled  in  a  large  barn,  which  was  arranged  for  the 
occasion ;  and  when  each  gentleman  had  selected  a  lady  partner  the 
husking  began.  When  a  lady  found  a  red  ear  she  was  entitled  to  a 
kiss  from  every  gentleman  present;  when  a  gentleman  found  one  he 
was  allowed  to  kiss  every  lady  present.  After  the  corn  was  all  husked 
a  good  supper  was  served;  then  the  "old  folks"  would  leave,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  evening  was  spent  in  the  dance  and  in  having  a  gen- 
eral good  time.  The  recreation  afforded  to  the  young  people  on  the 
annual  recurrence  of  these  festive  occasions  was  as  highly  enjoyed, 
and  quite  as  innocent,  as  the  amusements  of  the  present  boasted  age 
of  refinement  and  culture.  "The  little  brown  jug"  found  a  place  in 
almost  every  home,  and  was  often  brought  into  use.  No  caller  was 
permitted  to  leave  the  house  without  an  invitation  to  partake  of  its 
contents. 


HISTORY    OP'    KNOX    COUNTY.  201 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD. 

BLACK    LAWS. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  county,  although  mainly  from  the  South- 
ern or  slave  States,  entertaine.d  a  deep-seated  prejudice  agaiuot  me 
negro,  for  which  it  is  hard  for  us  to  account  at  the  present  day.  Thi 
prejudice,  we  may  remark,  was  not  held  altogether  and  only  in  this 
county,  for  by  referring  to  the  Revised  Statutes  of  this  State,  approved 
March  3,  1845,  we  find  the  following  in  chapter  54,  under  the  head 
of  "Negroes  and  Mulattoes:" 

Section  8.  Any  person  who  shall  hereafter  bring  into  this  State  any 
black  or  mulatto  person,  in  order  to  free  him  or  her  from  slavery, -or 
shall  directly  or  indirectly  bring  into  this  State,  or  aid  or  assist  any 
person  in  bringing  any  such  black  and  mulatto  person  to  settle  and 
reside  therein,  shall  be  fined  one  hundred  dollars  on  conviction  and 
indictment,  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county  where  such 
offense  shall  be  committed. 

Section  9.  If  any  slave  or  servant  shall  be  found  at  a  distance  of 
ten  miles  from  the  tenement  of  his  or  her  master,  or  person  with 
whom  he  or  she  lives,  without  a  pass  or  some  letter  or  token  whereby 
it  may  appear  that  he  or  she  is  proceeding  by  authority  from  his  oi- 
lier master,  employer  or  overseer,  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  any 
person  to  apprehend  and  carry  him  or  her  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  to  be  by  his  order  punished  with  stripes,  not  exceeding  thirty- 
five,  at  his  discretion. 

Section  10.  If  any  slave  or  servant  shall  presume  to  come  and  be 
upon  the  plantation  or  at  the  dwelling  of  any  person  whatsoever, 
without  leave  from  his  or  her  owner,  not  being  sent  upon  lawful  busi- 
ness, it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  owner  of  such  plantation  or  dwelling 
house  to  give  or  order  such  slave  or  servant  ten  lashes  on  his  or  her 
bare  back. 

Section  12.  If  any  person  or  persons  shall  permi  t  or  suffer  any  slave  or 
slaves,  servant  or  servants  of  color,  to  the  number  of  three  or  more,  to 
assemble  in  his,  her  or  their  outhouse,  yard  or  shed,  for  the  purpose  of 
dancing  or  revelling,  either  by  night  or  by  day,  the  person  or  persons 
so  offending  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  with  cost 


202  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

to  any  person  or  persons  who  will  sue  for  and  recover  the  same  by 
action  of  debt  or  indictment,  in  any  court  of  record  proper  to  try  the 
same. 

Section  13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  coroners,  sheriffs,  judges  and 
justices  of  the  peace,  who  shall  see  or  know  of,  or  be  informed  of  any 
such  assemblage  of  slaves  or  servants,  immediately  to  commit  such 
slaves  or  servants  to  the  jail  of  the  county,  and  on  view  or  proof 
thereof  to  order  each  and  every  such  slave  or  servant  to  be  whipped 
not  exceeding  thirty-nine  stripes  on  his  or  her  bare  back. 

MODE   OF   RUNNING   THE    U.  G.  R.  R. 

Very  likely  all  of  our  readers  have  heard  of  the  famous  Underground 
Railroad,  but  very  few  know  anything  of  its  system  of  work.  Hap- 
pily the  corporation  does  not  now  exist,  the  necessity  for  the  enter- 
prise not  being  apparent  at  the  present  time,  as  the  class  of  freight 
or  passengers  transported  over  the  line  are  not  now  produced. 

The  question  of  slavery  has  always  been  a  mixed  one,  from  the  time 
the  first  slave  was  imported  into  our  country  until,  by  the  emancipa- 
tion proclamation  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  all  men  were  made  free  and 
equal  in  the  eyes  of  the  law.  A  strong  anti-slavery  party  has  long 
existed  in  the  country.  The  framers  of  our  constitution  upon  the 
organization  of  the  government  had  to  deal  with  the  question  of 
slavery;  the  successive  administrations  from  Washington  to  Lincoln 
had  to  grapple  with  it;  various  compromises  were  adopted  which  it 
was  thought  would  quiet  its  spirit;  but,  like  Banquo's  ghost,  it  would 
not  down  at  the  bidding  of  any  man  or  party.  The  death  of  Lovejoy 
at  Alton,  in  1837,  a  martyr  to  the  anti-slavery  cause,  gave  an  impetus 
to  the  agitation  of  the  question  which  never  ceased  until  the  final  act 
was  consummated  which  broke  in  pieces  the  shackles  that  bound  the 
slave. 

Growing  out  of  the  agitation  of  this  question,  and  the  formation  of 
a  party  in  sympathy  with  the  slaves,  was  the  organization  of  the 
so-called  Underground  Railroad,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  fugitives 
to  escape  to  a  land  of  freedom.  The  secrecy  of  its  workings  justified 
its  name.  Notwithstanding  the  system  was  an  organized  one,  those 
engaged  in  it  had  no  signs  or  passwords  by  which  they  might  be 
known,  save  now  and  then  a  preconcerted  rap  at  the  door  when  a  cargo 
of  freight  was  to  be  delivered.  Each  relied  upon  the  honor  of  the 
other,  and,  as  the  work  was  an  extra-hazardous  one,  few  cowards  ever 
engaged  in  it.  Pro-slavery  men  complained  bitterly  of  the  violation 
of  the  law  by  their  abolition  neighbors,  and  persecuted  them  as  much 
as  they  dared;  and  this  was  not  a  little.  But  the  friends  of  the  slaves 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  203 

were  not  to  be  deterred  by  persecution.  "The  blood  of  martyrs  is 
the  seed  of  the  church,"  and  persecution  only  made  them  more  deter- 
mined than  ever  to  carry  out  their  just  convictions  of  right  and  duty. 
No  class  of  people  ever  made  better  neighbors  than  the  Abolitionists, 
or  better  conductors  on  a  railroad.  It  is  well,  perhaps,  in  this  con- 
nection, to  note  how  the  passengers  over  this  road  were  received  in 
Canada,  the  northern  termination.  From  mere  goods  and  chattels  in 
our  liberty-boasting  nation  they  were  transformed  into  men  and 
women;  from  being  hunted  with  fire-arms  and  blood-hound,  like  wild 
beasts,  they  were  recognized  and  respected  as  good  and  loyal  subjects 
by  the  Queen  as  soon  as  their  feet  touched  British  soil.  At  the 
same  time  there  stood,  with  open  arms,  Rev.  Hirarn  Wilson,  the 
true,  noble-hearted  missionary,  ready  to  receive  these  refugees  from 
"freedom's  (?)  soil,"  and  administer  to  their  wants.  In  February, 
1841,  there  came  a  day  of  jubilee  to  the  doubting  ones,  when  Queen 
Victoria's  proclamation  was  read  to  them:  "That  every  fugitive  from 
United  States  slavery  should  be  recognized  and  protected  as  a  British 
subject  the  moment  his  or  her  foot  touched  the  soil  of  her  domain. 1) 
Mr.  Wilson  arranged  with  the  authorities  to  have  all  supplies  for  the 
fugitive  slaves  admitted  free  of  custom  duty.  Many  were  the  large, 
well  filled  boxes  of  what  was  most  needed  by  the  poor  wanderer  taken 
from  the  wharf  at  Toronto  during  that  winter  by  E.  Child,  mission 
teacher.  He  was  then  a  student  of  Oneida  Institute,  N.  Y.,  but  for 
many  years  has  resided  in  Oneida,  this  county.  He  went  into  Canada 
for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  fugitives. 

A  very  singular  circumstance  in  connection  with  this  road  was  the 
fact  that,  although  people  well  knew  who  were  engaged  in  it,  and 
where  the  depot  was  located,  freight  could  seldom  be  found,  search  as 
carefully  as  they  might.  A  consignment  would  be  forwarded  over  the 
line,  notice  of  which  would  reach  the  ears  of  slave  hunters,  and  when 
ready  to  place  their  hands  upon  the  fugitives,  like  the  Irishman's  flea, 
they  wouldn't  be  there.  The  business  of  this  road  for  a  number  of 
years  was  quite  extensive,  but  to-day  all  its  employes  are  discharged, 
and,  strange  to  relate,  none  are  sorry,  but  all  rejoice  in  the  fact.  A& 
illustrating  the  peculiarities  of  this  line,  we  append  several  incidents 
that  occurred  in  this  county: 

"  AUNT  SUKEY." 

One  wintry  day  in  the  year  1843,  a  negro  woman  with  two  small 
children  and  a  son  about  seventeen  years  old,  together  with  a  negro 
girl  about  the  same  age.  were  brought  to  Knoxville  and  incarcerated  in 
the  county  jail.  "What  for?  "  you  will  quite  naturally  ask.  What  crime 


204-  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

had  they  committed  that  they  should  be  imprisoned?  They  were 
making  an  attempt  to  gain  the  liberty  which  their  Creator  had  des- 
tined for  them,  but  which  was  denied  by  man's  inhumanity.  They 
had  made  their  way  from  Southern  Illinois,  carefully  secreting  them- 
selves during  the  day,  and  the  anxious  mother  with  her  loved  ones 
hurried  along  by  night,  directed  to  the  land  of  freedom  by  the  change- 
less north  star.  It  was  not  for  her  own  freedom  that  Aunt  Sukey 
was  trying  to  obtain  so  much  as  to  purchase  that  prized  boon  for  her 
children.  Her  master  had  repeatedly  threatened  to  sell  them  to 
Southern  traders.  This  the  mother  well  knew  would  be  done.  She 
had  often  seen  loved  children  mercilessly  torn  from  their  mother's 
arms  and  sent  South,  never  again  to  be  heard  from.  How  like  the  sad 
sequel  of  this  story!  and  worse;  for  here  in  Knox  county  this  loving 
mother  was  robbed  of  her  babes  and  son  by  cruel  hands.  They  were 
violently  torn  from  her  care  and  borne  to  a  Southern  clime  to  receive 
the  abuses  and  cruelties  of  the  poor,  degraded  plantation  slaves,  and 
man's  uncompassionate,  selfish  nature  and  inhuman  hand  would  still 
more  ruthlessly  cause  all  the  torture  and  degradation  of  such  a  life  of 
bondage. 

Thirty-five  years  have  passed;  a  bloody  and  destructive  war  has 
been  fought;  the  right  prevailed  after  much  carnage  and  bloodshed; 
and  the  shackles  of  four  million  degraded  slaves  were  broken,  and 
the  much  coveted  liberty  given  the  poor,  benighted  beings.  Whether 
the  two  babes  were  among  the  number  (the  son  being  killed  the 
year  after  his  capture)  the  mother  never  knew.  The  continent  was 
convulsed  a  few  years  ago  over  the  sad  story  of  little  Charley  Ross; 
but  there  is  a  mother  living  in  Knox  county  whose  babes  were  taken 
thirty-five  years  ago,  and  yet  she  has  never  heard  a  single  word  from 
them ;  she  knows  not  whether  they  are  living  or  dead,  but  for  years  she 
too  well  knew  they  were  in  inhuman  hands,  suffering  the  cruelties  of 
bondage  and  pain  which  slavery  and  the  bartering  for  human  flesh 
could  but  produce.  It  was  such  incidents  as  these  that  aroused  the 
liberty-loving  spirit  of  the  North  and  goaded  her  soldiers  to  go  and  so 
nobly  fight  for  the  slave's  freedom. 

Let  us  continue  our  narrative.  Susan  Richardson,  for  such  was 
"  Aunt  Sukey's  "  real  name,  was  brought  into  the  Territory  of  Illinois 
a  few  years  before  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State.  Her 
master,  Andrew  Border,  lived  in  Randolph  county,  where  she  was 
kept  a  slave  until,  as  she  told  us,  "  she  left  betwixt  two  suns."  The 
immediate  cause  for  this  unannounced  departure  was  certainly  one 
wholly  justifiable.  Her  children  and  those  of  her  master  had  gotten 
into  some  altercation,  when  her  mistress  had  her  children  whipped. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  205 

The  mother  very  naturally  resented  this,  and  her  passionate  mistress 
then  declared  the  lash  should  be  laid  most  heavily  upon  her  back. 
When  Mr.  Border  arrived  home  his  wife  told  him  she  wanted  Sukey 
whipped.  Seemingly  he  possessed  finer  feelings,  more  sensitive  than 
those  of  his  delicate  wife  to  the  pains  of  others,  for  he  said  he  could 
not  comply,  Aunt  Sukey  had  always  been  so  good,  and  besides  he  wa& 
afraid  she  would  run  away  if  he  did.  Refusal  aroused  the  fiery 
temper  of  his  wife,  when  she  avowed  that  she  would  neither  eat  nor 
sleep  until  he  promised  that  Aunt  Sukey  should  be  whipped.  As  a 
compromise  he  agreed  to  tie  her  and  make  all  the  other  necessary 
preparations,  then  to  give  the  lash  to  her  and  let  her  apply  it  to  the 
bared  back  of  the  poor  abused  slave  until  her  anger  was  fully  ap- 
peased. This  was  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  groveling  rnind  of  the 
unkind  mistress,  and  she  promised  herself  to  punish  the  impudent 
slave  (as  she  considered  her)  as  severely  as  her  strength  would  permit. 
Aunt  Sukey  knew  the  design  of  her  mistress,  and  accordingly  was  on 
the  "  look-out,"  for  she  had  overheard  the  promise  made  by  her  mas- 
ter. The  thoughts  of  being  scourged,  and  by  a  woman  too,  was  more 
than  she  could  endure,  and  so  aroused  her  wounded  and  indignant 
spirit  that  she  hastily  and  secretly,  with  her  children,  left  her  master 
that  night  and  went  to -Cairo,  where  she  got  on  the  line  of  the  Under- 
ground Railroad  and  reached  Canton,  Fulton  county,  in  safety.  Here 
Conductor  Wilson  took  her  in  charge  to  convey  her  to  the  next  sta- 
tion, which  was  at  the  Rev.  John  Cross'  in  the  eastern  part  of  Knox 
county.  He  did  not  arrive  until  after  daylight;  and  scarcely  had  Aunt 
Sukey  and  her  charge  alighted  from  the  wagon  when  she  was  arrested 
and  conveyed  to  Knoxville,  where  for  some  days  the  five  were  con- 
fined in  the  county  jail.  Notices  of  their  capture  were  immediately 
sent  South.  Of  course  the  cruel  master  was  on  the  lookout,  and  the 
notice  soon  fell  under  his  eyes.  In  the  meantime,  however,  through 
the  agency  of  humane  citizens  of  Knoxville,  they  were  released  on 
bail.  The  woman  was  soon  engaged  in  going  from  home  to  home  and 
doing  the  washings  of  the  different  families.  For  her  son  she  had 
secured  a  situation  on  a  farm  near  town,  and  her  younger  children  she 
left  at  the  hotel  during  the  day.  One  day  while  washing  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Rev.  Cole,  the  Presbyterian  minister  of  the  town,  the  start- 
ling intelligence  of  her  old  master  being  in  town  was  communicated 
to  her.  Her  first  thought  was  for  the  safety  of  her  children,  and 
remembering  the  little  ones  at  the  hotel,  the  same  tender,  loving, 
motherly  feeling  prompted  her  to  make  the  attempt  to  secrete  them. 
But  unfortunately  for  the  thoughtful  mother,  her  master  had  met  them 
in  the  hall-way  at  the  hotel,  when  he  at  once  seized  them,  carrying 


206  HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

them  to  Mr.  Newman's  house  and  hiding  them  in  the  loft,  and  then 
•going  in  search  of  the  son;  for  said  lie,  "  If  I  can  get  the  children  I 
am  not  afraid  but  what  the  old  one  will  follow."  Aunt  Sukey  then 
thought  to  save  her  son,  but  ere  she  could  even  give  him  a  warning 
note  his  merciless  master  had  also  captured  him. 

The  grief  of  the  poor,  distracted  mother,  too  terrible  and  intense  in 
its  nature  to  be  pictured,  can  be  perhaps  much  better  imagined  than 
described  ;  so  we  will  pass  over  it.  Frantic  and  almost  heart-broken, 
the  poor  woman  thought  she  must  return  to  the  dreaded  scourged  life 
of  bondage  with  her  children.  She  was  advised  by  her  sympathizing 
friends  not  to  go,  for  it  would  only  be  to  suffer  increased  pain  and 
mental  anxiety,  as  the  children  would  undoubtedly  be  sold  and  sent 
south.  Charles  Gilbert  from  near  Galesburg  drove  up  to  Rev.  Cole's 
residence  in  a  sleigh  about  this  time.  His  liner  feelings  were  wrought 
upon  and  touched  by  the  sad  recital  of  the  story  of  the  hunted  fugi- 
tives. He  resolved  to  save  the  mother  :  so,  donning  her  in  clothing 
of  Mrs.  Cole's,  with  closely  veiled  face,  he  helped  her  into  his  sleigh, 
and  sitting  down  beside  her,  took  up  the  reins  and  sped  over  the  snowy 
earth  for  Galesburg,  where  it  was  well  known  then,  as  always  after, 
that  a  negro  was  safe  when  once  within  its  limits.  The  two  small 
children  and  the  son  were  taken  back  to  the  dreaded  and  bitter  life  of 
toil,  pain  and  bondage,  never  to  again  look  upon  the  mother  that  had 
battled  so  nobly  for  their  liberty.  Can  any  one,  who  has  never  been 
placed  in  any  such,  or  similar,  position,  fully  realize  the  pain  and  an- 
guish of  such  a  parting  ?  Can  the  dreariness,  the  gloom  and  terrors 
of  the  embittered  and  bondaged  life  of  slavery,  be  too  plainly  pictured 
or  overdrawn  ? 

Hannah,  the  name  of  the  young  girl  who  accompanied  Aunt  Sukey, 
did  not  belong  to  the  same  master,  and  being  nearly  of  age,  she  was 
not  molested  but  suffered  to  go  free.  She  went  to  Galesburg,  and 
lived  for  some  years,  but  at  present  resides  in  New  York  city.  Mrs. 
Richardson  lives  on  the  corner  of  West  and  Ferris  streets,  Galesburg. 
She  is  a  very  intelligent,  fine-looking  and  active  old  negro  lady. 

Soon  after  Aunt  Sukey  had  settled  in  Galesburg  a  lawsuit,  which 
became  famous,  was  instituted  by  her  former  master,  Mr.  Border,  for 
her  recovery;  but  by  some  means  he  was  beaten,  although  he  had  that 
eminent  lawyer,  Hon.  Julius  Manning,  for  his  attorney. 

BILL    CASEY. 

Bill  Casey  was  another  passenger  over  the  Underground  Railroad, 
but  so  closely  pursued  that  he  left  the  main  line  and  worked  his  way 
as  far  as  Galesburg  himself.  That  city  was  well  known  among  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  209 

negroes,  and  a  runaway  slave  was  considered  as  free  from  capture  when 
within  its  limits  as  if  in  Canada.  Being  settled  by  Eastern  people, 
who  not  only  had  no  sympathy  with  slavery,  but  held  for  it  a  righteous 
indignation,  and  whose  citizens  would  any  time  violate  an  inhumane 
and  unjust  law  to  help  a  fugitive  slave,  Galesburg  was  known  through- 
out the  country  as  the  strongest  kind  of  an  abolitionist  place.  Here 
the  weary,  hunted  slaves  could  find  a  refuge,  some  comfort,  and  a  host 
of  sympathizing  friends. 

Bill  Casey  reached  Galesburg  Saturday  night,  and  going  to  the  res- 
idence of  the  colored  lady,  Susan  Richardson,  whose  coming  to  the 
county  is  related  above,  he  was  admitted  and  kindly  cared  for.  He 
was  a  miserable  and  affecting  human  being  to  look  upon,  having 
neither  shoes  nor  hat  and  almost  naked,  with  feet  bleeding  and  swol- 
len, and  body  bruised,  besides  being  almost  in  a  starving  state,  hav- 
ing had  nothing  with  which  to  appease  his  hunger  for  several  days. 
"With  five  companions  he  had  started  from  Missouri.  They  were  pur- 
sued, and  two  or  three  of  the  number  had  been  shot,  and  the  others 
captured,  and  only  by  the  rapidity  of  his  flight  through  the  woods 
with  heavy  undergrowth  had  he  escaped.  Sunday  morning  came,  and 
"Aunt  Sukey"  locked  her  house  and  with  her  family  as  usual  went 
to  church,  leaving  Casey  at  her  home.  She  knew,  as  she  told  us, 
"who  to  tell."  Accordingly  she  soon  made  known  to  members  of  the 
Underground  Railroad  that  a  fugitive  was  at  her  house.  They  imme- 
diately visited  him,  and  found  him  in  a  needy  condition,  and  that  he 
must  have  a  pair  of  shoes  before  he  could  go  farther,  as  well  as  some 
clothing.  So  Messrs.  Neeley,  West  and  Blanchard  began  to  prepare 
him  for  the  journey.  Of  course  he  could  not  be  taken  to  the  store 
and  have  his  shoes  fitted  there,  but  they  had  to  bring  them  to  him. 
His  feet  were  so  badly  swollen  that  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  make 
three  or  four  trips  before  they  could  find  shoes  that  would  fit  or  he 
could  wear.  After  everything  was  fully  arranged,  Casey  was  put  in 
charge  of  a  conductor  on  the  Underground  Railroad  and  conveyed  to 
the  next  station.  In  a  year  or  two  he  returned  to  Galesburg  and  en- 
gaged in  cutting  timber  northwest  of  town. 

One  day  two  men,  evidently  ''Southern  gentlemen,"  rode  up  to  the 
Galesburg  hotel.  There  they  met  a  young  negro  boy,  Charley  Love, 
of  whom  they  inquired  of  Bill  Casey.  Although  small,  Charlie  was 
well  posted,  and  of  course  "  never  heard  of  such  a  fellow."  However, 
as  soon  as  possible  he  ran  and  gave  the  alarm,  and  immediately  a  fleet- 
footed  horse  with  noble  rider  was  off  for  the  woods  where  Casey  was 
at  work.  The  two  strangers  referred  to  were  on  the  hunt  for  Casey, 
arc  after  some  inquiries  learned  his  whereabouts  and  started  for  him, 


210  HISTORY    OB'    KNOX    COUNTY. 

but  Charlie  Love  had  saved  him,  for  he  was  warned  in   time  an 
escaped  capture. 

GALE8BURG    STATION. 

Galesburg,  from  the  very  starting  of  the  colony  to  the  time  of  the 
war,  was  noted  as  the  principal  depot  of  the  Underground  Railroad 
in  Western  Illinois,  if  not  in  the  whole  State.  The  refugees  were 
from  Missouri,  and  most  of  them  would  first  stop  at  a  Quaker  settle- 
ment in  southeastern  Iowa,  where  friends  would  keep  them  and  bring 
them  on  at  night  to  Galesburg.  Here  George  Davis,  Samuel  Hitch- 
cock, Nehemiah  "West  and  others  would  promote  their  welfare  as  far 
towards  Canada  as  Stark  county  or  Ontario  in  this  county.  A  Mr. 
Hizer,  one  of  the  Iowa  Quakers,  called  on  Mr.  Davis  in  this  city  only 
two  years  ago,  surprising  him  with  an  unexpected  but  very  pleasura- 
ble visit,  and  the  gentlemen  refreshed  their  memories  concerning  a 
certain  colored  man  whom  they  had  helped  through  over  thirty  years 
previously.  Mr.  Davis  was  accompanied  by  Rev.  R.  C.  Dunn  in  taking 
the  refugee  to  Mr.  Wyckoff's  in  the  southern  part  of  Stark  county. 
In  1858  a  colored  man  was  taken  through  here  to  Canada,  who  shortly 
afterward  found  his  way  back  to  Missouri  and  started  with  nine  other 
slaves  for  the  land  of  freedom,  but  reached  Galesburg  with  only  five 
or  six.  With  these  it  is  presumed  he  got  safely  through  to  Canada. 

There  was  a  negro  man,  who  stopped  at  Nehemiah  West's  on  his 
way  to  freedom.  He  formerly  lived  in  luxury,  being  the  favored 
coachman  of  an  eminent  gentleman,  but  who,  through  misfortune, 
failed  and  consequently  all  his  property  was  sold.  His  coachman 
was  sold  to  a  cruel  master,  who  stripped  him  of  all  the  good  clothing 
his  former  master  had  given  him  and  donned  him  in  the  coarsest  of 
garments  and  beat  him  unmercifully  in  order,  as  he  said,  "to  learn 
him  where  he  belonged,  and  to  show  him  that  he  couldn't  act  the  gen- 
tleman around  him."  This  negro  was  greatly  afflicted  with  the  con- 
sumption and  was  quite  feeble. 

Another  one,  a  cook,  stopped  at  the  same  place.  He  was  a  fine  in- 
telligent fellow,  but  not  unlike  all  others,  he  was  continually  on  the 
watch,  thinking  every  footstep  he  heard  was  made  by  his  master. 
Mrs.  West  says  they  would  run  and  hide  the  moment  they  heard  the 
slightest  evidence  of  some  one  approaching.  This  cook  was  anxious 
to  help  prepare  the  meals.  He  was  sent  to  the  well,  just  a  few  feet 
from  the  house,  to  peel  some  potatoes,  but  becoming  nervous  he  would 
start,  even  at  the  fall  of  a  leaf.  Finally  being  unable  to  endure  the 
torture  of  fear  any  longer,  he  begged  to  come  into  the  house  and  work, 
which  request  was  gran  ted  him.  He  would  go  to  the  window  and 
look  out  every  few  minutes,  expecting  to  see  his  master  coming  after 
him. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  211 

Four  negroes  were  hidden,  and  kept  one  day  in  the  cupola  of  the 
First  Church,  of  Galesburg,  and  when  night  came  they  were  hurried 
on  their  journey. 

After  the  railroad  was  built  through  from  Chicago  to  Quincy,  in 
1854-5,  these  refugees  would  get  aboard  freight  trains  at  Quincy  and 
go  right  through  without  much  local  help  along  the  route.  The 
Galesburg  Underground  depot  was  then  about  superseded. 

There  is  no  telling  how  many  fugitive  slaves  were  helped  through 
this  region  of  the  country,  no  one  thinking  at  the  time  what  import- 
ant history  he  was  making  for  future  generations  to  write  up.  The 
number,  however,  was  quite  large,  for  often  business  was  quite  brisk 
over  the  road. 

ONTARIO  STATION. 

The  depot  of  the  Underground  Kailroad  in  Ontario  township  was  at 
the  residence  of  C.  F.  Camp,  Hod  Powell,  conductor.  Passengers  for 
one  train  consisted  of  four  well  dressed  negroes,  who  were  evidently 
rather  intelligent.  They  arrived  on  the  evening  train  from  Galesburg 
in  care  of  Conductor  Neeley.  After  a  partial  night's  lodging,  and  a 
sumptuous  meal,  Conductor  Powell,  with  his  load,  looking  as  if  he 
were  going  to  mill,  started  for  Andover  Station,  the  next  on  the 
route.  One  of  the  above  four  returned  South  three  different  times  for 
his  family.  He  was  so  closely  watched  that  he  failed  each  time  to 
rescue  his  loved  ones.  On  the  third  trip  he  found  they  had  been  sold 
and  sent  farther  south. 

In  the  files  of  the  Probate  Court  records  of  1837  and  1838  are  "free 
papers"  of  the  freedom  of  slaves.  One  is  found  stating  that  "Harvey 
Van  Allen,  a  boy,  who  was  born  free,  and  when  he  arrives  at  the  age 
of  21  will  be  as  free  as  any  white  person."  Another,  filed  May  15, 
1837,  of  "Joe,  commonly  called  Joe  Allen,  property  of  John  Allen  of 
Pulaski  county,  Kentucky,  being,  for  certain  causes  and  considerations 
desirous  to  emancipate  and  set  free  a  certain  negro  woman,  called 
Sukey,  the  wife  of  free  Joe,  aged  about  29.  Said  John  Allen  do 
emancipate,  liberate  and  set  free  forever  the  said  negro  woman  and  to 
all  intent  and  purposes  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  freedom  as  though 
she  had  been  free  born." 

HITCHCOCK  STATION. 

Samuel  Hitchcock's  farm,  three  miles  northwest  of  Galesburg,  was 

a  prominent  station  on   the  Underground  .Railroad  Lfor   ten  years. 

Many  a  time  he  secreted  six  or  more  of  the  fugitive  slaves  in  his  hay 

mow,  or  in  the  back  rooms  of  the  house.     He  usuallv  carried  them  to 

13 


212  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  next  station  in  Ontario  township,  fifteen  miles  distant,  starting  at 
9  or  10  o'clock  in  the  evening.  On  one  occasion,  which  happened  to 
be  Commencement  day  of  Knox  College,  and  a  very  warm  June  morn- 
ing, a  gentleman  from  Warren  county,  Mr.  Dilley  by  name,  drove 
up,  in  company  with  one  Mr.  Parker,  with  what  resembled  a  load  of 
oat  straw.  Mr.  Parker  hailed  Mr.  Hitchcock.  "All  right!"  Mr. 
Hitchcock  exclaimed.  "All  right,"  was  again  the  response,  when*  the 
load  of  straw  began  to  present  signs  of  life  and  one  by  one  crawled 
out  the  brunettes,  until  three  women,  one  man  and  three  children? 
seven  in  all,  were  safely  landed  at  Mr.  Hitchcock's.  They  were  kept 
and  secreted  until  opportunity  offered  to  forward  them  to  the  next 
station. 

•f  AEREST    OF    THE    REV.    JOHN    CROSS. 

About  the  year  1843  some  fugitive  slaves  passing  North  through 
the  eastern  part  of  Knox  county  were  helped  on  their  journey  by 
members  of  the  Underground  Railroad.  Rev.  John  Cross,  a  Presby- 
terian minister,  then  living  in  Elba  township,  was  suspected  of  help- 
ing them.  He  was  accordingly  arrested  and  indicted  therefor.  In 
the  meantime,  before  the  trial  came  off,  he  removed  to  Bureau  county. 
When  the  time  for  trial  finally  came  the  sheriff  of  this  county  sent  a 
requisition  to  the  sheriff  of  Bureau  county  to  deliver  the  said  Cross 
into  court.  The  deputy  sheriff,  John  Long,  could  find  no  one  to 
bring  him.  Mr.  Cross,  appreciating  his  dilemma,  proposed  to  aid 
him,  and  offered  to  take  his  own  team  and  deliver  himself  and  the 
deputy  in  good  order  to  the  authorities  of  this  county.  They  started 
on  Saturday,  and  came  as  far  as  Mr.  Whitaker's,  in  the  township  of 
Osceola,  and  stayed  over  Sunday,  as  they  were  no  doubt  conscien- 
tiously opposed  to  desecrating  that  holy  day.  On  the  Sabbath  Rev. 
Cross  preached  to  the  goodfpeople  of  Osceola.  Their  sympathies 
were  aroused  and  excited  in  behalf  of  the  reverend  prisoner,  and  some 
insinuations  were  uttered  relative  to  a  rescue.  When  Monday  morn- 
ing came,  and  they  were  about  to  start,  the  deputy  expressed  some 
suspicions  that  there  was  danger.  Mr.  Cross  felt  they  were  quite 
safe  and  so  assured  the  deputy,  who  said — "  Well,  I  am  prepared  for 
any  emergency"  The  young  men  of  the  neighborhood  who  were 
somewhat  waggish  in  their  natures,  thought  to  test  the  courage  of  the 
blustering,  boasting  Kentuckian  official.  They  mounted  their  horses 
and  circulated  about  through  the  woods,  which  Mr.  Cross  and  the 
deputy  passed  through  shortly  after  leaving  Mr.  Whitaker's.  The 
deputy,  observing  their  mysterious  movements  through  the  trees,  be- 
came further  alarmed,  and  tremulously  suggested  to  the  prisoner  that 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  213 

lie  feared  trouble  ahead.  Mr.  Cross  reassured  him  that  his  courage 
did  not  waver,  as  he  had  a  good  team,  and  could  give  anyone  with 
mischievous  intent  a  lively  chase,  but  added  suggestively — "If  you 
feel  there  is  danger  of  not  getting  through  with  a  whole  skin,"  per- 
haps you  had  better  lie  down  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon-box,  and  I 
will  throw  this  buffalo  robe  over  you,  so  that  you  will  be  entirely  un- 
observed, and  I  will  in  the  meantime  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  foes." 
The  courageous  (?)  official  at  once  profited  by  the  prisoner's  hint  and 
deposited  his  heroic  form  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon,  assuming  the 
shape  of  a  flounder  as  nearly  as  possible,  when  the  robe  was  thrown 
over  him,  completely  obscuring  him  from  view.  The  road  over  which 
they  had  to  travel  for  the  next  two  miles  was  of  that  antique  con- 
struction known  as  "corduroy.''  Mr.  Cross  at  once  began  to  apply 
the  whip,  and  anon  loudly  saluted  imaginary  equestrians  with  a 
"Good  morning!"  "How  do  you  do?"  "Fine  morning!"  etc.,  etc., 
not  failing  in  the  intervals  to  tell  the  poor,  quivering  official,  who 
was  writhing  under  the  double  torture  of  fear  and  a  free  dose  of 
"  corduroy,"  to  lie  flat  and  keep  quiet,  at  the  same  time  urging  for- 
ward the  horses  to  a  still  more  lively  speed.  When  Rev.  Cross,  who 
was  evidently  a  practical  joker,  had  punished  the  deputy  to  his  satis- 
faction, he  halted  and  informed  his  tortured  passenger  that  he  thought 
the  danger  now  passed,  and  they  could  proceed  more  leisurely  without 
fear  of  interruption.  They  drove  on  to  Galesburg,  and  Mr.  Cross  at 
once  notified  the  court  that  he  had  brought  the  prisoner,  and  deliv- 
ered himself  up. 

The  prisoner  expected  to  have  George  W.  Collins  as  attorney,  but 
he  did  not  come.  Persons  were  ready  to  bail  him.  Mr.  Cross  under- 
took his  own  defense,  saying  "his  attorney  had  failed  to  appear;  and 
although  'tis  said  that  'he  who  undertakes  to  defend  his  own  cause 
has  a  fool  for  a  client,'  he  was  forced  to  that  resort,"  and  signified  his 
readiness  to  proceed  to  trial.  This  was  an  unexpected  attack  upon 
the  State's  attorney,  and  he  was  compelled  to  enter  the  plea  that  he 
was  not  ready  for  trial,  for  want  of  witnesses.  The  defense  entered  a 
nolle  prosequi,  which  ended  the  case,  somewhat  ingloriously  to  the 
participants  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution. 

REV.    JOHN    CROSS   AGAIN. 

The  following  was  written  by  Jacob  Kightlinger,  an  old  settler  of 
Knox  county,  who  now  resides  at  Yates  City.  It  has  reference  to 
the  reverend  gentleman  of  the  previous  story,  and  is  the  "  other  side" 
of  Underground  Railroad  life.  It  shows  Mr.  Cross  to  have  been  a 
persistent  worker  and  an  active  member  of  this  humane  railroad,  the 
best  ever  conducted  on  the  continent. 


214:  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

About  the  year  1839  or  1840,  Rev.  Mr.  John  Cross  came  into  the 
township  of  Elba,  Knox  county.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  preacher, 
and  an  abolitionist  at  that.  He  told  me  to  come  and  hear  him  preach, 
and  the  next  Sunday  I  took  my  wife  and  family,  and  went,  and  he 
preached  a  very  good  sermon.  I 'had  no  objections  to  his  preaching. 
After  the  services  we  started  for  home.  We  got  into  the  wagon,  and 
seeing  that  Mr.  Cross  was  afoot,  I  said,  "  Mr.  Cross,  you  'can  ride  in 
my  wagon  if  you  choose."  So  he  got  in,  and  we  started.  Yery  soon 
he  commenced  running  down  the  laws  of  Illinois,  saying  they  were 
black,  and  he  would  not  obey  them.  He  said  he  would  harbor,  feed, 
and  convey  off  negroes  in  defiance  of  the  black  laws  of  Illinois.  I 
then  said,  "  Mr.  Cross,  do  not  let  me  see  you  violate  the  law." 
"Why,  sir,  what  would  you  do?"  "  I  would  take  you  up  for  violat- 
ing the  law."  "  That,  sir,  is  just  what  I  want  to  find.  Some  one  that 
has  the  fortitude  to  take  me  up." 

So  that  week  a  load  of  negroes  passed  my  house,  and  was  conveyed 
to  Mr.  Cross'  house  by  a  man  named  Wilson.  I,  with  five  or  six 
neighbors,  went  after  Wilson,  and  we  met  him  coming  back  empty. 
I  asked  him  where  his  negroes  were.  He  would  not  tell;  so  we  went 
to  Mr.  Cross'  house,  and  found  the  negroes  in  a  lot  of  corn.  We  took 
the  negroes  to  Mr.  Palmer,  the  constable,  and  told  him  to  give  them 
a  good  dinner,  and  I  said  I  would  pay  for  it.  Mrs.  Cross  had  dinner 
cooking  for  them.  It  was  corn  in  the 'ear  and  potatoes  with  the  skins 
on,  all  boiling  together  in  one  pot.  I  said  they  should  have  a  better 
dinner  than  that,  for  I  fed  my  hogs  in  that  way,  on  that  kind  of  feed. 

Mr.  Cross  had  gone  down  South  after  some  negroes  that  day,  and 
he  was  afraid  that  I  would  take  the  negroes  from  him;  so  he  sent  a 
spy  to  my  house — a  Mr.  Thomas,  of  Farmington.  He  came  to  my 
house  about  midnight,  and  wanted  to  know  the  way  to  Spoon  river 
bridge,  about  five  miles  oft".  Said  I,  "  You  appear  to  be  in  a  hurry." 
"Yes,"  said  he.  "Well,  sir,  what  is  your  business?"  He  said  he 
did  not  tell  his  business  .to  every  person.  "Well,  sir,  you  will  tell  it 
to  me,  or  you  shall  not  leave  here  to-night,"  and  I  picked  up  my  rifle. 
I  saw  he  got  some  scared,  and  then  he  was  ready  to  tell  me  his  busi- 
ness. He  said  he  was^in  search  of  some  negroes.  I  said,  "  Have  you 
lost  some  negroes?"  "Yes."  "Can  you  describe  them?"  "Yes." 
"  Well,  go  at  it."  He  commenced,  and  described  them  perfectly. 
Said  I,  "  Do  you  own  those  negroes?"  He  said  he  had  an  interest  in 
them,  so  I  took  him  to  be  the  owner  of  said  negroes.  I  said,  "  I  will 
put  your  horse  up,  and  in  the  morning  I  will  tell  you  where  your 
negroes  are."  I  set  my  rifle  up  and  walked  out,  and  I  heard  a  wagon 
down  at  the  bridge.  Said  I,  "Do  you  know  what  wagon  that  is?" 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  215 

He  said  it  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cross.  "  Ho,  ho!  you  are  a  spy  and  an 
infernal  scoundrel!"  cried  I.  He  jumped  on  his  horse,  and  went  to 
Mr.  Cross,  and  told  him  that  I  would  take  his  new  load  of  negroes 
from  him.  So  Mr.  Cross  put  the  negroes  in  Wilson's  wagon,  and  he 
drove  up  empty.  Another  man  and  1  were  mounted  on  horses  at  my 
gate,  when  Mr.  Cross  drove  up.  I  called  three  times,  "  Is  that  you, 
Mr.  Cross?"  But  instead  of  answering,  he  put  whip  to  his  horses, 
and  they  ran,  and  I  after  them  about  a  mile  and  a  half.  I  called  to  a 
man  that  lived  there,  named  McLaughlin,  to  stop  Cross.  I  said, 
"Shoot  the  horses  if  he  won't  stop,  for  he  has  stolen  something,"  but 
he  did  not  shoot.  There  was  another  man  further  on,  however,  who 
with  a  pole  struck  down  both  horses. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Cross  went  to  Galesburg  and  swore  out  a  warrant 
against  me,  and  I  went  to  Galesburg  before  an  abolition  squire,  and 
he  fined  me  $100.  I  then  took  an  appeal  to  the  Circuit  Court.  "When 
all  the  evidence  was  given  in,  the  judge  (Douglas)  threw  it  out  of 
court — no  cause  for  action.  I  then  went  into  the  grand  jury  room, 
sent  for  witnesses,  and  Cross  was  indicted,  and  three  bills  found 
against  him  for  stealing  negroes.  He  was  put  in  jail.  Afterwards 
the  abolitionists  of  Galesburg  bailed  him  out.  This  is  all  true. 

JACOB  KlGHTLINGER. 

YATES  CITY.  -* 


216  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RAILROADS. 

The  difficulty  of  reaching  market  in  early  day,  and  the  loog  time  it 
required  for  the  pioneers  to  "get  out  of  the  wilderness  "  into  that  re- 
gion of  civilization  where  railroads  and  a  thousand  other  public  con- 
veniences were  omnipresent,  need  not  be  illustrated  here,  as  it  is  suffi- 
ciently dwelt  upon  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  simple  fact  that 
the  early  settlers  of  Knox  county  belonged  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race 
fully  accounts  for  their  rising  up  betimes,  equally  with  the  civilized 
people  of  the  East  or  elsewhere.  Accordingly  they  were  among  the 
first  in  the  State  to  make  efforts  for  the  construction  of  a  road  toward 
that  region  of  the  world  whence  they  emigrated.  While  "paper" 
railroads  were  spread  all  over  the  rest  of  the  State,  leaving  Knox 
county,  the  "  garden  of  the  West,"  out  in  the  cold,  the  people  here 
began  to  act  as  if  they  depended  upon  themselves,  and  thus  they  really 
got  ahead  of  most  of  her  sister  counties,  which  depended  more  or  less 
upon  the  promised  aid  of  the  "paper  schemes."  Here  was  a  grand 
illustration  of  the  moral  in  the  fable  of  the  "  Farmer  and  the  Lark," 
in  our  school  readers. 

The  Legislature  in  1836  and  '37  enacted  a  system  of  internal  im- 
provement without  a  parallel  in  the  grandeur  of  its  conception.  They 
ordered  the  construction  of  1,300  miles  of  railroad,  crossing  the  State 
in  air  directions.  There  were  a  few  counties  not  touched  by  rail- 
road, river  or  canal,  and  those  were  comforted  and  compensated  by 
the  free  'distribution  of  $200,000  among  them.  Knox  county  was 
among  the  favored  few  who  received  the  money  instead  of  the  "  paper" 
railroad.  William  McMurtry  was  in  the  Legislature  at  the  time  and 
preferred  the  former  to  the  railroad. 

To  carry  these  stupendous  improvements  into  effect,  it  was  ordered 
that  work  should  be  commenced  on  both  ends  of  each  of  the  railroads 
and  rivers,  and  at  each  river  crossing,  all  at  the  same  time. 

The  appropriations  for  these  vast  improvements  were  over  $12,000,- 
000.  All  this  was  done  in  the  incipiency  of  railroading,  and  while  the 
State  had  whole  counties  with  scarcely  a  cabin,  and  its  population 
was  less  than  400,000. 

February  12,  1849,  the  Legislature  granted  a  charter  to  the  "Peoria 
and  Oquawka  Railroad  CompanjV  making  the  capital  stock  $500,000 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  217 

and  the  shares  $100  each.  A  certain  amount  of  the  stock  had  to  be 
subscribed  by  the  12th  of  February  following  before  grading  could 
commence,  and  other  conditions  were  imposed  which  were  soon 
after  found  to  be  burdensome,  and  were  modified  by  the  next  Legisla- 
ture. The  affairs  of  the  corporation  were  to  be  managed  by  a  board 
of  nine  directors,  to  be  chosen  annually  by  the  stockholders  from 
among  themselves.  The  following  persons  were  named  as  commis- 
sioners for  receiving  subscriptions  to  the  stock  :  Samuel  B.  Ander- 
son, James  Kriox,  and  Daniel  Meek  of  Knox  county;  Alex.  Turnbull, 
James  W.  Davidson,  and  Wyatt  B.  Stapp  of  Warren  county  ;  Pres- 
ton W.  Martin,  John  McKinney  and  Robert  M.  Patterson  of  Hender- 
son county ;  and  William  S.  Maus,  Alfred  G.  Curtenius  and  Isaac 
Underbill  of  Peoria  county. 

The  first  railroad  meeting  in  the  county  of  which  we  have  any  ac- 
count was  held  at  the  court-house  in  Knoxville,  (September  9,  1849,  a 
short  report  of  which  is  given  in  the  first  number  of  the  Knoxville 
Journal.  John  Johnston  was  chairman  and  John  G.  Sanburn  seere-, 
tary.  Hon.  John  Denny,  Senator  from  this  district,  made  a  speech  in 
favor  of  the  railroad  ;  but  the  main  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  pro- 
vide for  an  assembling  of  all  the  citizens  in  the  county  at  the  court- 
house in  the  evening  of  October  9.  When  the  time  arrived  a  large 
and  enthusiastic  audience  was  present.  The  same  officers  acted  as  at 
the  preliminary  meeting,  R.  S.  Blackwell  spoke  in  favor  of  general 
corporation  laws  as  being  preferable  to  special  laws,  and  Mr.  Denny 
spoke  again  in  favor  of  the  feasibility  of  the  enterprise  as  contemplated 
by  the  charter.  Hon.  James  Knox  also  spoke  eloquently  in  favor  of 
the  same.  A  motion  was  made  and  carried  in  favor  of  the  principle 
of  voluntary  taxation  for  funds  to  prosecute  the  work.  The  probable 
cost  of  construction  was  estimated  at  $500,000  to  $750,000.  This 
fact  illustrates  the  general  impression  in  regard  to  the  cost  of  construct- 
ing a  railroad  :  the  company  spent  all  their  money  and  all  .that  their 
credit  could  raise  in  building  the  road  from  Burlington  to  Young 
America,  leaving  the  longest  part,  from  Young  America  to  Peoria,  yet 
to  be  built,  and  no  money  left  either  to  build  farther  or  equip  the 
road  already  constructed.  The  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  rail- 
road, when  fully  completed  and  equipped,  was  found  to  cost  $48,000 
per  mile,  while  the  original  estimate  was  only  $10,000  per  mile,  as 
made  by  our  own  people,  who  of  course  were  not  accustomed  to  rail- 
road building.  A  resolution  was  adopted  requesting  the  commission- 
ers in  this  county  to  correspond  with  the  others  with  a  view  to  con- 
certed action. 

This  meeting  was  followed  by  others  throughout  the  county,  and 


218  HISTORY    OF    KXOX    COUNTY. 

the  people  generally  became  very  enthusiastic.  Mr.  John  S.  Winter 
used  the  influence  of  his  paper,  the  Knoxville  Journal,  in  an  intel- 
ligent and  zealous  manner  for  the  interest  of  the  cause.  Scarcely  a 
number  was  published  without  a  lengthy  and  ably  written  editorial 
upon  the  subject.  He  excelled  in  the  art  of  pouring  oil  upon  troubled 
waters.  The  only  opposition  to  the  road  at  this  time  was  at  Mon- 
mouth,  where  the  citizens  were  interested  in  another  route,  namely, 
from  Quincy  to  Rockford. 

The  first  meeting  at  Galesburg  was  held  November  29,  1849,  when 
Mr.  Knox  and  several  residents  of  the  place  spoke  for  the  road.  Rev. 
G.  W.  Gale  took  an  active  part  in  stirring  up  the  people  to  action  in 
the  enterprise.  At  the  request  of  the  Peorians  a  rousing  convention 
was  held  at  Knoxville  December  20,  Norman  H.  Purple,  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  presiding.  Committees  were  appointed  to  collect  sta- 
tistics relative  to  the  cost  of  railroad  construction,  and  a  resolution 
was  adopted  requesting  the  commissioners  to  open  the  subscription 
books,  etc.  Several  very  eloquent  addresses  were  delivered.  Not  a 
word  of  opposition  was  spoken,  and  the  proceedings  of  this  conven- 
tion were  ratified  by  meetings  of  citizens  all  along  the  route. 

About  this  time  a  Michigan  man  came  to  Knoxville,  and  convinced 
some  people  that  a  wooden  railroad  was  about  as  good  as  an  iron  one, 
and  being  much  cheaper  it  was  far  preferable! 

At  this  stage  of  the  development  of  the  country,  Knoxville  did 
not  feel  herself  large  enough  to  be  jealous  of  Peoria,  for  one  of  her 
arguments  in  favor  of  building  the  road  was,  it  would  build  up  Peoria 
and  thus  bring  manufactories  nearer  home. 

While  the  defects  of  the  charter  were  causing  the  enterprise  to  drag, 
Peoria  organized  a  new  company,  under  a  charter  which  had  formerly 
been  granted  to  one  Andrew  Gray,  to  build  and  operate  at  least  ten 
miles  of  road  in  a  westerly  direction  from  Peoria,  and  finally  go 
through  Farmingtoii  and  thence  direct  to  Burlington,  leaving  Knox- 
ville and  Galesburg  to  the  north.  It  was  called  the  "Peoria  &  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad  Company."  The  citizens  of  Knoxville  and  vicinity 
favored  even  this  road  rather  than  have  no  railroad  in  the  county  at 
all;  but  February  10,  1851,  the  defects  of  the  charter  of  the  Peoria 
&  Oquawka  Company  were  remedied  by  the  Legislature,  permission 
being  given  to  commence  work  with  a  less  amount  of  stock  paid  in, 
the  road  to  run  through  Knoxville  and  Monmouth,  with  Galesburg 
left  to  the  north  again — by  three  miles  this  time.  Therefore,  only 
five  days  subsequently,  the  "  Central  Military  Tract  Railroad  Com- 
pany" was  organized  under  the  general  law,  at  Galesburg,  with  the 
following  members :  Lieutenant  Governor  William  McMurtry,  0.  S. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  221 

Colton,  James  Bnnce,  George  C.  Lanpliere,  W.  S.  Gale,  Alfred  Brown, 
Silas  Willard,  A.  C.  Wiley,  Edwin  G.  Ellet,  Edward  Hollister,  Syl- 
vester  Blish,   Barney  M.   Jackson,  Myrtle  G.  Brace,  and  William 
Maxwell.     Mr.  Lanphere,  being  the  only  Democrat  in   the  ring,  was 
sent  to  the  Legislature.     He  was  instructed  either  to  secure  a  change 
in  the  line  of  the  Peoria  &  Oqnawka  Railroad  so  as  to  make  Gales- 
burg  a  station,  or  else  to  secure  permission  to  organize  a  company 
under  the  general  railroad  law,  to  construct  a  railroad  from  Gales- 
burg  to  some  point  on  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Railroad;  which 
last  was  obtained,  the  former  proposition  having  been  refused;  but 
June  19,  1852,  the  charter  was  so  amended  as  to  give  them  the  right 
to  connect  with  any  railroad  leading  directly  or  indirectly  to  Chicago. 
Sheffield  was  the  point  they  first  thought  of  aiming  for,  and  contracts 
were  let  in  1851-2  for  building  the  road  to  that  place;  but  subse- 
quently they  determined  to  meet  the  Chicago  &   Aurora   road  at 
Mendota.     This  change  was  caused  by  the  following  circumstances: 
While  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  road  was  being  slowly  worked  up  by 
local  subscription  alone,  Mr.  C.  S.  Colton  chanced  to  meet  United 
States  Senator  J.  W.  Grimes,  of   Burlington,  Iowa,  in  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  Mr.  Wadsworth,  of  Chicago,  President  of  the  Chicago 
&  Aurora  Railroad,  a  branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Galena  Railroad;  and 
after  consultation  they  concluded  that  an  independent  route  direct  to 
Chicago  was  the  most  feasible.     Soon  after  this  James  W.  Brooks, 
President  of  the  Michigan  Central  R.  R.  Co.,  and  James  F.  Joy,  both 
of  Detroit,  Mich.,  interested  themselves  in  the  Central  Military  Tract 
road.     They  proposed  that  if  the  people  along  the  route  from  Gales- 
burg   to    Mendota   would    subscribe   $300,000,    they   would   furnish 
enough  more  to  complete  the  grading  of  the  road  and  laying  of  the 
ties;  and  when  that  was  done  they  could  borrow  money  on  the  bonds 
of  the  enterprise  to  complete  the  road  and  set  it  in  operation. 

The  company  organized  under  the  general  law  attempted  to  secure 
the  construction  of  the  road  and  to  obtain  subscriptions  therefor; 
but  after  two  years'  fruitless  efforts  to  raise  money  for  a  railroad 
whose  rates  for  fares  and  freights  should  be  subject  to  legislative 
action,  they  found  it  impossible,  for  the  reason  that  Eastern  capital- 
ists would  not  invest  their  money  in  a  railroad  organized  under  the 
State  law  then  existing,  which  gave  the  Legislature  the  control  over 
the  rates  to  be  charged  for  transportation  of  passengers  and  freight. 
This  was  made  the  special  and  distinct  issue  at  the  time.  So,  after 
two  years'  efforts  and  no  success  in  their  undertaking,  the  enterprise 
was  abandoned,  and  a  meeting  was  called  at  the  office  of  W.  Selden  Gale 
(the  "  Intelligencer ''  office),  and  that  gentleman  drafted  a  special 


222  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

charter  (copied  principally  from  the  charter  of  the  Illinois  Central  R. 
R.),  which  obviated  the  objection  above  referred  to  in  regard  to  fix- 
ing rates  by  the  Legislature.  This  charter  gave  the  company  entire 
control  over  their  property,  the  same  as  any  other  personal  property, 
with  full  powers  to  fix  rates  of  transportation.  Mr.  0.  S.  Colton  was 
delegated  to  visit  Springfield  and  to  secure  the  passage  of  this  special 
charter  through  the  Legislature,  which  he  did;  and  this  same  charter 
was  the  foundation  of  the  0.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  which  is  to-day  the  pride 
of  this  county  and  State;  the  credit  of  whose  successful  initiation,  con- 
struction and  development  belongs  to  Knox  county  and  to  its  intel- 
ligent and  enterprising  citizens. 

One  of  the  first  meetings  held  in  Galesburg,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  stock,  was  at  the  old  Academy  building,  when  the  first  three 
subscribers  were  Dr.  James  Bunce,  James  Bull  and  Henry  Ferris. 
Dr.  Bunce  is  dead,  Mr.  Bull  never  paid  his  subscription,  and  Mr. 
Ferris  is  therefore  the  oldest  stockholder  now  in  Galesburg. 

After  several  months'  canvassing  for  subscriptions  to  the  new  com- 
pany of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  for  the  $300,000  required  as  a  guar- 
anty for  the  construction  of  the  road,  it  was  found  that  there  still 
remained  $50,000  to  be  raised.  At  this  juncture  Messrs.  Joy  and 
Brooks  came  to  Galesburg  and  gave  notice  that  they  would  not 
promise  a  further  extension  of  time  on  behalf  of  their  principals,  who 
had  agreed  to  build  thei  road  when  $300,000  was  subscribed  on 
the  line  of  the  road.  It  was  a  vital  question  to  be  settled;  for 
$50,000  must  be  raised  to  complete  this  subscription,  or  the  whole 
enterprise  be  abandoned,  and  all  the  work  of  two  years  lost.  Every 
precinct  had  been  canvassed,  and  meetings  held  in  every  school-house 
to  arouse  the  citizens  along  the  proposed  line  to  subscribe.  In  some 
instances  only  a  single  share  would  be  subscribed,  after  an  evening's 
presentation  of  the  importance  of  the  enterprise.  This  was  the  position 
of  matters  when  it  was  found  that  the  final  $50,000  was  lacking,  and  no 
hope  left  of  raising  another  dollar.  In  this  last  and  greatest  emergency, 
C.S.  Colton  and  Silas  "Willard,  who  had  been  the  principal  promoters  of 
the  enterprise,  consulted  together  and  finally  determined  to  risk 
everything  on  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  These  two  gentlemen 
subscribed  each  for  half  of  the  $50,000,  and  thereby  bound  all  the 
other  subscriptions,  and  bound  also  the  Eastern  capitalists  to  their 
contract  for  building  the  road.  The  subscription  of  the  final  $50,000 
proved  to  be  even  more  burdensome  than  these  gentlemen  anticipated, 
as  they  were  compelled  to  borrow  the  entire  amount  at  ten  per  cent, 
interest;  all  of  their  own  means  being  fully  occupied  in  their  busi- 
ness. For  several  years  they  paid  this  interest  on  their  $50,000  sub- 
scription before  the  road  paid  a  cent  of  dividend. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  223 

February  1,  1851,  the  Legislature  granted  the  Northern  Cross  R. 
K.  Co.  power  to  build  a  branch  from  some  point  on  their  road  in  Adams 
county  (now  Camp  Point)  to  the  most  eligible  point  at  or  near  the 
southern  termination  of  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  canal,  provided  they 
would  not  run  east  of  Knoxville.  June  21,  1852,  they  were  further 
authorized  to  terminate  this  branch  at  any  point  connecting  with  any 
railroad  extending  northward  to  Chicago. 

In  1852  a  survey  was  made  from  Galesburg  to  Mendota,  by  Chief 
Engineer  W.  P.  Whittle,  assisted  by  B.  B.  Wentworth  and  Prof. 
George  Churchill ;  and  C.  M.  Carr  of  Galesburg  was  put  into  the  field 
as  agent  to  wake  up  the  people.  The  road  at  first  had  been  surveyed 
through  Henderson,  but  afterwards  it  was  thrown  four  miles  to  the 
east,  to  make  it  straight  and  to  avoid  the  breaks  of  Henderson  creek. 
Henderson  of  course  did  not  like  this,  and  Dr.  Bunce  waggishly  con- 
soled them  by  suggesting  that  some  one  could  take  a  yoke  of  stags 
and  draw  Henderson  out  to  the  road,  to  the  point  since  called  Wataga. 

Keithsburg  tried  to  get  a  branch  from  their  place  to  connect  with 
the  Central  Military  Tract  at  Henderson.  Meetings  were  held  along 
the  route,  but'  the  project  was  soon  utterly  abandoned.  In  1853  a 
railroad  from  Wataga  through  Henderson  to  Keithsburg  was  chartered 
by  the  Legislature  as  a  section  of  the  Northern  Cross  road,  but  two 
years  afterward  this  provision  of  the  charter  was  repealed. 

By  the  year  1852  Knoxville  was  fighting  Galesburg  and  tried  to  get 
the  Northern  Cross  road  to  come  to  that  place.  Throughout  1851-2 
the  people  between  Peoria  and  Burlington  were  feverishly  waiting  for 
their  road  to  go  ahead,  and  wondering  what  was  the  matter.  The  ter- 
minal cities,  by  a  corporation  vote,  subscribed  each  $75,000  stock. 
Burlington  got  ahead  of  Oquawka,  and  then  Henderson  county  re- 
fused by  100  majority  to  take  any  stock  in^the  road.  June  20,  1851, 
the  P.  &  O.  stockholders  met  at  Knoxville,  after  due  notice  given  by 
the  commissioners,  and  elected  their  first  board  of -directors,  namely, 
Charles  Mason  and  J.  W.  Grimes  of  Burlington,  Abner  C.  Harding  and 
Samuel  Webster  of  Monmouth,  James  Knox  and  Julius  Manning  of 
Knoxville,  Asa  D.  Reed  of  Farmington,  Rudolphus  Rouse  and  Wash- 
ington Cockle  of  Peoria,  to  serve  one  year.  Mr.  Knox  was  elected 
president,  Robert  L.  Hannaman  secretary,  and  William  Phelps  of 
Peoria  treasurer.  The  first  contract  for  grading  was  let  in  October, 
1851,  at  the  Peoria  end.  Soon  afterwards  the  following  enthusiastic 
telegram  was  sent  to  Burlington: 

"  Peoria,  Oct.  13,  1851. 
The  ceremony  of  breaking  ground  at  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  Burlington  and 


224:  HISTORY    OF    K3STOX   COUNTY. 

Peoria  railroad  was  commenced  to-day  by  the  persuasive  eloquence  of  the  country- 
men of  Emmet,  forty  of  whom  are  using  their  power  in  the  shape  of  spades,  picks 
and  barrows,  the  only  species  of  influence  which  have  hitherto  succeeded  in  building 
railroads." 

In  December  of  this  year  the  citizens  of  Oquawka  subscribed  about 
$40.000  stock.  June  7,  1852,  Charles  Mason  was  elected  president. 
A  few  days  previously  he  had  bought  the  first  two  locomotives  and 
some  cars  for  road  construction. 

After  a  long  negotiation  between  the  managers  of  the  Central  Mil- 
itary Tract  R.  R.  and  the  Northern  Cross  road  (Quincy  being  the 
initial  point),  carried  on  by  C.  S.  Colton  on  the  part  of  the  former 
and  Hon.  N.  Bushnell  for  the  latter,  a  junction  of  the  two  roads  was 
made  at  Galesburg,  which  was  subsequently  ratified  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature.  In  August  the  Northern  Cross  company  agreed  to  meet 
the  Central  Military  Tract  at  Galesburg. 

June  15,  1853,  R.  Rouse  was  chosen  president  of  the  P.  &  O.  Co., 
"W.  Cockle  secretary,  J.  P.  Hotchkiss  treasurer,  and  Julius  Manning 
attorney;  and  the  board  accepted  the  amendment  of  the  charter  rela- 
tive to  the  "Eastern  Extension"  from  Peoria.  By  September  of  this 
year  all  parts  of  the  P.  &  O.  road  were  under  contract.  Burlington 
organized  for  a  western  extension  to  the  Missouri  river. 

October  14,  1852,  the  C.  M.  T.  Company  increased  their  stock  from 
$100,000  to  $600,000,  and  elected  the  following  thirteen  directors:  J. 
"W.  Brooks,  Henry  Ledyard,  J.  F.  Joy  and  G.  V.  N.  Lothrop,  of  De- 
troit; I.  H.  Burch,  C.  G.  Hammond  and  John  H.  Kinzie,  of  Chicago; 
Chauncey  S.  Colton,  W .  Selden  Gale,  James  Bunce  and  Silas  Willard, 
of  Galesburg;  William  McMurtry,  of  Henderson;  and  John  H.  Bryant, 
of  Princeton.  They  elected  Mr.  Brooks  president,  J.  M.  Berrien 
chief  engineer,  and  David  Sanborn,  of  Galesburg,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  engineer's  and  treasurer's  offices  were  to  be  at  Galesburg, 
and  the  stock  to  be  called  in  the  rate  of  five  per  cent,  a  month. 
"Work  went  ahead.  September  11,  1854,  the  cars  reached  Princeton, 
and  December  7  the  first  locomotive  engine,  the  "  Reindeer,"  moved 
into  Galesburg,  with  a  construction  train.  Exorbitant  rents  at  Gales- 
burg soon  caused  the  treasurer's  office  to  be  removed  to  Chicago. 

When  the  eastern  end  of  the  P.  &  O.  road  was  completed  to  Elm- 
wood  and  the  western  end  to  Monmouth,  work  ceased.  George  C. 
Bestor,  of  Peoria,  was  president,  Henry  Nollte  secretary,  and  J.  P. 
Hotchkiss  treasurer.  For  some  time  the  officers  failed  to  report  to 
the  public,  and  dissatisfaction  among  the  people  was  thereby  engen- 
dered; and  when  in  July,  1854,  they  called  for  the  balance  of  the 


HISTOKY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  225 

stock,  the  subscribers  were  suspicious  that  all  was  not  right.  William 
S.  Mans,  of  Peoria,  James  Knox,  of  Knoxville,  and  A.  0.  Harding, 
of  Momnouth,  contracted  to  finish  the  road  between  the  above-men- 
tioned points,  but,  being  unable  to  fulfil  their  contract,  they  soon  sold 
out  to  the  C.  M.  T.  company,  the  latter  agreeing  to  complete,  equip 
and  operate  the  road. 

The  road  from  Burlington  to  Peoria  was  not  completed  until  some 
time  in  1856;  and  about  this  time  the  Chicago  &  Aurora,  the  North- 
ern Cross,  the  Central  Military  Tract,  and  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  Cos. 
were  all  consolidated  under  the  "  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road Company,"  and  this  name,  finally  adopted  by  the  company,  was 
derived  from  the  names  of  the  terminal  points  of  the  road  at  the  time 
of  the  consolidation  of  the  three  lines  that  have  been  mentioned.  J. 
"W.  Brooks  was  elected  president  of  the  road.  Since  the  organization 
of  this  corporation  the  Galesburg  division,  which  is  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  road,  has  been  under  the  immediate  supervision  of 
Henry  Hitchcock,  who  by  his  efficient  labors  has  kept  his  division 
second  to  none. 

In  all  this  railroad  construction  the  county  of  Knox  has  never  been 
called  upon  in  its  corporate  capacity  to  render  aid,  nor  indeed  any  city 
or  township  therein. 

A  few  years  ago  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Company  bought  the  Rockford, 
Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad  under  foreclosure  of  mortgage,  for 
$1,600,000.  It  is  said  that  that  road  cost  $11,000,000,  and  bondhold- 
ers in  Germany  are  the  losers  of  about  six-sevenths  of  their  invest- 
ment. The  road  has  a  few  miles  of  track  in  the  northwestern  portion 
of  the  county,  and  the  Peoria  &  Rock  Island  railroad  has  two  miles  of 
track  across  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  county. 

The  expenditures  in  the  shop  department,  on  the  depot  grounds, 
etc.,  for  the  year  ending  April  30,  1866,  amounted  to  $347,543.31 ; 
1878,  about  $375.000. 

Besides  this,  from  $30,000  to  $50,000  a  year  is  paid  out  in  Gales- 
burg  for  miscellaneous  jobs.  About  $50,000  a  month  is  now  paid 
out  in  Galesburg  alone  on  the  railroad  account. 

The  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  now  has  in  this  State  136  conductors,  44 
engineers,  244  brakemen,  175  flagmen,  158  station  agents, — 4,969  in 
all;  186  locomotives,  116  passenger  cars,  4,271  box  cars,  1,786  other 
cars, — 6,173  in  all;  and  824  miles  of  track;  which  is  more  than  any 
other  road  has  in  this  State.  Assessed  valuation  of  property,  $9,432,- 
489;  gross  receipts  in  1877,  $11,524,562;  ordinary  expenses,  $6,567,- 
866;  net  earnings,  $4,956,696.  Accidents  in  1877:  passengers  killed, 
1;  employes  killed,  15;  others  killed,  20;  damages  paid  for  stock  $17,- 


226  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

654;  damages  paid  for  property  destroyed  by  fire,  $13,250.  Number 
of  passengers  carried,  2,065,143;  number  of  passengers  carried  one 
mile,  93,306,293;  average  distance  traveled  by  each  passenger,  45 
miles;  number  of  tons  of  freight  carried,  2,660,023. 

As  one  successful  enterprise  begets  others,  the  success  of  the  0.,  B. 
&  Q.  R.  R.  has  incited  other  railroad  enterprises  having  Galesburg 
for  a  point.  As  early  as  1857  charters  were  obtained  for  the  Gales- 
burg  &  Rock  Island  and  the  Galesburg  &  Muscatine  railroads.  To 
the  former  of  these  the  city  of  Galesburg  pledged  $30,000.  In  1870 
the  Court  Creek  R.  R.  Co.  was  chartered  and  preliminary  surveys 
were  made,  and  the  city,  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  offered  for  its 
construction  $100,000.  In  the  winter  of  1875-6  the  Keokuk,  Gales- 
burg &  Chicago  Narrow-Gauge  Railway  Company  was  organized;  a 
preliminary  survey  was  made,  and  pledges  to  the  amount  of  about 
$75,000  given  in  Galesburg  for  its  construction,  the  money  to  be  re- 
paid in  transportation  when  the  road  was  built. 

The  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company  has  always 
kept  a  better  road  than  perhaps  any  other  company  west.  The  road- 
bed is  about  perfect,  the  track  smooth  and  firm,  and  the  rolling  stock 
of  the  first  class.  The  passenger  coaches  have  always  been  elegantly 
furnished,  and  the  trains  run  closely  to  time.  A  double  track  now 
extends  from  Chicago  nearly  to  Princeton,  and  probably  will  soon  be 
completed  through  to  Galesburg.  One  from  Galesburg  to  Center 
Point  is  already  built.  The  company  has  control  also  of  the  Burlington 
&  Missouri  River  R.  R.  as  far  west  as  Kearney  Junction,  Nebraska. 

In  the  personnel  of  road  service  the  company  has  also  kept  ahead  of 
other  roads, — agents  and  conductors  obliging,  engineers  faithful,  and 
brakernen  prompt.  The  superintendents  have  also  been  scrupulous 
and  exact,  training  the  men  under  them  to  such  habits  as  commend 
them  to  good  situations  here  or  elsewhere. 

Henry  Hitchcock  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Galesburg  divis- 
ion and  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Galesburg  for  about  20  years.  He  is 
a  man  of  few  words,  and  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  the 
employees  on  his  division.  He  stands  high  as  a  citizen,  and  his  long 
service  for  such  a  corporation  as  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  is  a  sufficient  testi- 
monial to  his  competency  and  integrity. 

J.  T.  Clarke,  formerly  Road-master,  and  S.  T.  Shankland,  Assist- 
ant Road-master,  are  now  division  superintendents  on  the  Union 
Pacific  R.  R.  A.  N.  Towne  worked  his  way  up  on  the  C.,  B.  &  Q. 
road  from  brakeman  to  Assistant  Superintendent  and  he  is  now  Gen- 
eral Superintendent  of  the  Central  Pacific.  These  men  are  proofs  of 
the  good  training  given  by  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Company. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  227 


CHAPTER  X. 
CRIMINAL  RECORD. 

FIRST    MURDER. 

The  first  murder  committed  among  the  white  settlers  of  Knox 
county  was  under  the  following  circumstances: 

In  the  winter  of  1837  Dr.  Valentine  T.  Dalton,  of  Knoxville,  while 
he  was  the  family  physician  of  Mr.  Rude,  of  the  same  place,  took  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Rude's,  Hester  Ann,  out  riding  with  him  in  a  cutter 
one  evening.  His  conversation  became  rather  insolent,  and  while  he 
was  tying  his  horse  she  escaped  to  a  cabin  near  by  and  concealed  her- 
self. The  doctor  was  subsequently  arrested  and  he  gave  security  for 
his  appearance  at  court  the  ensuing  spring;  but  before  the  session  of 
the  court,  one  beautiful  spring  day  about  12  o'clock,  while  Hester 
Ann  and  her  brother  Silas  were  alone  at  their  home,  and  Dr.  Dalton 
was  standing  in  the  street  with  his  back  toward  the  house,  talking 
with  Sheriff  Osborn,  he  was  shot  by  a  gun  from  a  window,  and  ex- 
pired in  about  20  minutes.  Silas  and  Hester  Ann  were  arrested  and 
committed  to  jail.  Judge  R.  L.  Hannaman,  then  master  in  chancery, 
sent  Hester  Ann,  under  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to  the  nearest  circuit 
judge,  who  was  at  Springfield,  and  she  was  released.  But  Silas,  be- 
fore he  was  tried,  was  let  out  of  jail  one  night,  some  one  outside 
using  a  crow-bar  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  through.  He  went  to 
Kentucky,  married  there,  and  after  a  number  of  years  returned  to 
Knox  county;  but  in  a  short  time  he  removed  to  Southern  Iowa, 
where,  as  is  reported,  he  became  a  dissipated  ruffian  of  the  most  des- 
perate character.  At  length,  without  any  legal  provocation,  he  shot 
one  of  his  neighbors,  and  the  citizens  immediately  collected  together 
and  pursued  him,  overtaking  him  in  an  unfinished  barn,  where,  armed 
with  a  revolver  and  probably  other  weapons,  he  at  first  declared  that 
they  would  never  take  him  alive.  They  assured  him,  however,  that 
they  would  take  him  alive;  and  after  remonstrating  with  him  a  little 
while,  he  agreed  to  surrender  if  they  would  permit  him  first  to  have 
a  talk  with  his  wife.  They  granted  him  leave;  and  after  he  had  talked 
with  her  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  they  concluded  that  that  was 
sufficient  time,  and  took  him  out  a  little  way  from  his  house  and  shot 
him. 


228  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Hester  Ann,  on  the  very  evening  of  the  day  she  was  released  at 
Springfield,  married  a  Mr.  Saunders,  and  after  residing  in  Missouri 
for  sometime,  returned  to  this  county,  and  then  moved  to Mon mouth, 
111.,  where  a  daughter  of  hers  married  Mr.  Madden,  a  young  law- 
yer of  that  place.  She,  however,  recently  obtained  a  divorce  from 
Mr.  Madden,  and  now  resides  in  Missouri.  Hester  Ann,  after  experi- 
encing many  of  the  most  dramatic  scenes  of  life  and  losing  her  hus- 
band, removed  to  Peoria,  where  at  last  accounts  she  was  still  living. 

John  Root. 

John  Root,  a  Swede  of  Henry  county,  was  sentenced  September  18, 
1852,  for  two  years,  for  manslaughter.  He  was  educated  as  an  Ameri- 
can, but  married  a  woman  more  recently  from  Sweden,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Bishop  Hill  colony.  Eric  Jansen  was  autocrat  of  this 
colony  and  would  not  let  Mrs.  Root  leave  it  to  live  with  her  husband 
among  the  Americans.  Mr.  Root  brought  suit  against  Jansen  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  while  the  case  was  pending,  he  shot  and  killed  him  in 
the  court-house,  at  mid-day,  while  the  people  were  mostly  at  din- 
ner. Root  was  indicted  for  murder,  and  the  case  was  brought  to 
Knoxville,  where  he  was  tried  and  sentenced.  At  the  end  of  a  year 
he  was  pardoned. 

Ephraim  J.  Young. 

This  man  was  indicted  for  murder  at  the  October  term  of  1857,  and 
two  years  from  that  time  he  was  sentenced  for  six  months  for  the 
crime  of  manslaughter. 

Andrew  J.  McBride 

wras  indicted  for  murder   October,  1857,  convicted  of  manslaughter 
and  sentenced  for  three  years. 

Franklin  H.   Williamson, 

or  Williams,  was  indicted  October,  1858,  and  sentenced  one  year  for 
manslaughter. 

Adelbert  Culver ', 

indicted  February,  1866,  in  the  following  June  was  transferred  to  Hen- 
derson county. 

Henry  Hill, 

indicted  November,  1867,  pleaded  guilty  of  manslaughter,  and  in  the 
following  February  sentenced  for  two  years. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  229 

James  O'JSrien, 

indicted  October,  1870,  for  the  murder  of  Mrs.  Ellett, whose  corpse  was 
found  in  a  decomposed  condition  near  Henderson.  The  case  was 
changed  to  Henry  county,  where  the  prisoner  died  in  jail. 

Andrew  B.  Swansen. 

Ankrew  B.  Swansen,  a  Swede  of  Galesburg,  killed  his  wife  by  poison 
in  July,  1872,  and  was  indicted  for  murder  at  the  October  term  of  that 
year,  and  his  case  taken  to  Warren  county,  where  he  was  subsequently 
convicted  of  manslaughter  and  sentenced  for  15  years  ;  but  before  he 
was  taken  to  the  State  prison  he  committed  suicide,  cutting  his  throat 
with  a  razor.  He  was  buried  in  Galesburg  on  the  very  day  that  Os- 
borne's  trial  commenced. 

John  Marion  Osborne. 

The  only  person  who  has  suffered  capital  punishment   in    Knox 
county  was  John  Marion  Osborne,  executed  at  Knoxville,  March  14, 
1873,  for  murdering  Mrs.  Adelia  M.  Matthews,  one  and  one-fourth 
miles  west  of  Yates  City,  August  5,  1872.     He  was  born  in  Clay 
county,  Illinois,  January  16,  1846.     From  5  to  22  years  of  age  he 
resided  in  Delaware  county,  Iowa,  except  what  time  he  was  in   the 
army;  he  then  joined  a  band  of  "  Western  Bandits,"  whose  operations 
(according  to  Osborne's  confession)  extended  from  Fort  Scott,  Kan- 
sas, to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.     He  took  thej  usual  brigand's  oath,  and 
never  betrayed  his  fellows;  was  sent  to  Iowa  State  prison  for  two  and 
a  half  years  for  larceny;  served  out  the  term  of  the  sentence,  less  the 
time  gained  by  good  behavior;  then  worked  for  a  man  in  McDonough 
county,  under  the  name  of  Frank  Clark;  then  was  at  Galesburg  for  a 
time,  and  finally,  in  1871,  went  to  live  with  his  aunt  near  Yates  City; 
married  his  cousin  there,  and  worked  awhile  for  Mr.  Matthews,  the 
husband  of  the  murdered  woman.     He  claimed  that  he  was  hired  by 
a  man — name  not  given — to  kill  Mrs.  Matthews  for  the  sum  of  $5,000; 
but  it  was  proved  in  court  that  he  attempted  rape  upon  her  person, 
and  killed  her  to  keep  her  from  informing  upon  him.     On  the  day 
aforesaid  he  went  to  her  house,  found  none  at  home  but  her,  and 
as  she  went  down  cellar  to  get  some  butter,  in  order  to  prepare  din- 
ner for  him,  he  followed  her;  and  as  she  stooped  down  to  get  the  but- 
ter he  struck  her  on  the  back  of  the  head,  first  with  a  brickbat,  then 
with  a  board,  and  finally  cut  her  throat  with  a  knife.    He  did  not  run 
away  from  the  neighborhood,  but  turned  out  with  others  to  hunt  the 
murderer.     Circumstances  pointing  to  him  as  the  guilty  man,  he  was 
14 


230  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

arrested,  indicted  in  October,  1872,  and'  at  the  February  term,  1873, 
tried  in  Galesburg,  at  the  opera-house,  which  for  eight  days  was 
crowded  with  an  excited  throng.  Mobs  had  endeavored  to  lynch  the 
prisoner,  and  all  the  people  were  in  a  fever  of  excitement.  February 
15,  1873,  he  was  found  guilty,  and  on  the  20th  he  was  sentenced.  He 
resisted  all  attempts  to  obtain  a  confession  from  him  until  the 
day  he  was  executed.  He  was  hanged  in  the  jail-yard  at  Knoxville. 
Thousands  of  people  were  in4the  vicinity  trying  to  obtain  a  view  of 
the  terrible  scene  by  climbing  upon  houses,  sheds,  trees,  etc.,  break- 
ing some  of  them  down,  and  even  creating  little  riots.  In  the  drop 
the  neck  of  the  criminal  was  not  dislocated,  and  he  died  by  strangu- 
lation, his  heart  ceasing  to  beat  in  about  ten  minutes.  His  body  was 
buried  in  Hope  Cemetery,  at  Galesburg,  Elder  J.  W.  Griffith,  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  who  was  his  spiritual  adviser,  officiating. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  case,  State's  Attorney  J.  J.  Tunniclift 
was  assisted  by  A.  M.  Craig,  now  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  the  court  appointed  Messrs.  George  W.  Kretzinger  and 
Adrian  L.  Humphrey  to  act  as  counsel  for  the  defendant.  After  the 
verdict  was  rendered,  the  defense  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  for 
a  supersedeas.  Judges  Lawrence  and  Walker,  acting,  denied  the  mo- 
tion, and  complimented  Mr.  Tunnicliff  in  the  highest  terms  for  the 
fidelity  with  which  he  had  prosecuted  the  case,  and  the  care  which 
had  been  taken  in  the  court  to  preserve  the  record  from  error. 

John  Marion  Chesney. 

The  very  next  murder  in  this  county  was  also  a  John  Marion, 
whose  surname  was  Chesney.  He  killed  a  negro  in  Abingdon  in 
1873;  was  indicted  in  the  fall,  and  a  change  of  venue  was  taken  to 
Fulton  county,  where  he  was  subsequently  acquitted. 

John  Burgeson. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  John  Burgeson,  alias  John  Boline,  of  Oneida, 
came  home  one  evening  drunken  and  dangerous.  Through  fright  his 
wife  fled  to  a  neighbor's  and  remained  all  night,  leaving  in  her  haste 
her  little  child  of  five  years  of  age  at  the  house  with  the  drunken 
man,  who  was  step-father  of  the  child.  Next  morning  the  child  was 
found  dead  in  the  house.  Burgeson  was  indicted  at  the  June  term ; 
February  8,  1877,  pleaded  guilty  of  manslaughter,  and  on  the  24th 
was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  twelve  years. 

J.    W.  Mageors. 

In  June,  1876,  an  indictment  for  murder  was  also  found  against  J. 
W.  Mageors,  alias  Bob  Mageors,  and  Electa  Ritchey;  but  as  to  the 


STATES  ATTORNEY. 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  233 

latter  a  nolle  prosvqui  was  soon  entered  for  want  of  evidence.  Mageors 
is  charged  with  killing  a  man  at  Abingdon  named  Joseph  Ritchey, 
but  while  the  indictment  against  him  is  still  pending,  he  is  serving 
out  a  sentence  in  the  penitentiary  for  the  larceny  of  cattle.  The  case 
is  a  complicated  and  mysterious  one,  and  unless  further  evidence  is 
discovered  the  murderer  will  probably  escape. 

William  H.    Vawters. 

"William  H.  Vawters  shot  a  man  at  Yates  City,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1876  he  was  convicted  of  manslaughter,  and  sentenced  for  six  years ; 
but  before  the  expiration  of  one  year  he  was  pardoned. 

Richard  B.  Heather. 

In  1876  Richard  B.  Heather  killed  S.  Peter  Johnson  at  Abingdon, 
October  25.  His  bail  was  fixed  at  $15,000,  and  he  took  a  change  of 
venue  to  Fulton  county,  where  the  next  April  he  was  convicted  of 
manslaughter.  In  May  he  was  sentenced  for  six  years,  but  the  fol- 
lowing November  he  was  pardoned. 

Carl  Carlson. 

Carl  Carlson,  of  Galesburg,  got  partially  drunk  November  10, 1877; 
set  a  house  on  fire,  which  was  burned  down.  The  next  morning  a 
charred  corpse  was  found,  and  evidences  indicated  that  Carlson  had 
robbed  the  deceased.  He  was  sentenced  for  a  long  term  in  the  peni- 
tentiary for  burglary. 

William  P.   Brown 

was  indicted  for  assault  with  attempt  to  kill  his  wife.     He  was  tried 
found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  one  year  in  the  State  prison  at  Joliet 

William  H.  Beasley. 

William  H.  Beasley,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Brown's  Hotel, 
Galesburg,  caused  the  death  of  a  Miss  Mattie  ]STaslund,  a  Swede 
employe  in  the  hotel,  by  producing  abortion.  He  was  indicted  for 
murder  at  the  June  term  of  1877,  and  at  the  fall  term  he  was  con- 
victed of  manslaughter  and  sentenced  for  four  years. 

GILSON   MURDER. 

Sunday  afternoon,  August  5, 1877,  the  quiet  little  village  of  Gilson 
was  thrown  into  considerable  excitement  by  the  announcement  that  the 
residence  of  one  of  its  citizens  had  been  burglariously  entered  during 
the  absence  of  the  family,  who  were  at  church.  It  was  the  house  of 


234  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

Woodford  Pierce  that  had  been  entered,  who  on  returning  home  im- 
mediately discovered  indications  of  his  house  having  been  pillaged. 
A  coat,  duster,  scissors  and  $75  in  money  had  been  taken.     Alarm 
was  instantly  given,  and  suspicion  directed  to  a  tramp  who  had  been 
seen  lurking  in  the  vicinity.    Tracks  were  discovered  and  pursuit  made. 
In  the  pursuit  through  the  woods  the  burglar  was  seen  armed  with  a 
shot  gun  and  revolver,  and  carrying  a  satchel.     He  fired  several  shots 
and  wounded  little  Willie  Helter  in  the  ankle.    He  was  soon  chased  into 
a  corn  field,  where  he  shot  and  killed  the  horse  which  Charles  Maston 
and  Charles  Cramer  were  both  riding  in  the  pursuit.     Shortly  after, 
he  shot  and  wounded  James  Pickrel  in  the  knee,  and  also  wounded 
his  horse  in  the  shoulder.     At  this  time  Charles  Belden  came  upon 
the  burglar,  and  called  upon  him  to  halt,  when  he  turned  upon  Bel- 
den,  saying,  "Halt,  you  s — n  of  a  b — h,"  and  fired,  the  ball  passing 
through  Belden's  heart.     Belden  exclaimed,  "I'm  killed,"  and  died 
instantly.     The  burglar  fled  again  through  the  corn.     Charles  Mc- 
Kown,  the  post-master  of  Gilson,  followed  him  on  horseback,  revolver 
in  hand.     Suddenly  he  came  upon  the  burglar,  who  whirled,  and  both 
shot  simultaneously,  McKown  receiving  a  very  serious,  and  at  the 
time  supposed  fatal,  wound,  through  the  left  lung;  but  he  has  since 
recovered.     Care  of  the  dead  and  wounded  necessitated  a  temporary 
cessation  of  pursuit.     About  6  o'clock,  however,  aid  from  Knoxville^ 
Maquon  and  elsewhere  having  been  summoned,  pursuit  in  an  organ- 
ized body  of  several  hundred  men  was  resumed,  but  without  avail, 
and  the  burglar  and  murderer  made  his  escape  in  the  darkness.    Just 
before  his  death,  Belden  found  a  vest  which  the  burglar  had  thrown 
away  in  the  pursuit  in  the  cornfield.     In  this  vest,  on  examination 
afterwards,  was  found  an  express  receipt  dated  at  Elmwood,  August 
3.  and  given  to  "Frank  Rande."     This  was  the  first  clue  as  to  who  the 
murderer  and  burglar  was,  and  was  the  cause  of  his  being  arrested  in 
St.  Louis. 

The  excitement  over  the  murder  of  Belden,  or  the  "Gilson  mur- 
der," as  it  subsequently  was  universally  termed,  was  intense.  The 
entire  country  for  miles  around  for  days  was  alive  with  armed  persons 
in  pursuit  of  the  escaped  murderer,  who,  going  to  the  timber,  shunned 
the  excited  populace,  to  enact  another  and  similar  crime  within  a  few 
days.  As  an  inducement  for  his  capture  Governor  Cullom  oiFered  a 
reward  of  $200.  In  addition  Sheriff  Berggren,  on  behalf  of  the 
county,  offered  $600,  and  Haw  Creek  township  $200.  Nothing  more 
was  heard  of  this  daring  desperado  until  Friday,  November  16,  when 
Sheriff  Berggren  received  the  following  telegram: 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  235 

ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  Nov.  16,  1877. 

A.W.  Berggren,  Sheriff  of  Knox  Co.: — I  have  the  murderer  who  killed  Belden.  He 
is  in  hospital,  shot  by  rny  officers.  Bring  parties  to  identify  him. 

JAMES  McDoxouGH, 

Chief  of  Police. 

Promptly  Sheriff  Berggren  started  for  St.  Louis,  leaving  Galesburg 
Friday  night.  He  was  accompanied  by  Charles  McKown  for  the  pur- 
pose of  identifying  the  murderer.  On  arriving  at  St.  Louis  they  met 
Sheriff  Hitchcock,  of  Peoria  county,  Chief  of  Police  Kirnsey,  of  Pe- 
oria,  and  M.  C.  Lilley,  gunsmith,  of  Elmwood.  Sheriff  Hitchcock, 
from  the  express  receipt  found  in  the  cornfield,  had  worked  up  the 
case,  and  tracked  Rande  to  various  places  until  finally  he  was  discov- 
ered in  St.  Louis  and  arrested  in  "Wright's  pawn  shop.  The  $1,000 
reward  was  paid  to  Sheriff  Hitchcock. 

The  suspected  man,  after  conversation  with  Mr.  McKown,  Lilley 
and  others,  was  positively  identified  as  the  perpetrator  of  the  Gilson 
murder.     He  was  also  identified  by  others  as  the  party  who  commit 
ted  three  murders  in  precisely  a  similar  manner  at  St.  Elmo,  Fayette 
county,  not  long  after  the  commission  of  the  Gilson  murder. 

Xhe  desperado  was  recognized  in  a  pawn  shop  in  St.  Louis.  Two 
police  officers  being  summoned,  a  bloody  struggle  ensued  between 
him  and  the  officers,  Heffernan  and  White;  Rande  drew  a  navy  revol- 
ver, and  in  the  struggle  between  him  and  the  officers  succeeded  in 
killing  Officer  White,  and  was  himself  wounded  by  a  shot  from  Pawn- 
broker Wright,  who  assisted  the  officers.  In  Rande's  possession  were 
found  two  large  revolvers,  a  knife,  a  billy  and  a  pair  of  brass 
knuckles.  He  gave  his  name  as  Frank  Rande,  and  by  that  name 
was  subsequently  known.  For  the  killing  of  White,  Rande  could  not 
have  been  hung  by  the  laws  of  Missouri,  and  that  being  the  end 
desired  by  the  masses,  he  was  delivered  up  on  the  requisition  of  the 
Governor  of  Illinois  and  taken  to  the  scene  of  his  earlier  crimes. 

Arriving  in  Galesburg,  Wednesday,  November  28th,  a  large  crowd 
had  gathered  at  the  depot  in  anticipation  of  his  arrival,  great  excite- 
ment prevailing.  Rande  was  handcuffed  to  Chief  of  Police  Kimsey, 
of  Peoria,  on  one  side,  and  guarded  by  Officer  Hennessey,  of  St. 
Louis,  on  the  other,  with  Sheriff  Berggren  and  Deputy  Sheriff  Blood 
ahead,  and  Sheriff  Hitchcock  and  Deputy  Sheriff  Gill,  of  Peoria 
county,  behind,  and  was  immediately  marched  to  the  county  jail, 
where  during  his  incarceration  a  constant,  persistent  throng  of  visi- 
tors sought  and  obtained  admission,  and  were  afforded  through  the 
courtesy  of  Sheriff  Berggren  the  coveted  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
fiend  in  human  form.  At  one  time,  however,  the  throng  was  so  great 
that  the  sheriff  found  it  necessary  to  interdict  admission  for  a  while. 


236  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

It  was  the  determination  of  the  sheriff  and  State's  attorney,  the  conser- 
vators of  the  public  peace  and  safety,  not  to  parley  with  a  common 
thief  and  triple  murderer.  An  outraged  and  suffering  community 
looked  to  them  for  the  punishment  of  the  offender  and  protection 
from  similar  crimes;  and  that  they  labored  faithfully,  energetically 
and  wisely  to  have  the  law  fully  and  vigorously  enforced,  was  the  an- 
nounced opinion  of  press  and  public. 

By  appointment  of  Judge  Smith,  upon  the  request  of  State's  At- 
torney Tunnicliff,  at  4  o'clock  Wednesday  afternoon,  Rande  was 
arraigned  in  the  Circuit  Court  to  enable  him  to  plead  to  the  indict- 
ment for  murder  found  against  him  by  the  special  grand  jury.  As 
was  expected,  in'reply  to  the  State's  attorney  as  he  read  the  indict- 
ment he  pleaded  "not  guilty."  Not  having  counsel,  the  Court  ap- 
pointed Hon.  O.  F.  Price,  E.  H.  Leach  and  R.  C.  Hunt  to  conduct  his 
case.  Subsequently  counsel  was  secured  by  his  friends,  although  he 
had  but  few  such  in  Knox  county  or  elsewhere.  Hon.  D.  P.  Stubbs, 
of  Fairfield,  Iowa,  C.  G.  Bradshaw,  of  Bloomington,  and  Hon.  O.  F. 
Price  of  Galesburg,  three  able,  shrewd  and  energetic  lawyers,  were  re- 
tained. After  being  arraigned,  he  was  conducted  to  W.  H.  Hunt's 
art  gallery,  East  Main  street,  where  pictures  were  taken  of  him  in 
various  positions,  each  exhibiting  two  large  pistols, — his  u  pets,"  as 
he  was  wont  to  call  such  weapons.  Thinking  himself  "eminently 
popular,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  selling  his  pictures,  to  assist  in  de- 
fraying the  expenses  of  his  defense,  arid  accordingly  had  about  800 
struck  off,  upon  the  back  of  which  he  had  the  following  heinous  in- 
scription: 

Frank  Rande, 

"The  American  Brigand," 

The  Knox  County  Desperado,  the  brilliant  and  daring 

Young  Bandit  of  the  Wabash. 

Real  name,  Charles  C.  Scott ;  born  in  Claysville, 

Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  23,  1839. 

38  years  of  age  in  1877. 

But  before  printing  the  above  on  the  back  of  the  photographs, 
he  sent  for  W.  B.  Richards,  patent  solicitor,  of  Galesburg,  and 
stated  to  him  his  desire  to  secure  the  copyright  to  his  photographs, 
which  he  claimed  were  unwarrantably  issued  by  photographers  in 
St.  Louis.  Mr.  Richards  informed  Rande  that  any  copyright  is- 
sued under  an  assumed  name  would  be  wholly  valueless.  Therefore 
Rande  briefly  considered  the  matter,  and  then  asked  for  a  paper  and 
pencil.  When  they  were  handed  him,  he  wrote,  in  a  neat  style  of 
chirography,  his  true  name,  "Charles  C.  Scott,  Fairfield,  Iowa." 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  237 

This,  then,  was  the  first  time  his  name  was  known.  His  parents, 
although  hearing  of  the  case,  had  no  knowledge  or  even  an  idea  of  the 
murderer  being  their  son. 

Wednesday,  December  5,  after  the  true  name  of  Rande  was 
divulged,  Postmaster  Clark  E.  Carr  received  from  Postmaster  W.  T. 
Bergen,  of  Fairfield,  Iowa,  the  following  communication:  "I  think 
there  is  no  doubt  of  Frank  Rande  being  pharles  C.  Scott  of  this  place. 
Some  years  ago  he  broke  jail  at  Ottumwa,  and  was  arrested  and 
brought  here,  but  escaped  from  the  sheriff,  and  has  never  been  heard 
of  since.  His  parents  reside  here  and  are  respectable  people.  His 
father  is  an  industrious,  honorable  man.  The  life  of  Rande  is  charac- 
teristic of  Scott.  He  seemed  to  be  utterly  abandoned  and  lost  to 
advice." 

He  went  under  aliases  besides  that  of  "  Rande,"  among  which  were 
"Van  Zandt,"  "Frank  Holden,"  "Frank  Durand,"  "Frank War- 
ner," "Frank  Orton,"  "  Frank  Anderson"  and  "Frank  Danvers." 
Rande  was  brought  to  trial  Tuesday,  December  11,'  1877",  but  obtained 
a  continuance  until  the  February  term,  the  defense  claiming  a  too 
hurried  arraignment  and  short  date  of  trial,  also  pleading  his  physi- 
cal weakness  on  account  of  wounds  received  at  the  time  of  his  arrest- 
Tuesday,  February  5,  1878,  the  case  was  opened,  Judge  Smith  pre- 
siding, Court  convening  in  the  opera  house.  The  attendance  was  large, 
and  throughout  the  ]  5  days'  trial  the  interest  or  attendance  was  not 
diminished.  The  masses  freely  denounced  the  culprit  and  almost  the 
universal  public  verdict  "vyas  for  hanging.  Not  only  was  there  the  in- 
tensest  local  feeling  manifested  in  the  proceedings,  but  the  people 
throughout  Illinois  and  the  adjoining  States  exhibited  no  little  interest 
in  the  case.  The  St.  Louis  Journal  contained  the  following  joyous  po " 
etical  effusion  on  Rande's  being  brought  to  this  county  for  trial  : 

"  There  is  a  ruffian  Rande 

Far,  far  away, — 
Manacles  on  either  hand 

By  night  and  day. 
Oh,  how  they'll  sweetly  siug. 

When  they  to  the  gallows  bring 
This  rogue  to  quietly  swing, 
No  more  to  stay ! 

The  Chicago  Tribune,  and  Times,  Peoria  Transcript,  Burlington 
Hawkeye,  St.  Louis  Post  and  Indianapolis  Journal  had  reporters  in 
attendance,  and  othgr  papers  special  correspondents.  The  Galesburg 
Republican-Register  was  especially  ^enterprising  in  giving  an  account 
of  the  trial,  and  to  better  accommodate  its  readers  the  issue  was 


238  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

changed  from  evening  to  morning,  thus  appearing  each  morning  with 
a  complete  account  of  the  previous  day's  proceedings. 

L.  J.  Phelps  was  appointed  as  official  reporter  by  the  Court. 

The  selection  of  jurors  was  a  long  and  tedious  process,  both  the 
prosecution  and  defense  being  especially  studious  to  discover  objections 
to  the  men  subpoenaed.  Tuesday,  Wednesday  and  the  greater  part  of 
Thursday  were  spent  in  this  work.  Over  150  persons  were  examined, 
and  finally  the  following  jury  were  selected:  J.  P.  Clark,  William 
Overlander,  P.  M.  Kodecker,  H.  E.  Cashrnan,  Samuel  Eankin,  Wil- 
liam Fritz,  Frank  Barnes,  Elvin  Vestal,  Martin  R.  Lowery,  M. 
Pierce,  J.  H.  Pence,  J.  W.  Farr.  : 

•  The  trial  proceeded  without  any  extraordinary  event  occurring 
The  prisoner  assumed  and  maintained  an  air  of  manifest  indifference, 
seemingly  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  that  his  fate  was  not  to  die  on  the 
gallows.  The  prosecution  was  conducted  by  State's  Attorney  Tunni- 
cliff  and  James  A.  McKenzie,  the  former  making  the  opening  address 
to  the  jury  on  the  eleventh  day  of  the  trial.  He  discussed  the  law  of 
the  right  of  private  citizens,  as  well  as  officers,  to  arrest,  when  a  felony 
has  been  committed,  and  cited  volumes  of  law,  including  Pleas  of  the 
Crown,  and  the  right  to  arrest  upon  fresh  pursuit  under  the  Statutes 
of  Illinois,  fle  riddled  the  defense  of  insanity  which  had  been  at- 
tempted to  be  interposed  in  behalf  of  the  prisoner,  and  made  an  elo- 
quent appeal  for  protection  for  the  citizens  from  such  characters  as 
Raude.  While  it  is  impossible  to  give  even  a  synopsis  of  an  argu- 
ment which  took  seven  hours  in  its  delivery,  we  will  give  the  verdict 
of  the  leading  paper  of  the  Northwest,  the  Chicago  Tribune,  which 
characterized  the  argument  of  State's  Attorney  Tunnicliff  "  as  worthy 
of  a  place  in  a  most  praiseworthy  prosecution."  At  the  close  he  elo- 
quently said  :  "  Myself  and  associate  counsel  do  not  ask  of  you  any 
compromise  verdict.  We  demand  the  infliction  of  the  death  penalty 
as  the  only  atonement  he  can  make.  Send  him  not  to  be  pardoned  by 
some  future  governor,  not  to  escape  from  an  insane  asylum,  to  fill  the 
land  again  with  mourning ;  but  inflict  upon  this  human  butcher  of 
his  fellow  men  the  only  punishment  that  can  satisfy  an  outraged  peo- 
ple. He  has  defied  God's  law  and  the  law  of  the  State,  and  he  must 
die,  die  upon  the  gallows.  My  duty  is  fulfilled  :  yours  is  yet  to  be 
done." 

State's  Attorney  J.  J.  Tunnicliff  deserves  special  mention  here  for 
the  ability,  integrity  and  industry  he  has  exhibited  in  all  his  official 
career.  He  has  shown  himself  equal  to  the  occasion  in  two  of  the 
most  famous  cases  in  the  West, — those  of  Osborne  and  'liande, — which 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  239 

.ndeed  have  attained  almost  a  national  notoriety.  Although  a  young 
man, — perhaps  we  had  better  say  because  he  is  a  young  man, — he  ex- 
ercises a  scrupulous  care  at  every  point  of  the  case  he  has  in  hand. 
In  the  management  of  noted  cases  he  has  had  not  only  the  compli- 
ments of  the  Supreme  Court  but  the  indorsement  of  the  people. 

McKenzie  closed  the  case  on  the  15th  day  with  a  master  effort, 
dwelling  at  great  length  upon  the  question  of  insanity  which  the  de- 
fense had  set  up.  The  defense  was  ably  conducted  throughout,  taking 
advantage  of  every  circumstance  and  turn;  for  with  the  strong  public 
feeling  against  their  client  they  alone  saved  him  from  hanging.  The 
jury  returned  with  the  verdict  of  "guilty,"  fixing  the  penalty  at  im- 
prisonment for  life. 

Fearing  the  prisoner  might  be  molested,  which  interference  had 
been  threatened,  the  sheriff  wisely  hurried  the  convicted  criminal  to 
the  depot  and  thence  to  Joliet,  Sheriff  Berggren  and  Chief  of  Police 
Frank  E.  Fowler  having  him  in  charge. 

The  verdict  was  received  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning;  and  before 
the  people  were  really  aware  that  the  jury  had  agreed  he  was  hurried 
off  to  Joliet  to  escape  the  infuriated  populace.  The  verdict  was  heard 
with  astonishment  and  condemnation  by  many,  as  contrary  to  the  law 
and  evidence  in  the  case,  while  by  others  it  was  all  that  was  expected, 
and  agreed  with  their  prediction.  All  however  agreed  that  he  should 
have  been  hung  on  general  principles;  but  for  the  one  act  for  which  he 
was  tried  many  thought  that  a  life  sentence  was  all  that  was  justifiable. 
Landed  safely  in  the  Illinois  penitentiary,  where  he  is  employed  in 
making  saddles,  it  is  hoped  that  during  the  remainder  of  his  earth  life 
society  need  have  no  apprehension  of  danger  from  him,  and  that  his 
blood-stained  hands  will  be  forever  restrained  from  again  taking  hu- 
man life. 

Belle  Spaulding. 

Belle  Spaulding  killed  Martin  O'Connor,  formerly  her  husband,  on' 
the  morning  of  July  12,  1878.  He  had  been  riding  out  with  May 
Robinson,  and  arrived  at  O'Connor's  livery  stable,  on  Cherry  street, 
at  the  same  time  Belle  arrived,  who  had  been  riding  out  with  Carrie 
Reed.  This  was  about  3  o'clock.  Belle  reproached  Maj  for  keeping 
company  with  "Mart,"  and,  the  conversation  growing  furious,  O'Con- 
nor withdrew;  but,  returning  to  the  stable,  Belle  commenced  on  him, 
and  the  quarrel  continued  as  they  walked  along  Simmons  street  and 
south  a  little  way  on  Prairie  street,  when  she  shot  at  him  twice,  one 
ball  entering  his  breast  and  coming  out  over  his  abdomen.  He  walked 
back  to  the  stable,  but  died  in  about  forty  minutes.  Immediately 


240 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


after  shooting  him  she  shot  herself,  the  ball  entering  her  left  breast. 
For  several  days  it  was  doubtful  whether  she  would  survive,  but  in  a 
few  weeks  she  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  removed  to  the  jail,  where 
she  is  now  awaiting  indictment  and  trial.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  J.  W.  Spaulding,  of  Galesburg,  who  was  in  his  day  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  Knox  county. 


HORSE-STEALING. 


Some  time  previous  to  1850  there  was  so  much  horse-stealing  going 
on  that  the  citizens  of  the  county  organized  a  "  Society  for  the  De- 
tection of  Horse-Thieves."  It  was  instrumental  in  breaking  up  a  gang 
of  thieves,  which  seemed  to.  put  an  end  to  the  nefarious  business  in 
this  section  of  the  country,  and  the  society  ceased  to  hold  its  meet- 
ings; but  in  the  year  1850  a  dozen  horses  were  stolen  within  the 
limits  of  the  county,  which  stirred  up  the  citizens  to  organize  again, 
forming  "The  Society  for  the  Detection  of  Horse-Thieves  and  Bur- 
glars." At  the  preliminary  meetings  Harmon  G.  Reynolds  presided 
and  John  S.  Winter  acted  as  secretary.  The  society  adopted  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  and  for  permanent  officers  elected  Peter  Burt- 
nett,  of  Knox  township,  Captain,  and  a  Lieutenant  for  each  of  the 
other  townships,  John  S.Winter  Secretary,  and  Hugh  S.  Woods  Treas- 
urer. Five  dollars  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  each  Lieutenant  for  ex- 
pense money.  This  association  did  a  good  work,  and  rendered  satis- 
faction to  all  parties.  More  efficient  statute  laws  have  since  superseded 
the  necessity  of  voluntary  associations. 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  241 


CHAPTER  XI. 

OLD   SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

Fifty  years  have  come  and  gone  since  white  men  began  to  exercise 
dominion  in  this  region  of  country,  erst  the  home  of  the  red  men. 
These  years  have  been  full  of  changes,  and  the  visitor  of  to-day, 
ignorant  of  the  past  of  the  county,  could  scarcely  be  made  to  realize 
that  within  these  years  there  has  grown  up  a  population  of  50,000 
people,  who  in  all  the  accomplishments  of  life  are  as  far  advanced 
as  are  the  people  in  the  counties  of  older  States.  Schools,  churches, 
colleges,  palatial  dwellings,  beautiful  grounds,  large,  well  cultivated 
and  productive  farms,  as  well  as  cities,  towns  and  busy  manufactories, 
have  grown  up  and  occupy  the  hunting  grounds  and  camping  places 
of  the  Indians,  and  in  every  direction  there  are  evidences  of  wealth, 
comfort  and  luxury.  There  is  but  little  left  of  the  old  landmarks. 
Advanced  civilization  and  the  progressive  demands  of  revolving  years 
have  obliterated  all  traces  of  Indian  occupancy,  until  they  are  only 
remembered  in  name.  The  beginning  of  these  changes  was  made  in 
1828,  when  the  Robertsons  settled  in  Henderson. 

Of  the  inhabitants  in  1840,  representing  a  population  of  a  few 
thousand,  many  removed  from  the  county  to  find  homes  in  other 
States,  while  the  spirits  of  others  were  called  to  join  the  immortal 
throng  gathered  around  the  great  white  throne  in  the  far-away  realms 
of  eternal  life  and  light.  Others  preferred  to  remain  in  the  homes 
they  commenced  in  Knox  county,  and  by  the  goodness  and  mercy  of 
God  have  grown  in  wealth,  wisdom  and  usefulness,  until  in  their  de- 
clining years  they  are  respected  and  honored  patriarchs  in  the  com- 
munity that  owes  much  of  its  character  and  great  advancement  to  the 
influences  they  established  in  pioneer  times. 

It  is  not  strange  that  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  any  new  coun- 
try a  deep-seated  and  sincere  friendship  should  spring  up,  that  should 
grow  and  strengthen  with  their  years.  The  incidents  peculiar  to  life 
in  a  new  country — the  trials  and  hardships,  privations  and  destitu- 
tions— are  well  calculated  to  test,  not  only  the  physical  powers  of 
endurance,  but  the  moral,  kindly,  generous  attributes  of  manhood  and 
womanhood.  Then  are  the  times  that  try  men's  souls  and  bring  to 
the  surface  all  that  there  may  be  in  them  of  either  good  or  bad.  As 


24:2  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

a  rule  there  is  an  equality  of  conditions  that  recognizes  no  distinc- 
tions. All  occupy  a  common  level,  and  as  a  natural  consequence  a 
brotherly  and  sisterly  feeling  grows  up  that  is  as  lasting  as  time;  for 
"a  fellow  feeling  makes  us  wondrous  kind."  With  such  a  commu- 
nity there  is  a  hospitality,  a  kindness,  a  benevolence  and  a  charity  un- 
known and  unpracticed  among  the  older,  richer  and  more  densely  pop- 
ulated commonwealths.  The  very  nature  of  the  surroundings  of  these 
pioneers  teaches  them  to  feel  each  other's  woe  and  share  each  other's 
joys.  An  injury  or  a  wrong  may  be  ignored,  but  a  kindly,  generous, 
charitable  act  is  never  forgotten.  The  memory  of  old  associations 
and  kindly  deeds  is  always  fresh.  Raven  locks  may  bleach  and  whiten ; 
full,  round  cheeks  become  sunken  and  hollow;  the  fires  of  intelligence 
vanish  from  the  organs  of  vision;  the  brow  become  wrinkled  with 
care  and  age,  and  the  erect  form  bowed  with  the  accumulating  years; 
but  the  true  friends  of  ;'  long  ago  "  will  be  remembered  as  long  as  life 
and  reason  endure. 

The  surroundings  of  pioneer  life  are  well  calculated  to  test  the 
"true  inwardness"  of  the  human  heart  As  a  rule  the  men  and 
women  who  first  settle  a  new  country — who  go  in  advance  to  spy  out 
the  land  and  prepare  it  for  the  coming  people — are  bold,  fearless, 
self-reliant  and  industrious.  In  these  respects,  no  matter  from  what 
remote  sections  or  countries  they  may  come,  there  is  a  similarity  of 
character.  In  birth,  education,  religion  and  language  there  may  be 
a  vast  difference,  but  imbued  with  a  common  purpose, — the  founding 
and  building  of  homes, — these  differences  are  soon  lost  by  association, 
and  thus  they  become  one  people,  united  by  a  common  interest;  and 
no  matter  what  changes  may  come  in  after  years,  the  associations  thus 
formed  are  never  buried  out  of  memory. 

In  pioneer  life  there  are  always  incidents  of  peculiar  interest,  not  only 
to  the  pioneers  themselves,  but  which  if  properly  preserved  would  be  of 
interest  to  posterity;  and  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  the  formation  of 
the  "  Old  Settlers'  Association  "  has  not  been  continuously  and  enthu- 
siastically maintained  in  Knox  county.  Such  an  association,  with 
well  kept  records  of  the  more  important  events,  such  as  dates  of 
arrivals,  births,  marriages,  deaths,  removals,  nativities,  etc.,  as  any- 
one can  easily  and  readily  see,  would  be  the  direct  means  of  preserv- 
ing to  the  literature  of  the  country  the  history  of  every  community, 
that  to  future  generations  would  be  invaluable  as  a  record  of  refer- 
ence, and  a  ready  and  sure  method  of  settling  important  questions  of 
controversy.  Such  records  would  possess  facts  and  figures  that  could 
not  be  had  from  any  other  source.  Aside  from  this  historic  impor- 
tance, such  associations  would  serve  as  a  means  of  keeping  alive  and 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  245 

further  cementing  old  friendships,  and  renewing  among  its  members 
associations  that  were  necessarily  interrupted  by  the  innovation  of 
increasing  population,  cultivating  social  intercourse,  and  creating  a 
charitable  fund  for  such  of  their  old  members  as  were  victims  of  mis- 
fortune and  adversity. 

Pursuant  to  a  previous  call,  about  400  old  settlers  assembled  in  the 
court-house  at  Knoxville,  April  3,  1867,  for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing an  "  Old  Settlers'  Society."  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by 
Major  Thomas  McKee,  who  nominated  Daniel  Robertson,  the  first 
settler  of  the  county,  for  president-;  Robertson  not  being  present, 
Major  McKee,  who  was  elected  vice-president,  presided.  Dennis 
Clark  and  R.  L.  Hannaman  were  elected  secretaries.  John  M. 
Combs,  Thomas  McKee,  Major  M.  D.  Coy,  Rev.  W.  M.  Clark,  Rev. 
Edward  Sellon  and  R.  L.  Hannaman  made  speeches,  relating  remi- 
niscences of  early  life  in  Knox  county.  Major  Coy  in  a  rather  humor- 
ous vein  described  the  life  of  the  early  settler, —  the  hardships  and 
pleasures  endured.  Mills  were  then  scarce,  and  often  they  had  to  go 
from  60  to  100  miles  to  one,  and  remain  a  week  before  they  could  get 
their  work  done.  During  the  first  winter  and  spring  grain  was  very 
scarce,  and  only  to  be  obtained  at  Prophetstown,  some  80  miles  dis- 
tant; and  then,  in  order  to  keep  it,  it  had  to  be  buried  in  the  sand.  This 
was  the  only  corn  in  the  county  to  be  had  for  planting.  He  further 
said  he  cut  the  first  log  for  the  first  school-house  and  church  ever 
built  in  Knox  county. 

The  Major  then  paid  a  high  tribute  to  Jacob  B.  Gum,  the  first 
preacher  in  the  county.  He  thought  the  old  settlers  were  the  best 
people  he  ever  knew,  saying  that  the  first  settlers  of  Galesburg  were 
the  best  people  who  ever  settled  any  where  in  the  West.  "  There  was 
life  and  sociability  then,  which  now  is  not  to  be  found;  and  those 
days  were  the  best,  and  ,now,  as  soon  as  the  roads  are  good,  I  am 
going  farther  West  to  find  in  southwestern  Iowa  the  old  sociability 
once  enjoyed  by  the  first  settlers  of  this  county." 

Rev.  Edward  Sellon  related  his  early  experience,  and  those  of  the 
early  settlers,  detailing  the  vicissitudes  attendant  upon  the  pioneers 
of  a  new  country.  He  closed  his  remarks  by  an  appropriate  and  feel- 
ing tribute  to  the  brave  and  worthy  pioneer  women,  who  had  shared 
the  hardships  and  struggles  in  laying  the  foundation  for  a  great  and 
rich  county. 

September  9,  1869,  another  meeting  was  held,  but  this  time  at 
Galesburg.  William  McMurtry  addressed  the  assemblage,  giving  an 
account  of  the  first  settling  of  the  county,  when  there  were  a  few  set- 
tlers about  Henderson  Grove.  Old  Jacob  Gum  was  their  minister, 


246  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Esquire  Miles  their  lawyer,  and  himself  the  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
had  but  one  case  in  six  years  on  his  docket,  and  that  was  amicably 
settled  by  the  disputants. 

Another  meeting  was  held  at  Gilson  camp-grounds,  September  9, 
1871.  The  old  settlers  assembled  the  following  year  at  the  fair- 
grounds, at  Knoxville,  and  in  1877  they  again  met  at  Knoxville- 
The  annual  meeting  for  1878  was  held  at  that  city  September  20. 
Although  there  has  not  been  that  interest  manifested  in  the  meet- 
ings of  the  association  their  importance  deserves,  they  afford  consider- 
able pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  those  participating  in  the  animal 
reunions. 

Thomas  McKee  is  President  of  the  Association  and  K.  L.  Hanna- 
man  Secretary. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  247 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IMPORTANT  LABORS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS. 
COUNTY  COURT. 

In  1847  a  State  election  was  held  for  members  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  which  convention  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  people 
a  new  constitution,  which  was  adopted  by  a  large  majority.  By  this 
constitution,  in  place  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  a  County  Court 
was  organized  in  each  county.  This  court  consisted  of  a  County 
Judge,  and,  if  the  Legislature  saw  proper  to  so  order  it,  two  Associate 
Justices.  This  the  Legislature  favorably  acted  upon.  The  last 
meeting  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  was  held  Oct.  12,  1849. 
After  the  transaction  of  such  business  as  properly  came  before  them, 
they  adjourned  until  court  in  course,  but  never  re-assembled. 

On  the  3d  of  December  of  the  same  year  the  first  regular  term  of 
the  County  Court  was  held.  The  duties  of  the  court  in  a  legislative 
capacity  were  precisely  the  same  as  those  of  the  County  Commission- 
ers' Court.  In  addition  to  the  legislative  power  the  members  of  this 
court  were  permitted  to  exercise  judicial  authority,  having  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  justices  of  the  peace,  together  with  all  probate 
business.  This  court  consisted  of  a  County  Judge  and  two  Associate 
Justices.  The  Judge  and  Associate  Justices  acted  together  for  the 
transaction  of  all  county  business,  but  none  other.  The  Justices  had 
an  equal  vote  with  the  Judge,  and  received  the  same  salary  while 
holding  court,  which  was  $2  per  day.  Two  of  the  three  constituted  a 
quorum. 

Geo.  C.  Lanphere  was  chosen  the  first  County  Judge,  being  elected 
Nov.  6,  1849, — the  first  November  election  held.  The  first  Associate 
Justices  were  James  M.  Hunter  and  Alfred  Brown.  During  the 
existence  of  this  court  the  people  were  agitating  the  question  of  town- 
ship organization.  Many  counties  of  the  State,  since  the  new  con- 
stitution, had  adopted  that  mode  of  conducting  county  affairs.  The 
constitution  gave  counties  the  privilege  of  adopting  either  the  County 
Court  or  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  At  the  fall  election  in  1849  a 
vote  was  taken  "for,"'  or  "against  township  organization,"  which  re- 
sulted in  728  votes  in  favor  of  the  new  measure  and  420  against. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


The  election  precincts  at  this  time  were  12  in  number,  and  comprised 
the  following:  Brush  Creek.  Pope  Creek,  Fraker's  Grove,  Spoon 
River,  Littler's  Creek,  French  Creek,  Cherry  Grove,  Yictoria,  Haw 
Creek,  Galesburg  and  Knoxville.  According  to  the  result  of  the 
election  as  this  court  viewed  it,  the  proposition  for  township  organiza- 
tion had  been  carried  by  a  handsome  majority.  Accordingly  at  their 
first  meeting  they  appointed  Joel  Lee,  Martin  B.  Mason  and  John 
Arnold  commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into  townships.  These 
commissioners  constituted  each  Congressional  township  a  separate 
town.  They  then  appointed  Monday,  Jan.  14,  1850,  as  a  day  for  the 
citizens  of  the  different  townships  to  meet  at  the  usual  place  of  hold- 
ing election,  and  determine  by  what  name  their  respective  townships 
should  be  called.  Accordingly  upon  that  day  the  people  assembled 
and  selected  the  following  names: 


Old  Name, 

Present  Name. 

Old  Name. 

Present  Name. 

Indian  Point, 

Indian  Point. 

Maquon, 

Maquon. 

Cherry  Grove, 

Cedar. 

Ohio, 

Haw  Creek. 

Galesburg, 
Henderson, 

Galesburg. 
Henderson. 

Persifer, 
Prince  Albert, 

Persifer. 
Copley. 

North  Prairie, 

Rio. 

Walnut  Grove, 

Walnut  Grove. 

Chestnut, 

Chestnut. 

Salem, 

Salein. 

Orange, 

Orange. 

Liberty, 

Elba. 

Knoxville, 

Knox. 

Chester, 

Truro. 

Sparta, 

Sparta. 

Worcester, 

Victoria. 

Ontario, 

Ontario. 

Fraker's  Grove, 

Lynn. 

Previous  to  this  the  county  was  divided  into  13  election  precincts. 
Beginning  at  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  county  they  were  as  fol- 
lows: Cherry  Grove.  Galesburg,  Henderson,  Pope  Creek,  Brush 
Creek,  Knoxville,  Littler's  Creek,  Haw  Creek,  Salem  (formerly  French 
Creek),  Spoon  River,  Chester,  Victoria  and  Fraker's  Grove. 

Considerable  dissatisfaction  began  to  be  expressed  in  regard  to  the 
township  organization.  It  was  discovered  that  according  to  the  law 
it  did  not  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  legal  votes  of  the  county,  the 
votes  cast  at  the  last  presidential  election  being  taken  as  the  number 
of  legal  votes.  According  to  that  it  fell  500  or  600  short  of  a  major- 
ity. At  a  meeting  held  at  the  school-house  in  Abingdon,  Feb.  23,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted  showing  the  feeling  then  existing  in 
parts  of  the  county  in  reference  to  the  new  law:  "Resolved,  That  it 
is  a  sense  of  a  majority  of  this  meeting  that  the  law  passed  at  the  last 
session  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  relation  to  town- 
ship organization,  is  unconstitutional."  It  has  not  yet  been  proven 
that  the  law  was  unconstitutional,  as  the  voters  of  Cherry  Grove 
precinct  announced  by  their  resolution.  This  shows  however  that 
they  were  dissatisfied  with  the  new  mode,  and  perhaps  knew  of  no 
other  way  to  console  themselves  than  to  declare  the  law  uncoiistitu- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  249 

tion'al.  In  the  issue  of  the  Knoxmlle  Journal  of  March,  1850,  Julius 
Manning,  a  wise  counsellor  at  law  and  a  man  in  whom  the  people 
had  great  confidence,  had  a  lengthy  and  able  article  upon  the  con- 
stitutionality of  the  plan  of  township  organization  as  adopted  by  the 
Legislature.  This  elaborate  opinion  was  given  at  the  request  of  the 
County  Court  of  this  county,  and  was  regarded  with  great  interest  by 
other  counties  who  were  discussing  this  same  question.  While  Mr. 
Manning  thought  the  law  was  constitutional  and  would  be  so  held  by 
the  courts,  yet  he  thought  that  it  was  not  legally  adopted  by  this 
county,  in  that  a  majority  of  all  the  voters  in  the  county  had  not  cast 
their  ballots  in  favor  of  it.  Subsequently  the  Supreme  Court  con- 
firmed the  able  counsel  given  by  Mr.  Manning. 

In  the  spring  of  1850  an  election  was  held  in  the  various  townships 
to  elect  Supervisors.  On  the  6th  of  May  the  Board  met.  There 
were  present  M.  Brown,  E.  H.  Jordan,  J.  Bunce,  S.  "W.  Brown,  D. 
K.  Moore,  I.  M.  Wetmore,  J.  DeLong,  S.  E.  Hale,  J.  Huff,  J.  H. 
Sumner,  G.  W.  Manly,  John  Stanley,  A.  Gross,  J.  Arnold,  G.  Cad- 
well,  Samuel  Tucker  and  J.  White.  Some  unimportant  business 
was  transacted  when  the  Board  adjourned  never  to  re-assemble. 

The  County  Court  soon  ordered  another  election  to  vote  for  or 
against  township  organization.  This  vote  was  taken  at  the  fall  elec- 
tion Nov.  5,  1850;  673  votes  were  cast  in  favor  of  and  317  against. 
While  this  was  a  decided  majority  of  the  number  of  votes  cast,  it  was 
not  a  majority  of  all  the  legal  voters  in  the  county. 

The  Knoxville  Journal  of  Feb.  4,  1851,  in  speaking  of  the  town- 
ship organization,  says:  "  Twice  has  this  measure  been  voted  upon 
in  this  county,  and  yet  it  has  not  been  adopted.  The  reason,  in  part, 
no  doubt,  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  under  the  present  form  of 
county  government  our  county  has  prospered,  has  kept  clear  of  debt 
and  has  a  surplus  in  the  treasury;  and  there  has  been  an  evident  dis- 
position on  the  part  of  the  majority  to  wait  and  see  how  township 
organization  works  in  those  counties  where  it  has  been  adopted." 

The  last  meeting  of  the  County  Court  was  held  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1853.  It  then  adjourned  sine  die. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

This  system  of  county  government  is  so  entirely  different  in  origin 
and  management  from  the  old  mode  by  count}7  commissioners,  which 
had  such  a  long  and  favorable  run,  that  we  deem  a  brief  synopsis  of 
the  differences  quite  pertinent  in  this  connection. 

Elijah  M.  Haines,  in  his  "  Laws  of  Illinois  Relative  to  Township 
Organization,"  says  the  county  system  "originated  with  Virginia, 
15 


250  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

whose  early  settlers  soon  became  large  landed  proprietors,  aristo- 
cratic in  feeling,  living  apart  in  almost  baronial  magnificence  on 
their  own  estates,  and  owning  the  laboring  part  of  the  population. 
Thus  the  materials  for  a  town  were  not  at  hand,  the  voters  being 
thinly  distributed  over  a  great  area.  The  county  organization,  where 
a  few  influential  men  managed  the  whole  business  of  the  community, 
retaining  their  places  almost  at  their  pleasure,  scarcely  responsible  at 
all  except  in  name,  and  permitted  to  conduct  the  county  concerns  as 
their  ideas  or  wishes  might  direct,  was,  moreover,  consonant  with  their 
recollections  or  traditions  of  the  judicial  and  social  dignities  of  the 
landed  aristocracy  of  England,  in  descent  from  which  the  Virginia 
gentlemen  felt  so  much  pride.  In  1834  eight  counties  were  organ- 
ized in  Virginia,  and  the  system  extending  throughout  'the  State, 
spread  into  all  the  Southern  States  and  some  of  the  Northern  States, 
unless  we  except  the  nearly  similar  division  into  '  districts  '  in  South 
Carolina,  and  that  into  '  parishes '  in  Louisiana  from  the  French  laws. 

"  Illinois,  which  with  its  vast  additional  territory  became  a  county 
of  Virginia  on  its  conquest  by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark,  retained 
the  county  organization,  which  was  formally  extended  over  the  State 
by  the  constitution  of  1818,  and  continued  in  exclusive  use  until  the 
constitution  of  1848.  Under  this  system,  as  in  other  States  adopting 
it,  most  local  business  was  transacted  by  three  commissioners  in  each 
county,  who  constituted  a  county  court,  with  quarterly  sessions. 
During  the  period  ending  with  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1847,  a  large  portion  of  the  State  had  become  filled  up  with  a  popu- 
lation of  New  England  birth  or  character,  daily  growing  more  and 
more  compact  and  dissatisfied  with  the  comparatively  arbitrary  and 
inefficient  county  system."  It  was  maintained  by  the  people  that 
the  heavily  populated  districts  would  always  control  the  election  of 
the  commissioners  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  more  thinly  populated 
sections, —  in  short,  that  under  the  system,  '  equal  and  exact  justice  ' 
to  all  parts  of  the  county  could  not  be  secured.  The  township  sys- 
tem had  its  origin  in  Massachusetts,  and  dates  back  to  1635. 

De  Tocqueville,  in  his  work  entitled  "American  Institutions,"  in 
speaking  of  our  political  system,  very  properly  remarks  that  two 
branches  may  be  distinguished  in  the  Anglo-American  family  which 
have  grown  up  without  entirely  commingling, — the  one  in  the  South. 
the  other  in  the  North.  He  discovers  the  causes  which  led  to  this 
condition  of  things,  which  are  apparent  to  the  most  casual  observer. 
"  They  arise,"  he  says,  "  not  from  design,  but  from  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances at  the  beginning.  The  planting  of  the  original  colony 
of  Virginia  at  Jamestown  had  for  its  design  the  single  and  naked 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  251 

object  of  pecuniary  profit  to  the  proprietors.  Its  mission  involved  no 
principle  for  the  benefit  of  mankind.  It  recognized  the  crown  of 
Great  Britain,  from  whence  it  derived  the  charter  of  its  existence,  as 
the  source  of  political  power.  There  was  no  recognition  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  self-government. 

"But  the  circumstances  attending  the  first  settlement  of  the  Col- 
onies of  New  England,  so  called,  were  of  an  entirely  different  char- 
acter. The  early  colonists  in  this  instance  were  non-conformists,  or 
dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England.  They  came  as  exiles,  fleeing 
from  the  wrath  of  ecclesiastical  tyranny,  whose  displeasure  they  had 
incurred, —  cast  out  as  public  offenders,  '  as  profane,  out  of  the 
mountain  of  God.'  Whilst  the  colonists  of  Virginia  came  with  the 
law,  those  of  New  England  came  against  the  law,  or  perhaps,  more 
properly  speaking,  without  law.  Thereupon  arose  on  the  part  of  the 
latter  a  positive  necessity  for  the  establishment  of  law  for  their  mu- 
tual protection.  The  result  was  a  written  compact, — this  being  the 
first  written  constitution  extant,  based  upon  the  general  good.  It 
was  the  first  time  since  the  'morning  stars  sang  together'  that 
the  people  themselves  met  in  council  and  framed  a  government  based 
upon  equal  rights." 

The  supervisor  is  the  chief  officer  and  representative  of  the  town- 
ship, and  it  is  his  duty  to  prosecute  and  defend  all  suits  in  which  the 
township  is  interested.  The  township  clerk  keeps  the  records  of  the 
township,  and  the  treasurer  takes  charge  of  the  funds.  The  establish- 
ment, vacation  and  repair  of  the  public  roads  is  committed  to  the 
three  commissioners  of  highways.  The  supervisor,  the  two  justices 
of  the  peace  whose  terms  of  office  soonest  expire,  and  the  township 
clerk  constitute  a  township  board  for  examining  and  auditing  the 
accounts  of  the  town. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1853,  each  township  in  the  county  elected  a 
supervisor  under  the  township  organization  law  which  was  then 
adopted.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  first  convened  June  6,  1853,  in 
the  court-house  at  Knoxville.  The  following  members  were  present: 
Daniel  Meek,  W.  Selden  Gale,  Keuben  Heflin,  J.  P.  West,  Geo.  W. 
Manly,  J.  M.  Foster,  S.  S.  BufFnm,  John  O.  Stemley,  Augustus  Lap- 
ham,  Wm.  M.  Clark,  J.  H.  Nicholson,  J.  L.  Jarnagan,  E.  P.  Dunlap, 
Peter  Frans,  Asa  Haynes,  E.  Crane. 

Since  that  time  the  business  affairs  of  the  county  have  been  under 
the  guidance  of  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  there  has  certainly  been 
no  county  in  the  State  conducted  on  a  more  enterprising,  yet  judicious 
plan  than  Knox  county.  The  Board  made  a  bright  record  during  the 
Rebellion, — a  record  that  will  grow  brighter  and  brighter  as  years 


252  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

pass  on.  They  have  also  been  ever  watchful  of  the  poor.  For  many 
years  the  county  house  was  a  miserable  affair,  no  credit  to  the 
county;  but  through  the  labors  of  this  body  of  officials  Knox  county 
now  has  accommodations  for  the  unfortunate  second  to  none  in  the 
State. 

It  would  be  unprofitable  as  unnecessary  to  present  in  detail  the 
numerous  orders,  reports,  resolutions,  etc.,  etc.,  of  the  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors. Their  proceedings  partake  a  good  deal  of  the  nature  of  a 
legislature.  Among  eo  many  men  there  are  always  some  cool  business 
heads,  as  well  as  a  good  many  glib  tongues.  Some  of  them  are  prac- 
tical, industrious  workers,  others  are  of  the  buncombe  order,  always 
ready  to  make  a  speech  or  a  voluminous  report.  This  has  always  been 
the  case  and  will  continue  to  be. 

In  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in  State  legislatures,  a  few 
men  do  the  work,  a  few  others  do  the  talking.  This  is  neither  ro- 
mance nor  exaggeration,  but  solid  history,  sustained  by  facts  as  old  as 
civilized  government. 

It  is  told  of  a  certain  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  that 
when  called " upon  to  act  as  chairman,  a  motion  was  made,  when  he 
very  solemnly  rose  to  his  feet  and  said,  "  Gentlemen,  you  hear  the 
motion  :  'tis  very  important ;  and  I  hope  you  will  second  it,  every 
one  of  you" 

One  of  the  most  important  questions  ever  brought  before  the  Board, 
and  one  that  proved  a  source  of  much  trouble  and  vexation,  as  well 
as  great  expense  to  the  county,  was  that  of  the  removal  of  the  county 
geat.  As  early  as  1856  the  question  of  removing  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment from  Knoxville  to  Galesburg  was  agitated.  The  rapidity  of  the 
growth  of  Galesbnrg,  with  its  railroad  facilities,  was  looked  upon  as 
more  favorable  for  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  than  Knoxville. 
Previous  to  1869  elections  were  held  for  the  purpose  of  voting  for  or 
against  the  removal,  at  each  of  which  the  proposition  was  defeated.  On 
the  6th  of  April  of  that  year  another  vote  was  taken.  The  returns 
showed  the  defeat  of  the  removal  by  247  majority.  The  question  of 
fraud  was  raised.  The  citizens  of  Galesburg  claimed  that  the  elec- 
tion at  Knoxville  was  held  in  an  illegal  manner,  that  illegal  votes  were 
cast,  etc.  The  case  was  carried  to  the  courts  by  Geo.  Davis  ,who,  on 
behalf  of  himself  and  the  people  of  the  county,  sued  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  and  county  officials  to  impeach  the  election  returns,  and 
to  purge  the  poll-book  of  illegal  votes.  The  case  came  up  in  the 
Circuit  Court  of  this  county,  when  a  venue  was  taken  to  the  Cir- 
cuit of  McDonough  county.  Coming  up  in  the  September  term, 
1871,  Judge  Higbie  decided,  after  throwing  out  what  he  considered 


•       HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  253 

illegal  votes,  in  favor  of  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  to  Galesburg. 

The  case  was  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  about 
three  and  one- half  years  after  holding  the  election  Judge  Walker  ren- 
dered a  lengthy  decision,  confirming  the  decree  of  the  Circuit  Court. 

January  30,  1873,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  ordered  all  records  to  be 
moved  to  Galesburg,  where  the  Board  convened  for  the  first  time, 
February  27, 1873.  They  met  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  and  without 
transacting  any  important  business  they  adjourned  to  the  Union  Ho- 
tel, where  the  two  following  sessions  were  held.  In  consideration  of 
the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  to  Galesburg,  that  city  officially  and 
citizens  individually  gave  to  the  county  the  following  lands  and  moneys: 

A  deed  for  the  lots  on  Cherry  street  upon  which  stands  the  fire- 
proof building  ;  a  deed  for  the  lot  where  stands  the  jail  on  Prairie 
street  (the  latter  was  given  by  A.  N.Bancroft);  a  deed  from  the  city 
of  Galesburg  for  the  east  half  of  College  Park,  provided  the  court- 
house should  be  constructed  thereon,  the  city  agreeing  to  furnish  room 
for  the  Circuit  Court  for  a  period  of  10  years,  and  to  pay  all  necessary 
expenses  incurred  in  removal  of  the  county  records  and  property.  The 
city  also  gave  two  certificates  for  $2,000  each  in  money  and  $20,000 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  jail. 

January  15,  1874,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  ordered  all  the  county 
property,  consisting  of  the  court-house  and  the  jail,  to  be  deeded  to 
the  city  of  Knoxville  for  the  consideration  of  one  dollar. 

No  court-house  has  yet  been  constructed;  but  doubtless  within  a  few 
years  the  work  of  erecting  one  will  be  pushed  forward;  and  as  in  all 
other  enterprises  the  Board  has  undertaken,  we  may  expect  a  building 
equal  in  all  respects  to  any  other  in  the  State. 

ALMS-HOUSE. 

For  several  years  the  committee  on  the  poor-house  farm,  in  making 
out  their  annual  reports,  spoke  at  length  of  the  unhealthful  condition 
of  the  buildings.  As  a  sample  of  several  statements  of  this  nature 
submitted  to  the  Board  from  185(3  till  the  alms-house  was  built,  we 
give  one  appended  to  the  report  made  in  January,  1865.  The  com- 
mittee was  composed  of  K.  W.  Miles,  John  S.  Winter  and  Cephas 
Arms. 

"Your  committee  do  not  feel  willing  to  let  this  meeting  pass  with- 
out calling  the  serious  attention  of  this  Board  to  the  condition  of  these 
poor  unfortunate  beings  whom  God  has  committed  to  our  especial 
care, — a  trust  that  your  committee  feel  this  honorable  Board  has  not 
discharged.  There  is  but  one  very  poor  building  for  the  poor-master's 
family,  and  the  paupers  have  six  rooms  below  and  two  small  chain- 


254  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

bers  above.  A  hall  running  through  the  building  divides  the  lower 
rooms.  Two  rooms  and  a  small  store- room  on  one  side  are  occupied  by 
the  family.  On  the  other  side  the  two  larger  rooms  are  used  during  the 
day  by  the  paupers,  and  the  small  room  has  been  fitted  up  as  a  grated 
cell  for  crazy  Hannah,  a  grated  partition  separating  her  from  the  stove. 

"At  night  the  paupers,  many  of  whom  are  idiotic  or  insane,  are 
locked  up  in  the  two  small  chambers;  and  this  with  the  present  class 
of  inmates  has  to  be  done,  irrespective  of  number,  and  almost  of  the 
condition  of  the  paupers.  From  this  brief  statement  it  will  be  seen 
how  illy  adapted  the  premises  are  to  purposes  of  a  poor-house,  even 
when  all  are  in  health;  but  when  any  one  is  sick  it  is  impossible 
to  make  them  comfortable;  and  especially  is  this  so,  when,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  man  with  the  frozen  feet,  it  becomes  as  a  loathsome  pest- 
house,  not  only  to  the  paupers,  but  to  the  poor-master  and  his  family; 
the  stench  from  the  gangrened  f,oot  filling  every  part  of  the  build- 
ing, and  sickening  the  inmates. 

"In  view  of  these  facts  your  committee  most  earnestly  call  upon 
this  Board  to  take  some  steps  to  make  such  improvements,  that  it 
may  no  longer  with  truth  be  said  '  that  the  poor-house  is  a  disgrace 
to  Knox  county.' ' 

Crazy  Hannah,  referred  to  in  the  above  statement,  was  certainly  a 
pitiable  subject  of  charity,  and  her  sad  condition  touched  the  finer 
feelings  of  the  committee,  as  shown  in  a  report  made  to  the  Board  in 
1863.  This  committee  was  composed  of  John  S.  Winter  and  Cephas 
Arms.  We  give  below  the  portion  of  this  report  referring  to  the 
unfortunate  being  who  is  still  an  inmate  of  the  alms-house,  although 
in  a  much  improved  condition. 

"We  cannot  pass  this  matter  and  justify  our  consciences  without 
referring  to  a  case  known  as  '  Crazy  Hannah,'  who  has  been  confined 
in  a  small  room  over  three  years,  unsafe  to  permit  to  go  out  and 
breathe  the  fresh  air  of  heaven,  compelled  to  live  within  four  close 
walls  until  her  destiny  is  fulfilled.  During  all  the  cold  days  and 
nights  of  winter  that  poor  demented  girl  cannot  approach  the  fire. 
Between  her  and  it,  at  a  safe  distance  from  kher  hands,  has  to  be 
placed  strong  iron  bars,  lest  she  should  set  fire  to  the  building.  With 
all  the  modern  improvements  for  heating  buildings  suitable  for  per- 
sons in  her  condition,  are  we,  as  citizens  of  Knox  county,  doing  our 
duty  to  the  unfortunate  of  our  county?" 

March  5,  185G,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  purchased  of  M.  G.  Smith 
the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  21,  Knox  township^ 
for  a  county  poor-farm.  The  deed,  as  recorded, states  the  consideration 
to  have  been  $3,000.  Two  additions  were  made  in  1866  during  the 


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HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  257 

agitation  of  building  the  alms-house, — one  June  15,  of  36  acres  from 
Win.  Y.  Miller.  The  deed  states  the  consideration  to  have  been 
$2,340,  but  by  an  order  of  the  Board  we  find  it  to  be  but  $17.50  per 
acre,  which  would  be  $630.  The  other  was  33  acres  from  John  Eads, 
June  17,  for  which,  according  to  the  deed,  $3,000  was  given.  In  1866 
the  Board  appointed  Rut  us  "W.  Miles,  L.  E.  Conger,  and  Cephas  Arms 
a  committee  to  build  an  alms-house.  Considerable  interest  was 
worked  up  in  selecting  a  location.  The  citizens  of  Galesburg  tried 
to  have  it  located  near  that  city  instead  of  the  present  site,  which  is 
that  of  the  former  building.  At  a  meeting  in  April,  1866,  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  the  following  members  of  the  Board,  were  ap- 
pointed to  select  a  location:  E.  S.  Hardin,  Orrin  Beadle,  L.  E- 
Conger,  and  Cephas  Arms.  A  majority  of  this  committee  selected 
and  bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24,  in  Galesburg  town- 
ship, for  which  they  paid  $8,000.  While  this  action  of  the  com- 
mittee was  approved  by  the  Board,  yet  the  land  was  not  used  for  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  purchased.  It  was  afterward  sold  for  $9,000. 
Supervisor  Gale,  on  behalf  of  the  city  of  Galesburg,  offered  to  give 
$10,000  if  they  would  erect  the  building  on  this  site;  but  the  Board 
secured  additional  land  adjoining  the  old  farm  and  decided  not  to 
remove  or  change  the  location.  Thus  the  location  was  finally  settled 
upon,  and  immediately  the  contract  of  erecting  the  building  was  let 
to  Wm.  Armstrong  for  the  sum  of  $26,000.  Only  one  wing  and  the 
main  building  were  erected  at  this  time.  The  full  amount  expended 
for  the  erection  of  this  portion  of  the  building,  for  furnishing  heat- 
ing apparatus  and  stocking  the  farm,  amounted  to  $39,037.21. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  building,  which  rates  only 
second  to  the  best  county  charity  institution  in  the  State:  The  plan 
was  drawn  by  W.  W.  Boyington,  of  Chicago.  The  building  is  of 
Gothic  style  of  architecture,  and  is  constructed  of  limestone  and  red 
brick.  It  is  two  stories  above  the  basement  in  height.  The  ground 
plan  is  166  feet  front  by  80  in  depth,  relieved  by  projection  ba}r  win- 
dows, and  a  general  irregular  outline.  The  grounds  are  large,  thickly 
set  with  shrubs  and  trees  and  well  kept.  The  exterior  view  of  the 
structure  presents  an  imposing  appearance  from  whatever  point 
approached.  From  exterior  observation  it  rather  resembles  a  sea-side 
hotel  than  a  country  alms-house.  The  accompanying  engraving  so 
fully  represents  in  detail  the  exterior  of  the  building  that  any 
minute  description  would  be  but  repetition. 

The  interior  of  the  edifice  is  in  keeping  fully  with  that  of  the 
exterior.  It  is  finished  throughout  in  a  neat  and  substantial  style, 
and  furnished  with  all  the  modern  conveniences,  which  are  especially 


258  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

adapted  to  the  accommodation  of  the  class  of  inmates  that  are  retain- 
ed there.  The  many  improvements  adapted  in  the  construction  of 
the  east  wing  were  suggested  by  the  matron,  Mrs.  Cleveland,  whose 
experience,  coupled  with  her  superior  judgment,  eminently  qualified 
her  to  dictate  alterations  and  additions  to  the  plans  of  the  architect. 
Each  and  every  room  is  amply  ventilated,  and  the  provisions  for 
lighting  are  all  that  could  be  desired,  there  being  a  large  double 
window  in  even  the  smallest  chamber. 

There  are  97  rooms  in  the  building,  besides  large,  well  lighted  cor- 
ridors. Of  these,  27  [are  sleeping-rooms  for  inmates  under  medical 
treatment,  23  are  cells  or,  properly,  screened  rooms  for  the  insane. 
The  remaining  47  rooms  are  devoted  to  various  purposes,  each  class 
or  condition  of  inmates  having  a'  department  to  which  they  are 
assigned. 

The  western  portion  of  the  structure  is  used  for  men,  and  the  east- 
ern part  for  women.  In  the  men's  department  on  the  main  floor  are 
dining-hall,  sitting-room  and  chapel  (in  the  latter  apartment  re- 
ligious services  are  held  semi-monthly),  and  sleeping-rooms,  with 
bath-rooms  attached.  On  the  second  floor  in  this  division  is  the 
department  for  the  insane,  being  a  tier  of  screened  rooms,  sick  rooms, 
school-room  and  nurse's  rooms.  The  eastern  division  has  similar 
apartments,  and  in  addition  has  a  large  sitting-room,  quiet  room  for 
old  women,  convalescent  department,  and  working  department,  where 
all  clothing  is  manufactured.  Every  article  of  clothing,  except  boots 
and  hats,  are  manufactured  within  the  building.  In  the  basement 
story  is  the  department  for  the  uncontrollable  insane,  the  laundry, 
ironing  room,  and  the  culinary  department,  which  includes  bread 
room,  grocery  room,  milk-house^  and  large  kitchen.  The  building, 
besides  these  apartments,  is  well  supplied  with  bath-rooms,  closets, 
and  numerous  miscellaneous  rooms.  The  whole  is  heated  by  steam 
radiators  supplied  from  heating  apparatus  in  the  basement  of  the 
west  wing. 

The  following  items  of  an  historical  and  statistical  nature  will  be 
found  of  interest,  and  are  compiled  after  careful  research.  Their  cor- 
rectness may  be  relied  upon : 

From  October,  1872,  to  September,  1878,  439  paupers  were  admit- 
ted as  inmates  of  this  charitable  institution.  These  included  15 
different  nationalities.  Of  this  number  229  were  natives  of  the 
United  States,  104  of  Sweden  and  Denmark,  55  of  Ireland,  1  of  France, 
13  of  England,  12  of  Germany,  4  of  Switzerland,  1  of  the  West  Indies, 
2  of  Norway,  4  of  Canada,  1  of  Poland,  9  of  Scotland,  3  of  Wales,  and 
the  nativity  of  1  not  known.  Total,  439.  Of  this  number  287  were 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  259 

males  .and  152  females.  There  are  at  present  109  inmates,  of  whom 
66  are  males  and  43  females.  Of  the  109  inmates,  25  arc  insane.  The 
largest  number  ever  admitted  any  one  year  was  in  1870,  when  121 
were  received.  The  number  of  deaths  occurring  since  1863  are  69, 
none  having  occurred  since  January  1,  1878.  The  number  of  births, 
30.  Number  of  married  persons  admitted,  153. 

The  following  item  connected  with  pauperism  in  this  county  should 
be  noted  by  the  tax-payers.  Though  startling,  it  is  based  upon  stub- 
born facts,  and  should  be  a  warning  to  those  who  indulge  in  a  mod- 
erate use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  to  the  young  man  whose  lips 
have  never  been  tainted  by  the  wine  cup.  When  we  consider  that 
three-fourths  of  all  the  persons  admitted  in  the  Knox  county  alms- 
house  are  brought  there  from  the  curse  of  intemperance,  we  learn 
some  of  the  direful  effects  and  consequences  of  the  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors.  .No  contagious  diseases  have  ever  prevailed  to  any  extent. 
The  oldest  person  ever  admitted  was  George  Felter,  who  became  an 
inmate  January  16,  1877,  at  the  age  of  89.  Mr.  Felter,  who  is  still 
an  inmate,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  is  probably  the  only 
one  living  in  the  county  who  fought  the  British  foe  at  that  time,  or 
indeed  that  ever  did.  The  oldest  person  in  the  house  at  present  is  91 
years  old. 

In  1874,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  a  supply  of  water  at  the 
alms-house,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  bore  in  one  of  the  wells, 
which  was  done  to  the  depth  of  175  feet.  At  119  feet  a  vein  of  good 
coal,  four  feet  in  thickness,  immediately  below  three  feet  of  slate,  was 
passed  through.  Failing  to  find  water  at  that  depth,  they  abandoned 
the  boring  and  sunk  a  large  well. 

Ere  a  decade  had  passed,  the  alms-house  had  become  too  small  to 
afford  the  best  accommodations  to  all  the  inmates.  Accordingly,  at 
the  July  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  1876,  the  alms-house  committee 
recommended  the  building  of  the  east  wing.  In  the  original  plan 
all  arrangements  were  made  for  any  necessary  additions  that 
might  be  needed.  Thus  in  less  than  ten  years  this  addition  is  re- 
quired, although  the  unfortunate  could  and  did  receive  better  care 
with  the  capacity  of  the  portion  already  constructed  than  in  most  of 
the  counties  in  the  State.  At  a  special  meeting  in  August,  1876,  2 1st 
day,  the  contract  of  building  the  east  wing  was  awarded  to  Parry  & 
Stevens,  their  bid  being  $17,000.  The  construction  of  this  addition 
was  rapidly  pushed  to  completion,  and  to-day  the  structure  stands  a 
harmonious  whole,  complete  in  detail,  beautiful  in  design,  and  perfect 
in  ordonnance  and  symmetry  of  architecture.  Thus  perfected,  as  shown 
in  the  accompanying  engraving,  Knox  county  unquestionably  has  one 


260  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

of  the  most  beautit'uf  and  superior  alms-houses  in  the  Northwest.  The 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  Cleveland,  is  endowed  with  native  ability  that 
especially  qualifies  her  to  have  the  charge  of  such  a  motley  class  of 
humanity  as  are  gathered  under  the  care  of  an  institution  of  this 
nature.  In  referring  to  the  excellent  manner  in  which  Mrs.  Cleveland 
discharges  every  duty  devolving  upon  her,  Dr.  McClelland,  the  county 
physician,  in  his  report  of  January,  1878,  in  speaking  of  the  house, 
says:  "  As  usual,  and  in  accordance  with  our  duty,  we  passed  through 
the  house,  closely  examining  every  division  of  it,  and  to  our  satisfac- 
tion we  realize  that  the  care  exercised  over  it  was  manifest  in  the 
order  in  which  we  found  it.  Its  condition  throughout  entitles  the 
matron  having  the  care  of  the  premises  to  the  heart-felt  gratitude  of 
all  who  have  an  interest  in  those  who  are  kept  there  from  necessity." 
Again  we  quote  the  Doctor's  language.  In  his  report  to  the  Board 
of  September  12,  1877,  he  says:  "In  passing  through  the  house, 
closely  examining  every  department  of  it,  we  have  realized  what  has 
frequently  been  stated  by  the  agent  of  our  State  public  charities, — 
that  for  cleanliness,  freedom  from  offensive  odor,  and  a  manifest 
bestowal  of  vigilant  care  exercised  over  the  premises,  the  Kuox  county 
alms-house  stands  unrivaled  in  our  State  as  a  model  of  praiseworthy 
order,  and  worthy  of  imitation  by  other  institutions  of  the  same  char- 
acter in  the  State.  Our  worthy  matron  is  not  especially  limited  in 
her  capacity  for  keeping  affairs  therein  in  order,  but  she  possesses  ad- 
ditionally the  rare  ability  essential  to  the  managing  and  keeping  sub- 
ject to  her  will  all  those  unruly  elements  that  are  submitted  to  her 
charge." 

We  can  give  no  better  detailed  description  of  the  manner  of  caring 
for  the  unfortunate  of  this  society  than  is  found  in  Dr.  McClelland's 
report  to  the  January  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  1872, 
which  we  give  bodily,  as  it  also  compares  the  mode  of  conducting  this 
institution  with  that  generally  adopted  by  public  charities: 

To  the  Honorable  jBoard  of  /Supervisors,  Knox  County,  Illinois: — 
The  undersigned  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report:  Since  the 
last  annual  meeting  127  persons  have  received  aid  at  the  almshouse. 
Of  this  number  85  are  at  present  inmates, — an  increase  of  10  over  the 
number  present  Jan.  1,  1871.  During  the  year  there  were  deaths,  by 
apoplexy  1,  old  age  1,  exhaustion  incident  to  insanity  1,  typho-mala- 
rial  fever  1,  albuminuria  1,  consumption  3  ;  total  8.  There  have  been 
during  the  same  time  3  births.  Of  the  inmates  at  present  in  the 
house  84  are  white  and  1  colored.  Those  not  protected  by  previous 
small-pox  or  vaccination  have  been  recently  vaccinated.  The  good  con- 
dition of  the  house  in  respect  to  ventilation  and  cleanliness  forbid  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  261 

occurrence  of  any  endemic  disease.  If  not  considered  intrusive,  I 
would  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  the  honorable  Board  to  certain 
faults  found  by  the  Board  of  State  Commissioners  of  Public  Chari- 
ties in  the  management  of  paupers  in  the  various  counties  of  the 
State,  to  show  that  so  far  as  Knox  county  is  concerned  we  can  plead 
"not  guilty." 

First,  the  fanning  out  of  paupers  to  the  lowest  bidder. 

Second,  the  payment,  under  any  circumstances,  of  a  weekly  stipend 
per  capita  for  food  and  other  necessaries  of  life. 

The  third  fault  found  has  reference  to  the  medical  care  of  the  fam- 
ily. Whatever  medicines  or  medical  appliance,  the  pauper  family 
need  they  receive,  the  county  at  no  time  restricting  the  physician  in 
this  matter. 

Fourth,  has  reference  to  a  certain  annoyance  which  in  this  county 
is  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

Fifth,  pauper  children  are  almost  without  exception  uninstructed 
and  untrained.  This  county  is  an  exception.  Children  of  the  proper 
age  are  sent  to  the  city  schools,  and  the  fault  is  with  them  if  they  are 
not  instructed. 

Sixth,  refers  to  the  condition  of  the  insane  and  idiotic.  This  class 
receives  an  abundance  of  light  and  air,  are  kept  clean  and  warm,  have 
an  abundance  to  eat  and  good  beds  to  sleep  on. 

Seventh,  refers  to  epileptics.  Same  answer  may  be  returned  as  to 
fault  sixth. 

Eighth,  clothing  and  bedding  plenty  and  good. 

Ninth,  "houses  slovenly  in  appearance  and  inmates  unsupplied 
with  proper  appliances  for  personal  cleanliness."  Knox  county  alms- 
house  speaks  for  itself.  Our  paupers  would  not  be  known  by  their 
clothes. 

Tenth,  refers  to  classification  of  paupers.  This  cannot  be  done  in 
our  alms-house  till  the  building  is  completed.  [This  has  since  been 
done  and  the  inmates  assigned  to  their  various  departments.] 

Eleventh,  "scarcely  a  county  in  the  State  in  which  any  attempt  is 
made  to  impart  either  secular  or  religious  instructions  to  the  pauper." 
The  matron  has  assumed  it  as  one  of  her  duties  to  read  to  the  family 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  from  time  to  time  the  pastors  of  the  city  churches 
have  exercises  in  the  alms-house  chapel.  Publishers  of  the  Galesburg 
Register  and  of  the  Knox  County  Democrat  have  kindly  sent  copies 
of  their  papers  regularly  to  the  alms-house  the  past  year;  and  in  be- 
half of  the  pauper  family  I.  would  return  them  grateful  thanks  and 
ask  a  continuance  of  the  favor.  There  have  also  been  Swedish  papers 
sent  to  the  family,  but  how  many  and  by  whom  I  am  unable  to  state. 
For  them,  however,  we  return  thanks. 


262  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  comforts  provided  by  Knox  county  for  the  relief  of  paupers 
doubtless  contributes  to  increase  their  numbers.  For  this  the  honor- 
able State  Board  suggests  enforced  industry. 

The  nature  of  the  causes  which  have  made  a  large  number  of  our 
family  fit  subjects  for  public  care  will  be  understood  from  an  inspec- 
tion of  the  annexed  table,  which  gives  nationality  and  sex: 

Nationality.  Male,     female. 

America   31  29 

Sweden 24  21 

Norway 1  1 

England -i 

Ireland    7  3 

Scotland 1 

Wales 1 

Switzerland ....    1 

Denmark 1 

West  Indies 1 

Germany 1 

Total 71  56 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  interest  to  know  that  Knox  county  stands 
first  in  the  amount  invested  for  the  care  of  its  poor,  $56,200  being 
value  of  buildings  and  farm.  Peoria  county  stands  next,  having 
$55,550.  Cook  stands  third,  with  $39.565. 

These  statements  are  made  in  answer  to  inquiries  that  are  frequently 
made  of  persons  that  are  in  any  way  associated  with  the  management 
of  the  institution. 

AVAR    RECORD. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors,  as  more  fully  shown  in  the  following 
chapter,  made  a  bright  record  during  the  Rebellion.  Scarcely  a 
county  in  the  State  was  more  active  or  further  took  the  lead  in  mat- 
ters relative  to  her  soldiery  than  Knox  county.  From  the  first  enlist- 
ment the  Board  was  willing  to  aid,  and  indeed  did  appropriate  money 
to  help  soldiers  and  their  families.  Especially  did  they  carefully 
watch  over  families  of  soldiers  and  abundantly  provide  for  them  all 
during  the  war  and  afterwards.  They  paid  out  over  $400,000  for 
bounties  and  providing  for  the  families  of  those  at  the  front.'  In  the 
chapter  entitled  "The  War — At  Home"  some  of  their  resolutions  will 
be  found.  But  among  their  most  important  acts  was  the  great  "Bounty 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  263 

Tax,"  which  we  will  now  refer  to.  In  1865,  at  the  January  meeting, 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  offered  large  bounty  for  recruits.  The  Pres- 
ident had  made  another  call  for  300,000  men.  Knox  county,  as  many 
other  counties,  failed  to  fill  her  quota,  and  accordingly  a  draft  was 
ordered.  In  order  to  induce  enlistments  Supervisor  Gray  offered  a 
resolution  giving  $250  bounty.  This  was  amended  by  a  substitute 
offering  $300  bounty.  A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  nego- 
tiate a  loan  to  pay  these  bounties.  This  they  however  failed  to  do, 
as  many  of  the  capitalists  feared  the  order  was  illegal,  and  therefore 
refused  aid.  Thus  it  was  that  funds  could  not  be  raised  from  that 
source.  Accordingly  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  Feb. 
27  to  devise  some  measure  by  which  to  raise  the  required  fund.  At 
this  meeting  Supervisor  Potter  from  a  committee  appointed  at  a 
special  meeting  held  Jan.  27  to  draft  a  bill  authorizing  the  county  of 
Knox  to  issue  bonds  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  money  to  pay  boun- 
ties to  volunteers,  (and  to  procure  the  passage  of  the  same  by  the 
Legislature  then  in  session)  reported  "  that  he  had  prepared  such  a 
bill  and  had  been  to  Springfield  to  procure  its  passage;  that  when  the 
bill  was  presented  to  the  Legislature  opposition  was  made  to  its  pas- 
sage by  citizens  of  this  county,  and  through  their  influence  the  bill 
was  defeated  and  the  authority  to  issue  bonds  was  withheld."  Thus 
another  scheme  was  killed.  However,  money  must  be  had;  so  at  this 
crisis  a  prominent  official  of  the  county  proceeded  to  Springfield,  drew 
up  a  bill,  which  was  afterward  denominated  the  "  Burchard  bill,"  and 
had  it  passed  through  both  houses  in  two  days,  immediately  return- 
ing home,  even  before  the  Governor  had  approved  it,  to  make  prepar- 
ations to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  bill.  The  Governor  had,  how- 
ever, before  leaving  the  State  capital,  promised  to  approve  it,  which 
was  done  in  due  time.  This  bill  provided  for  the  assessment  and  col- 
lecting of  a  special  tax  for  the  payment  of  bounties.  On  his  return 
to  this  county  a  special  meeting  was  convened.  The  Board  was  ap- 
prised of  the  bill,  and  thus  having  the  authority  to  levy  a  tax,  did  at 
this  meeting  order  a  tax  of  two  cents  to  be  assessed  upon  each  dollar's 
worth  of  real  and  personal  property  in  this  county, — this  to  be  known 
as  the  bounty  tax;  and  it  was  famous  for  the  promptitude  with  which  it 
was  paid.  Many  taxpayers  who  had  let  their  regular  taxes  go  delin- 
quent, paid  the  bounty  tax  on  demand.  The  collector  was  ordered  to 
make  his  return  by  May  18,  thus  allowing  but  60  days  for  the  assess- 
ment to  be  made,  the  books  prepared,  all  taxes  collected  and  returned. 
This  is  almost  an  unparalleled  case.  Over  $300,000  was  thus  raised 
within  60  days.  This  order  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  therefore, 
without  delay  and  without  the  payment  of  a  large  amount  of  interest, 
the  bounty  fund  was  raised. 


264  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Many  efforts  were  made  by  even  members  of  the  Board  to  exempt 
all  soldiers  and  soldiers'  widows  from  paying  this  tax  ;  but  seemingly 
no  legal  way  could  be  found,  and  several  years  after  an  effort  was  made 
to  refund  to  them  such  tax  as  they  had  paid  but  was  never  done. 

The  following  resolution,  although  on  the  subject  of  railroads,  shows 
better  than  anything  we  might  say,  how  the  people  viewed  the  war  as 
it  was,  the  results,  and  the  financial  condition  of  the  county  at  the 
time  of  its  unanimous  passage,  which  was  January  8,  1866.  It  was 
oifered  by  Supervisor  Gale,  from  the  committee  to  whom  was  referred 
a  certain  resolution  in  regard  to  railroad  freights  : 

Resolved,  That  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  our  country  and  the 
free  institutions  bequeathed  to  us  by  our  fathers  has  left  our  country 
burdened  with  a  debt  vast  in  proportions,  and  testing  to  the  utmost 
extent  the  endurance  of  the  American  people.  The  honor  of  the  na- 
tion requires  that  all  this  debt,  and  the  obligations  incurred  in  this 
great  struggle,  shall  be  fully  met  and  paid  to  the  last  dollar. 

That  the  credit  and  commercial  prosperity  of  the  country  are  pro- 
moted by  such  legislation  as  will  insure  at  an  early  day  the  resump- 
tion of  specie  payment  by  the  Government,  and  the  return  to  coin  as 
a  measure  of  value  in  commercial  transactions. 

That  the  people  of  Knox  county  are  ready  and  willing  to  accept 
their  responsibilities  and  bear  their  full  proportion  of  the  public  bur- 
dens. 

That,  asking  no  other  relief  and  no  other  favor,  they  have  a  right  in 
common  with  their  fellow-citizens,  to  expect  from  the  National  and 
State  legislatures  such  legislation  as  will  properly  adjust  and  appor- 
tion these  burdens, — as  will  develop  to  the  uttermost  the  industry  of 
the  country,  and  protect  the  people  from  plundering  monopolists  and 
office-holders. 

That  we  approve  of  a  tariff  on  foreign  importations  sufficiently  high 
to  protect  the  infant  manufacturing  enterprises  of  the  country,  and 
secure  the  development  of  our  vast  mineral  resources. 

That  we  believe  it  the  duty  of  the  Government  to  secure  the  open- 
ing of  every  natural  channel  from  the  grain-growing  districts  to  the 
seaboard,  which  is  worth  the  necessary  outlay,  and  to  secure  within  a 
short  period  a  railroad  communication  across  the  continent,  and  with 
the  rich  mines  of  the  interior. 

That  we  believe  the  control  of  the  great  highways  of  the  country 
has  been  too  long  intrusted  to  the  exclusive  management  of  men  who 
have  no  responsibilities  to  the  public,  and  who  are  expected  to  seek 
only  the  promotion  of  private  interests,  without  any  regard  to  the 
wants,  necessities  and  interests  of  the  public,  except  so  far  as  attention 
thereto  may  promote  such  private  interests. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  265 

That  while  we  do  not  propose  to  indicate  what  legislation  is  called 
for  in  the  case,  we  are  satisfied  there  is  something  which  requires  cor- 
rection,— when  a  railroad  from  the  city  of  Galesburg  to  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago can  in  one  year,  without  running  to  its  full  capacity,  earn  a  sum  of 
money  equal  to  its  entire  cash  cost,  and  when  the  road  through  this 
county  to  Peoria  can  collect  rates  of  freight  which  will  afford  a  fine 
compensation  for  wagons  drawn  by  horses. 

That  there  is  something  requiring  correction,  when  we  are  entirely 
deprived  of  the  important  markets  of  St.  Louis  and  Cairo,  except  in 
times  of  navigation,  notwithstanding  we  have  from  this  county  rail- 
road communication  with  both  ;  from  the  fact  that  the  connecting  rail- 
roads are  the  property  of  different  companies,  and  permit  the  passage 
of  no  freight  except  with  the  loss  and  delay  of  repeated  changes  of 
cars,  and  rates  of  freight  double  those  charged  for  similar  distances  on 
single  lines  of  road. 

That  the  construction  of  a  new  competing  line  of  railway  is  not  the 
remedy  for  those  evils,  requiring  as  it  does  an  impossible  outlay  of 
capital,  and  utterly  inefficacious  in  securing  that  connection  of  lines 
and  transfer  of  freight  without  suitable  provision  for  which  we  can 
never  realize  the  full  benefits  of  railroad  transportation. 

That  in  our  opinion  prompt  and  wise  legislation  to  effect  the  open- 
ing of  new  channels  of  trade,  the  improvement  and  proper  control  of 
the  old,  protecting  all  the  vested  rights  of  corporations  and  the  in- 
alienable rights  of  the  people,  is  essential  to  the  prosperity  of  the  coun- 
try, and  absolutely  required  to  enable  the  people  to  support  those 
burdens  which  must  be  borne  if  the  national  honor  is  to  be  sustained. 

The  Board  had  done  a  noble  part  by  the  soldiers  while  in  the  field 
or  at  home.  But  there  were  many  who  went  to  the  South  who  never 
returned,  sacrificing  their  lives  for  their  country.  Many  members  of 
the  Board  wished  now  to  honor  these,  desired  to  perpetuate  their 
memory  by  erecting  a  monument  to  their  honor.  Accordingly  at 
the  September  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1867,  Super- 
visor Sumner  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolution: 
Whereas,  many  of  our  fellow  citizens  fell  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
it  is  but  just  that  a  tribute  to  their  worth  and  patriotism  be  erected 
by  the  county,  and  their  memories  preserved  by  a  grateful  commu- 
nity; therefore,  resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  that  a  suitable 
monument  be  erected  upon  the  public  square  at  the  city  of  Knoxville, 
upon  the  tablet  of  which  the  name  of  each  citizen  of  the  county  who 
so  lost  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country  shall  be  engraved,  and 
such  other  memoranda  as  may  be  deemed  proper  by  a  committee 
hereafter  to  be  appointed  to  carry  out  this  resolution.  Supervisor 


266  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

McKee  moved  to  amend  by  inserting  that  when  the  monument  was 
built  it  should  be  at  the  county  seat.  The  subject  tabled  on  motion 
of  Supervisor  Whiting.  On  the  following  day  Supervisor  "Vaughn 
offered  the  following  resolution  in  regard  to  the  matter:  "Resolved, 
that  in  the  opinion  of  this  Board  it  is  not  now  prudent  for  the  county 
to  make  an  effort  to  erect  the  proposed  monument,  inasmuch  as  large 
expenditures  have  lately  been  made  by  the  county,  and  that  we  are 
not  now  in  a  condition  to  do  justice  to  this  matter,  and  that  the  reso- 
lution for  the  present  be  laid  upon  the  table."  This  was  favorably 
acted  upon,  when  Supervisor  Miles'offered  the  following  substitute, 
which  was  adopted:  "Resolved,  that  Messrs.  Simmer,  Vaughn  and 
Beadle  be  appointed  a  committee  to  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Board  the  probable  cost  of  erecting  a  suitable  monument  to  the 
soldiers  of  Knox  county  who  fell  in  the  service  of  their  country  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  great  Rebellion."  Nothing  more  was  ever  done 
with  this  matter.  The  county-seat  question  so  engrossed  the  minds 
of  the  people  that  'for  a  time  the  dead  soldiers  were  forgotten.  We 
hope,  however,  that  at  no  distant  day  the  sons  of  Knox  who  gave 
their  lives  for  our  country  will  be  honored  by  having  a  monument 
erected  to  their  memory. 

The  question  of  building  a  new  jail  had  been  agitated  for  many 
years,  even  as  far  back  as  1856;  and  as  the  county-seat  question  had 
been  settled,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  build  a  new  prison.  There 
had  been  paid  out  for  repair?,  guards  and  other  necessary  expenses 
on  the  old  jail,  enough  money  to  have  built  a  substantial  and  secure 
structure.  These  expenses  would  have  been  unnecessary  and  un- 
called for  if  the  county  had  had  a  good  prison.  Besides,  many  crim- 
inals have  gained  their  liberty  through  the  worthlessness  of  the  old 
prison.  On  the  14th  of  January,  1874,  there  were  presented  to  the 
Board  which  had  previously  advertised  for  them,  nineteen  bids  for 
the  construction  of  a  prison  according  to  a  plan  drawn  by  Wm. 
Quagle,  and  adopted  by  the  Board.  These  bids  ranged  from  $31,500 
to  $39,950.  Besides  these,  there  were  bids  for  different  portions  of 
the  work.  On  the  following  day  the  bid  of  Ira  R.  Stevens  was  ac- 
cepted. This  was  .for  $34,900.  Stevens  immediately  gave  bonds  for 
$10,000,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  contract.  Friday,  the 
16th,  the  Board  bought  of  A.  Burlingham  the  lot  adjoining  the  one 
given  by  the  city  of  Galesburg  to  build  a  jail  upon,  for  which  they 
paid  $2,650. 

Without  any  delay  the  work  of  construction  was  commenced  and 
soon  completed,  and  since  October  3,  1874,  the  .building  has  been  oc- 
cupied by  Sheriff  Berggren,  he  having  moved  in  upon  that  date. 


KNOX  COUNTY  JAIL,  GALESBURG. 


FIRST  JAIL,  KNOXVILLE. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  269 

Shortly  afterward  the  prisoners  were  conveyed  from  the  old  jail  at 
[£noxville  and  placed  within  the  stone  walls  of  the  new  structure. 
Since  then  there  has  been  a  large  number  of  persons  incarcerated 
iere,  none  of  whom  have  ever  permanently  escaped.  On  one  occa- 
sion three  of  them  broke  out  but  were  soon  recaptured.  The  work  on 
the  construction  of  the  building  was  done  in  an  excellent  manner,  and 
the  prison  is  as  safe  as,  and  presents  an  appearance  equal  with  any 
similar  structure  in  the  State,  with  one  or  two  exceptions.  The 
front  part  of  the  building,  which  is  occupied  by  the  Sheriff  and  his 
family,  presents  a  handsome  appearance,  and  the  whole  reflects  honor 
to  the  county. 

The  entire  building  is  in  height  two  stories,  with  basement.  The 
architectural  design  is  modern,  very  neat  and  well  proportioned,  pre- 
senting, on  the  whole,  a  light,  cheerful  appearance.  The  basement  is 
constructed  of  limestone,  with  the  exterior  surface  rough;  the  walls 
of  the  main  building  are  of  red  brick,  the  openings  being  trimmed 
with  stone  trimmings.  In  the  sheriff's  residence  are  ten  pleasant 
rooms  with  closets,  wardrobes  and  halls.  There  are  three  entrances, 
two  at  the  side  leading  into  a  corridor  between  the  jail  and  the 
residence.  In  the  jail  are  thirty  cells,  each  4%  by  7  feet  and  7-£  in 
height,  the  walls  of  which  are  of  six-inch  limestone  flagging.  The 
cells  are  arranged  in  six  tiers,  five  in  length  and  three  in  height,  one- 
half  opening  toward  the  north  and  one-half  toward  the  south,  into 
corridors  eleven  feet  wide.  The  upper  cells  are  reached  by  stairway 
and  balcony,  which  extends  in  front  of  each  tier.  Beneath  each  of  the 
lower  tier  of  cells  is  seven  feet  of  solid  concrete.  In  the  west  end  is 
the  prison  dining  hall.  Separating  the  dining  hall  from  the  cor- 
ridors are  partitions  of  seven-eighth-inch  iron  grating,  with  an  iron 
slide  door,  which  is  worked  from  the  hall  of  the  dwelling.  The  doors 
of  the  cells  are  all  locked  from  the  dining  hall,  so  arranged  that  the 
sheriff  or  attendants  are  not  required  to  come  into  contact  with  the 
prisoners.  Above  the  cells  are  large  iron  tanks,  from  which  the  pris- 
oners are  supplied  with  water  for  bathing  purposes.  Extending  from 
the  basement  through  the  roof  is  a  large  ventilating  flue,  with  which 
each  cell  is  connected,  and  affording  ample  ventilation.  The  outer 
door,  leading  from  the  dwelling  to  the  dining  hall  of  the  jail  is  solid 
wrought  iron;  the  inner  one  a  grated  V  door.  The  heating  furnace 
and  fuel  rooms  occupy  the  basement.  In  the  rear  portion  of  the  sec- 
ond story  of  the  dwelling  are  the  female  and  debtor  apartments,'con- 
sisting  of  three  large,  well  lighted  rooms.  There  is  also  in  this  part 
the  sleeping  apartment  of  the  turnkey,  and  a  large-sized  bath-room. 
The  iail  proper  has  also  bath-rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
16 


270  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

prisoners.  A  large  vault  is  in  tlie  main  part  for  the  storage  of  stolen 
property  recovered.  The  entire  building  is  covered  with  a  tin  roof. 
A  neat  fence  surrounds  the  clean,  well  kept  grounds,  which  adds  much 
to  its  general  appearance. 

Since  1872  there  have  been  incarcerated  in  the  county  jail  426  per- 
sons, consisting  of  men  and  women  both  young  and  old,  white  and  black, 
and  of  almost  every  conceivable  occupation  and  nationality.  Since 
March  4, 1873,  86  prisoners  have  been  conveyed  from  the  jail  to  the  Pen- 
itentiary and  13  to  the  Reform  School.  The  largest  number  ever  con- 
fined at  any  one  time  was  in  the  month  of  June,  1876,  when  36  pris- 
. oners  were  held.  At  present  there  are  ten;  half  of  the  number  being 
boys  incarcerated  for  larceny.  But  one  prisoner  ever  paid  the  death 
penalty  of  the  law, — he,  Osborne,  who  was  executed  by  Sheriff  Berg- 
gren in  the  jail-yard  at  Knoxville  on  the  14th  of  March,  1873. 

A.  W.  Berggren  has  held  the  responsible  office  of  Sheriff  for  six 
years,  which  is  longer  than  any  other  man  save  Peter  Frans,  who 
continued  in  the  office  ten  years.  Berggren,  however,  is  again  the 
Republican  nominee  for  the  office,  which  is  equivalent  to  an  election. 
He  is  a  man  eminently  qualified  for  the  position,  possessing  indom- 
itable will-power,  with  unwavering  firmness  and  decision  of  character, 
particularly  suiting  him  for  handling  the  worst  class  of  humanity. 
Coupled  with  these  traits,  which  are  especially  essential,  he  is  gifted 
with  a  pleasant,  genial  disposition,  safe  judgment  and  fine  business 

ability. 

At  times  considerable  interest  has  been  manifested  among  the 
members  of  the  Board  in  the  selection  of  chairman.  Perhaps  the 
oreatest  excitement  and  persistency  was  manifested  in  the  choosing  of 
a  chairman  in  1871.  Supervisor  Gale  nominated  A.  C.  Clay,  and 
Supervisor  Lacy  nominated  H.  J.  Vaughn.  The  first  ballot  resulted 
in  13  votes  cast  for  each  candidate.  The  second  and  third  ballots 
were  the  same,  while  the  fourth  stood  12  to  13.  But  there  not  being 
a  majority  of  all  the  members,  balloting  ceased  for  awhile,  when 
ao-ain  four  more  ballots  were  taken,  resulting  in  13  for  each  candidate. 
The  Board  having  adjourned  to  the  following  day,  it  was  again  re- 
sumed, the  9th  ballot  bringing  no  different  result.  The  10th  ballot 
was  taken  between  Yaughn  and  John  Junk,  resulting  13  for  each,  the 
llth  and  the  12th  the  same.  At  this  juncture  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  select  the  standing  committees,  showing  that  the  members 
feared  they  would  be  unable  to  elect  a  chairman.  The  Board  ad- 
-journed  until  afternoon.  When  they  convened  they  again  resumed  the 
balloting.  On  the  13th  ballot  J.  "W.  Hensley  received  12  votes,  Junk 
13.  and  Vaughn  1. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  271 

It  was  here  decided  that  a  majority  of  votes  cast  should  elect.  The 
14th  ballot  resulted  in  Beadle  13,  Vaughn  12,  Charles  1.  The  15th 
resulted  in  Vaughn  12,  Beadle  12,  Junk  1;  16th,  Charles  1,  Vaughn 
12,  Morse  2,  Beadle  11;  17th,  Vaughn  12,  Beadle  13,  Charles  1;  18th, 
Beadle  13,  Peter  Lacy  12,  Vaughn  1;  19th  and  20th  were  equally 
divided  between  Lacy  and  Beadle. 

Here  the  Board  adjourned  until  Thursday.  Convening,  they  resumed 
balloting.  The  21st  ballot,  Charles  13,  Beadle  13;  22nd,  Charles  13, 
Beadle  10,  Morse  1,  Clay  1,  Junk  1;  23rd,  24th,  25th  and  26th  was  a 
tie  between  Junk  and  Charles. 

At  this  stage  of  the  excitement  Supervisor  Nettleton  moved  that 
Messrs.  Gale  and  Charles  be  a  committee  to  nominate  a  candidate. 
This  committee  reported  that  they  could  not  agree  upon  a  candidate, 
but  that  they  had  cast  lots  and  would  report  in  favor  of  Clay.  They 
went  into  the  Treasurer's  office  and  flipped  a  silver  half  dollar,  Super- 
visor Gale  being  the  winner.  The  27th  and  last  ballot  was  then 
taken,  resulting  as  follows:  Clay  15,  Vaughn  11.  Clay  was  therefore 
declared  elected.  Thus  the  two  gentlemen  that  were  first  the  candi- 
dates closed  the  heated  contest.  This  protracted  contest  was  based 
upon  the  county-seat  question,  and  therefore  was  merely  a  sectional 
fight, 

From  the  organization  of  the  county  till  the  present  time  the  sub- 
ject of  roads  and  bridges  has  been  one  of  vast  importance  to  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  Perhaps  there  is  no  county  in  Illinois  that  has 
been  more  liberal  in  the  construction  of  bridges  than  Knox.  Large 
amounts  have  been  expended  each  and  every  year.  For  instance, 
in  187-4  two  bridges  were  built  at  a  cost  of  $8,254.  One  was  the 
Court  Creek  bridge,  $3.523,  and  the  other  the  Peoria  bridge,  $4,731. 
During  the  great  national  excitement  over  the  demonetization  of 
silver  by  the  45th  Congress,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  evinced  con- 
siderable interest,  as  expressed  in  the  following  resolutions,  which  were 
passed  unanimously  by  that  honorable  body  Thursday  Jan.  10,  1878. 
It  also  expressed  quite  generally  the  views  of  their  constituents. 

Whereas,  From  the  most  remote  ages,  and  among  all  nations,  gold 
and  silver,  either  exclusively  or  in  common  with  other  metals,  have 
by  common  consent  and  universal  custom,  as  well  as  by  enactments  of 
the  law-making  power,  been  established,  recognized  and  used  as  the 
representatives  of  value,  and  the  medium  of  exchange  of  property,  in 
other  words,  as  money;  and 

Whereas.  The  value  of  all  property  has  been  measured,  and  the 
rights  of  the  creditor  and  the  liabilities  of  the  debtor  class  in  every 
community  have  been  fixed,  limited,  and  defined,  by  the  conjoint 
money  power  of  these  two  metals ;  and 


272  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Whereas,  During  the  years  1873-4,  in  an  obscure,  indirect,  oblique, 
if  not  in  a  clandestine,  surreptitious  manner,  silver  was,  in  these 
United  States,  deprived  of  its  main  money  power,  this  in  its  immedi- 
ate and  remote  consequences  (if  persisted  in)  causing  a  greater  dis- 
turbance in  values,  and  a  greater  convulsion  in  every  civil  and  social 
relation,  than  any  event  that  has  transpired  in  the  history  of  the 
country,  whereby  the  purchasing  power  of  the  money  remaining,  that 
is,  gold,  is  generally  increased,  but  only  in  the  great  depression  in  the 
selling  power  of  property,  whereby  the  value  of  all  securities  and 
profits  of  all  creditors  are  greatly  increased,  but  only  by  a  great  in- 
crease in  the  burdens  and  liabilities  of  all  debtors;  whereby  the  rich 
are  to  be  made  richer  and  the  poor  poorer;  and 

Whereas,  Acts  of  legislation  are  pending  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  having  in  purpose  the  repeal  of  this  unjust,  unequal, 
and  injurious  legislation  and  the  restoration  to  silver  of  its  original 
full  money  power;  now,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  representing  in  this  ex- 
pression the  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  people  of  Knox  county,  that 
we  denounce  as  unjust,  unequal,  partial,  and  injurious,  the  legislation 
that  was  resorted  to  for  the  demonetization  of  silver,  and  demand  its 
repeal. 

Resolved  further,  That  the  Senators  and  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  from  this  State  have  our  hearty  approval  and  sup- 
port in  their  efforts  to  secure  such  repeal. 

Resolved  further,  That  we  respectfully  but  earnestly  present  these 
views  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  with  the  hope  that  he 
will  unite  with  the  other  department  of  the  government  in  restoring 
silver  as  money,  to  the  circulation  of  the  country. 

Resolved  further,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the 
records,  and  a  copy  thereof  be  furnished  to  the  members  of  Congress 
from  this  District,  to  the  Senators  from  this  State,  and  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

The  following  are  the  present  (1878)  members  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  with  the  name  of  the  township  each  represents: 

J.  W.  Butler,  Indian  Point;  J.  S.  Latimer,  Cedar;  G.  "W.  Gale, 
Galesburg;  W.  S.  Gale,  G.  Y.  Dieterich,  Thomas  McKee,  JSTels  Nel- 
son, T.  J.  Hale,  City  of  Galesburg;  H.  M.  Sisson,  Henderson;  L.  G. 
Bair,  Rio;  Samuel  McFarland,  Chestnut;  T.  W.  Sumner,  Orange;  D. 
M.  Eiker,  Robert  Higgins,  Knox;  "William  Robson.  Sparta;  G.  L. 
Stephenson,  Ontario;  L.  W.  Benson,  Maquon;  D.  W.  Aldrich,  Haw 
Creek;  R.  W.  Miles,  Persifer;  James  W.  Temple,  Copley;  Nelson 
Multer,  Walnut  Grove;  John  Sloan,  Salem;  William  G.  West,  Elba; 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


273 


Samuel  Tucker,   Truro;   Homer   Gaines,  Victoria;   Edward   Sellon, 
Lynn. 

Hon.  W.  Selden  Gale  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  Board,  having 
served  continuously  since  its  organization,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years. 


274:  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE     WAR  —  AT    HOME. 
THE  TOCSIN  OF  WAR. 

^ 

If  there  is  any  one  thing  more  than  another  of  which  the  people  of 
Knox  county  have  reason  to  be  proud,  it  is  of  the  record  they  made 
both  at  home  and  in  the  field  during  the  dark  and  bloody  days  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion.  When  the  dark  war-clouds  began  to  spread  over 
our  country,  each  and  every  one  hoped,  even  against  hope,  that  they 
would  soon  pass  away,  and  that  peace  and  prosperity  would  continue 
to  reigu.  But  such  was  not  to  be  the  case  ;  the  war  came  with  all  its 
attendant  horrors.  That  Knox  cou'nty  soldiers  nobly  did  their  duty 
in  saving  our  glorious  Union  the  records  of  Donaldson,  Stone  River, 
Shiloh,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca  and  a  hundred  other 
battle-fields  will  duly  testify. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1861,  the  rebels  who  for  weeks  had  been  erect- 
ing their  batteries  upon  the  shore,  after  demanding  of  Major  Ander- 
son a  surrender,  opened  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter.  For  hours  an  inces- 
sant cannonading  was  continued  ;  the  fort  was  being  injured  severely  ; 
provisions  were  almost  gone,  an,d  Major  Anderson  was  compelled  to 
haul  down  the  stars  and  stripes, — that  dear  old  flag  which  had  seldom 
been  lowered  to  a  foreign  foe:  by  rebel  hands  it  was  now  trailed  in  the 
dust.  How  the  blood  of  patriotic  men  of  the  North  boiled  when  on 
the  following  day  the  news  was  flashed  along  the  telegraph  wires  that 
Major  Anderson  had  been  forced  to  surrender!  And  nowhere  was 
greater  indignation  manifested  than  in  Knox  county. 

Immediately  upon  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  Abraham  Lincoln* 
America's  martyr  President, — who  but  a  few  short  weeks  before 
had  taken  the  oath  of  office  as  the  nation's  chief  executive, — issued  a 
proclamation  calling  for  75,000  volunteers  for  three  months.  The  last 
word  of  that  proclamation  had  scarcely  been  taken  from  the  electric  wires 
before  the  call  was  filled,  men  and  money  were  counted  out  by  hun- 
dreds and  thousands:  the  people  who  loved  their  whole  government 
could  not  give  enough.  Patriotism  thrilled  and  vibrated  and  pulsated 
through  every  heart.  The  farm,  the  workshop,  the  office,  the  pulpit, 
the  bar,  the  bench,  the  college,  the  school-house, — every  calling  offered 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

its  best  men,  their  lives  and  fortunes,  in  defense  of  the  government's 
honor  and  unity.  Bitter  words  spoken  in  moments  of  political  heat 
were  forgotten  and  forgiven,  and,  joining  hands  in  a  common  cause? 
the}7  repeated  the  oath  of  America's  soldier  statesman  :  "  By  the  Great 
Eternal,  the  Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved." 

Seventy-five  thousand  men  were  not  enough  to  subdue  the  rebellion ; 
nor  were  ten  times  that  number.  The  war  went  on,  and  call  followed 
call,  until  it  began  to  look  as  if  there  would  riot  be  men  enough  in  all 
the  Free  States  to  crush  out  and  subdue  the  monstrous  war  traitors 
had  inaugurated.  But  to  every  call  for  either  men  or  money  there 
was  a  willing  and  ready  response.  And  it  is  a  boast  of  the  people  that, 
had  the  supply  of  men  fallen  short,  there  were  women  brave  enough, 
daring  enough,  patriotic  enough,  to  have  offered  themselves  as  sacri- 
fices on  their  country's  altar.  Such  were  the  impulses,  motives  and 
actions  of  the  patriotic  men  of  the  North,  among  whom  the  sons  of 
Knox  made  a  conspicuous  and  praiseworthy  record. 

The  readiness  with  which  the  first  call  was  filled,  together  with  the 
embarrassments  that  surrounded  President  Lincoln  in  the  absence  of 
sufficient  laws  to  authorize  him  to  meet  the  unexpected  emergency, 
together  with  an  under  estimate  of  the  magnitude  of  the  rebellion; 
and  a  general  belief  that  the  war  would  not  last  more  than  three 
months,  checked  rather  than  encouraged  the  patriotic  ardor  of  the 
people.  But  very  few  of  the  men,  comparatively  speaking,  who  vol- 
unteered in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  call  for  75,000  volunteers 
for  three  months,  were  accepted.  But  the  time  soon  came  when  there 
was  a  place  and  a  rnusket  for  every  man.  Call  followed  call  in  quick 
succession,  until  the  number  reached  the  grand  total  of  3,339,748,  as 
follows  : 

April  16,  1861,  for  three  months 75,000 

May  4,  1861,  for  five  years 64,748 

July,  1861,  for  three  years 500,000 

July  18, 1862,  for  three  years 300,000 

August  4,  1862,  for  nine  months 300,000 

June,  1863,  for  three   years .....' 300,000 

October  17,  1863,  for  three  years 300,000 

February  18,  1864,  for  three  years 500,000 

July  10, 1864,  for  three  years 200,000 

July  16,  1864,  for  one,  two  and  three  years 500,000 

December  21,  1864,  for  three  years 300,000 

Of  this  vast  numbe*-  Knox  county  freely  furnished  4,163,  including 
100  day  men,  who  were  tendered  by  the  Governor  of  Illinois.  April 


276  HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

21,  1864,  and  accepted  by  the  President  two  days  later,  and  a  number 
of  colored  troops  in  foreign  regiments. 

The  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded,  meetings  were  held  in  every  town- 
ship, at  which  stirring  and  spirited  addresses  were  made,  and  reso- 
lutions adopted  admitting  of  but  one  interpretation, — that  of  un- 
conditional allegiance  and  undying  devotion  to  their  country  and 
their  country's  flag;  that,  at  whatever  cost  of  blood  or  treasure,  the 
stars  and  stripes,  wherever  floating,  must  be  honored,  and  the  su- 
premacy of  the  law  of  the  national  union  sustained. 

When  the  boom  of  the  great  guns  in  Charleston  harbor  in  the  spring 
of  1861  went  rolling  across  the  continent,  their  echo  penetrated  every 
loyal  heart  in  this  country.  They  had  scarcely  ceased  belching  forth 
their  iron  missiles  and  our  national  ensign  disgraced  ere  the  pat- 
riotism of  the  sons  of  Knox  county  prompted  them  to  rush  to  their 
country's  defense.  Perhaps  the  first  three  men  in  the  State  that  of- 
fered their  services  and  themselves  to  their  country,  were  from  Knox 
county.  These  honored  sons  were  G.  W.  Brambridge,  William  Mc- 
Bride  and  Jos  Gibbs.  all  of  whom  afterward  enlisted  in  the  First  Illi- 
nois Cavalry. 

The  appalling  news  of  the  fall  of  Sumter  had  just  been  flashed 
throughout  the  land  when  G.  W.  Brainbridge  proceeded,  although  at 
the  dead  hour  of  night,  to  the  residence  of  Jonathan  Gibbs,  of  Lynn 
township,  and  calling  the  old  gentleman  up  soon  acquainted  him  with 
the  sad  and  terrible  news.  Brainbridge  then  said,  "  Our  country  is  in 
danger  and  we  must  go  to  her  aid."  McBride  and  young  Gibbs  now 
appeared  when,  seemingly  to  more  forcibly  show  their  loyalty  and  de- 
votion to  their  country,  those  courageous  men  took  a  solemn  oath,  ad- 
ministered by  Squire  Gibbs,  "  that  they  would  remain  true  and  loyal 
to  the  Union,"  thus  solemnizing  anew  in  the  stillness  of  the  mid-hour 
of  night  the  declarations  of  love  for  our  noble  country.  To  make  the 
scene  still  more  impressive,  in  tremulous  tones,  yet  with  a  voice  of 
powerful  earnestness,  the  old  gentleman  exhorted  them  to  be  faithful 
and  true,  and  that  he,  in  his  old  age  and  weakness,  would  look  to  them, 
young,  brave  and  strong  as  they  were,  for  protection.  Could  the  most 
florid  and  fertile  imagination  depict  a  scene  more  beautiful  and  inspir- 
ing, yet  so  sad  and  solemn  ?  Here  stood  an  aged  patriot  surrounded 
by  three  noble  young  men  with  true  and  loyal  hearts,  ready  and  will' 
ing  to  offer  their  lives  as  a  sacrifice  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 
Contrast  this  picture  with  the  assemblage  of  traitors  in  the  Southern 
cities,  plotting  to  overthrow  the  best  government  ever  instituted  by 
man. 

Early  on  the  following  morning  the  trio  of  brave  boys  were  in  their 
saddles  and  on  their  way  to  Knoxville  to  enlist  their  services. 


HISTORY    OF    KXOX    COUNTY.  277 

As  there  had  been  no  call  made  for  troops,  of  course  no  enlistments 
could  be  received.  However,  they  placed  their  names  on  a  list,  thus 
setting  forth  their  readiness  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning.  G.  W. 
Brainbridge  headed  the  list,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  J.  B.  Smith. 

Within  a  short  time  a  company  of  100  cavalry  was  formed,  which 
camped  on  the  Fair  Grounds  at  Knoxville  several  weeks  before  orders 
came  to  go  South.  Provisions  were  brought  in  abundance  and  given 
to  the  boys  while  they  remained  there.  They  were  not  at  all  idle, 
but  were  ever  enthusiastic  for  the  drill.  Holenberg,  a  Swede,  and 
afterward  a  lieutenant  in  the  company,  drilled  them  daily  in  cavalry 
tactics.  Finally,  when  the  orders  came,  the  boys  quit  their  home 
camp,  bade  to  loved  ones  an  affectionate  fare  well,. and  were  borne  away 
upon  the  railway  trains  to  pitch  their  tents  in  the  enemy's  country. 
At  Quincy,  when  it  was  mustered  in,  this  company  was  christened 
Company  D,  of  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry. 

For  four  long  years  the  organization  of  new  companies  and  enlist-' 
ment  of  men  for  old  companies  whose  ranks  had  been  decimated  by 
disease  and  rebel  bullets,  was  carried  on.  Gray-headed  men,  who  had 
almost  reached  three  score  years  and  ten,  and  uoys  not  yet  out  of  their 
teens,  went  to  the  camp,  and,  through  the  most  urgent  solicitation, 
were  accepted  and  sworn  into  the  service.  Neither  age  nor  youth 
kept  them  back;  and  when  rejected  from  either  cause,  or  from  physi- 
cal inability,  would  insist  on  being  received,  believing  themselves  as 
capable  of  doing  a  soldier's  duty  as  thousands  who  had  gone  before. 
Four  thousand  of  as  brave  men  as  ever  handled  a  musket  or  drew  a 
sword  went  out  from  this  county, — many,  very  many,  never  to  return. 
If  you  go  with  us  to  the  battle-fields  of  the  South  we  shall  see  how 
there  fell  at  Stone  River,  Shiloh,  Mission  Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Chattanooga,  Chickamauga,  Atlanta,  Yicksburg  and  other  places, 
those  who  were  the  pride  of  fond  fathers,  loving  mothers,  and  unself- 
ish, devoted  wives.  We  shall  see  them  dropping  off  one  by  one,  and 
often  without  coffin  or  burial  shroud,  thrown  into  the  cold  ground, 
there  to  await  the  resurrection  morn,  and  the  reunion  upon  the  other 
side  of  the  river  of  death.  In  many  a  home  throughout  the  county 
we  find  the  vacant  chair,  and  witness  the  mournful  look  of  those  ever 
watching  for  one  that  cometh  not.  Upon  the  streets,  day  by  day,  we 
meet  those  wearing  sleeveless  garments,  or  walking  in  a  way  that  tells 
too  plainly  that  the  sound  of  the  foot-fall  is  not  made  by  flesh  and 
blood.  Inquire  the  reason,  and  we  shall  probably  learn  that  while 
charging  the  enemy's  lines  at  Yicksburg,  Shiloh,  or  elsewhere,  a  can- 
non ball  deprived  them  of  a  limb.  But  no  word  of  complaint  do  we 
hear;  the  only  regret  expressed  being  that  it  was  not  possible  to  do 
more  for  their  country. 


278  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  following  graphic  sketch  appeared  in  an  issue  of  the  Galesburg 
Free  Democrat,  in  1863,  and  is  but  a  true  picture  of  many  homes  in 
this  county  during  the  dark  days  of  this  great  struggle.  It  further 
shows  that  not  only  did  the  brave  boys  upon  the  field  suffer  inde- 
scribably, but  the  wife  and  little  ones  at  home  endured  suffering  be- 
yond the  power  of  pen  or  tongue  to  describe: 

Within  a  plain  but  tidy  room  a  mother  is  preparing  her  evening 
meal.     Upon  a  chair,  and  leaning  her  little  arm  on  the  window-sill,  a 
little  child  is  kneeling,  looking  far  into  the  dusky  shadows  that  en- 
circle the  brow  of  night.     Her  dark  eyes  have  a  longing,  wistful  look, 
and  on  her  brow  lies  one  of  life's  shadows.     At  last  she  speaks: 
"Oh!  mamma,  papa  has  been  gone  so  long;  why  don't  he  come?" 
The  mother  sighs,  and  her  heart  repeats,  "  so  long."     But  the  little 
one  must  have  an  answer,  and  mamma  tries  to  comfort  her — "  Papa 
has  gone  to  war,  dear;   gone  to  fight  for  his  country,  and  when  the 
war  is  over  he  will  come  back  to  see  mamma  and  little  Bessie." 
"But  it  seems  so  long,  mamma;  when  will  the  war  be  over?" 
"Mamma  cannot  tell,  dear;  but  we  will  hope  for  the  best." 
Their  frugal  meal  is  now  ready,  and  mother  and  child  sit  down  with 
heavy  hearts,  their  eyes  wandering  to  the  place  where  papa  used  to 
sit;  but  there  is  no  manly  form, — only  a  vacant  chair. 

In  the  mother's  heart  sad  questions  will  arise:  "  Will  he  return 
to  us?  or  will  some  swift- winged  bullet,  sped  by  a  traitor's  hand,  de- 
stroy the  life  so  dear  to  us?" 

Oh,  why  could  not  all  men  have  been  true  to  a  government  so 
mild, — to  their  country,  so  vast  and  grand?  Why  should  they  cause 
sorrow  and  death  to  o'erspread  our  land,  and  the  voice  of  wailing  to 
go  forth  from  every  fireside?  In  silence  the  meal  is  ended,  and  the 
little  one,  whose  eyes  have  grown  heavy,  is  taken  upon  the  mother's 
lap,  and  prepared  for  rest.  Her  little  prayer  is  said,  and  a  good-night 
kiss  for  papa,  she  falls  asleep,  and  the  shadow  is  chased  from  her 
brow.  But  the  shadows  hover  darkly  round  the  mother's  heart,  as 
she  thinks  of  distant  battle-fields;  of  wounded  and  dying  men  whose 
lives,  and  those  they  love  more  than  life,  have  been  given  up  that  their 
country  might  be  saved.  And  on  this  September  evening  a  terrible 
battle  has  closed.  For  three  days  they  have  fought,  and  now  the 
evening  shadows  unite  with  clouds  of  smoke,  and  our  army  is  victori- 
ous; but  the  ground  is  strewn  with  the  dead  and  dying.  Hark!  here 
is  one  who  speaks:  "Water,  water;  won't  little  Bessie  bring  me 
water?"  But  Bessie's  soft  hands  cannot  reach  him;  kind,  but  rougher 
and  stranger  hands  give  him  the  cooling  drops,  and  with  a  weary  sigh 
for  his  home,  wife,  and  little  one,  his  b'reath  is  gone,  and  the  brave 
heart  beats  no  more. 


COUNTYJUDGE 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  281 

Rumors  of  a  terrible  fight  reached  that  quiet  home  ;  then  came  dis- 
patches, making  rumors  facts.  How  long  and  dark  are  the  hours  of 
suspense  to  the  anxious  wife  and  little  one.  Eagerly  the  papers  are 
watched  for  every  word  concerning  the  division  in  which  was  the 
loved  one,  and  now  at  last  comes  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in 
his  regiment  ;  with  fast-beating  heart  the  poor  wife  takes  the  list  of 
wounded  first,  that  she  may  still  have  some  hope.  His  name  is  not 
there.  With  hushed  breath  and  heart  beating  faster,  she  scans  the 
list  of  the  killed,  until  she  comes  to  his  name,  the  paper  falls  from 
her  nerveless  hand  and  she  sinks  heavily  to  the  floor.  Bessie  bends 
over  her,  and  the  touch  of  her  soft  hands  and  the  sound  of  her  sweet 
voice  bring  the  widow  back  to  life  that  is  now  so  dark.  But  for 
Bessie's  sake  she  will  still  be  brave,  and  struggle  on  alone,  no,  not 
alone.  Bessie  is  still  with  her,  and  their  heavenly  Father  will  lead 
them  through  the  darkness. 

This  is  only  one  of  the  many  pictures  that  are  drawn  upon  the 
pages  of  unwritten  history.  Have  traitors  nothing  to  answer  for? 

0.  M. 

LIBERALITY  OF  THOSE  AT  HOME. 

"While  the  boys  in  blue  were  away  upon  the  tented  field,  the 
patriotic  men  at  home  were  not  idle.  Nowhere  in  all  the  North  was 
the  mission  of  those  who  went  to  the  front  better  understood  and 
more  highly  appreciated  than  in  Knox  county.  Those  who  remained 
at  home  said,  "  The  boys  are  between  our  homes  and  danger,  and  we 
will  not  forget  their  loved  ones,  but  will  provide  for  them."  This 
they  nobly  did,  from  the  day  the  train  carried  the  first  company  to- 
ward the  South  until  peace  reigned  once  more.  The  county  and  in- 
dividuals, with  magnaminity  never  surpassed  by  private  citizens  or 
public  officials,  provided  for  every  one  whose  husband,  father,  son,  or 
brother,  or  whom  they  were  dependent  upon,  was  in  the  field.  Good, 
noble  patriots  visited  each  day  among  the  families  of  soldiers ;  and 
now,  as  they  look  back  over  those  dark  and  trying  times  of  the  great 
and  final  struggle  between  freedom  and  slavery,  patriotism  and  trea- 
son, it  is  with  sweetest  recollection  of  having  done  their  duty.  One 
noble  patriot  who  is  to-day  beloved  and  honored  for  his  principles, 
justice  and  benevolence,  visited  among  soldiers'  families  every  day 
and  personally  saw  that  they  were  provided  for  as  well  as  his  own 
household.  Not  only  this  one  but  many  did  the  same.  It  would  be 
interesting  to  record  the  voluntary  contributions  made  by  the  people 
during  the  years  of  the  Rebellion,  but  that  would  be  impossible,  as  no 
accounts  were  ever  kept.  People  never  stopped  to  reckon  the  cost,  or 


282  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

to  keep  account  of  what  they  gave.  Whenever  money  was  needed 
for  any  purpose,  and  purposes  and  needs  were  plenty,  it  was  given 
and  paid  on  demand.  There  were  no  delays,  no  excuses,  no  time  for 
consideration  demanded.  People  were  ready  and  willing.  Hus- 
bands and  fathers  abandoned  homes  and  their  comforts,  wives  and 
little  ones,  for  the  dangers  of  tented  fields  of  battle,  assured  that,  in 
their  absence,  plenty  would  be  provided  for  their  loved  ones. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  after  enlistment 
of  volunteers  had  commenced,  the  first  bill  introduced  before  that 
honorable  body  was  for  the  support  of  volunteers  at  Galesburg  while 
awaiting  orders  to  march.  This  bill  was  introduced  by  Supervisor 
W.  Selden  Gale,  thus  evincing  at  the  first  opportunity  offered  that 
they  would  liberally  provide  for  those  who  would  answer  their  coun- 
try's call. 

Upon  the  same  day,  May  13,  1861,  Supervisor  Samuel  McCornack, 
who  was  a  zealous  and  earnest  official,  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tion: Resolved,  "That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the 
chairman  to  inquire  and  report  whether  it  would  be  expedient  for  this 
Board  to  appropriate  a  sum  of  money  for  the  support  of  families  of 
citizens  of  the  county  who  have  entered  or  may  enter  the  military 
service  of  the  country,  committee  report  to-morrow." 

This  resolution  was  immediately  adopted,  when  the  chairman  ap- 
pointed Messrs.  McCornack,  LeBaron,  and  Gale.  This  committee 
returned  the  following  report,  which  was  accepted  and  the  resolution 
adopted:  "The  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  county  should 
make  provisions  to  secure  from  want  the  families  of  volunteers  dur- 
ing their  absence  on  service."  The  committee  recommended  the  pas- 
sage of  the  following  resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  the  supervisor  and  assistant  supervisor  of  each 
town  be  authorized  to  render  such  assistance  as  in  his  judgment  may 
be  needful  to  the  families  of  volunteers  in  actual  service,  and  that  for 
such  advances  and  such  contracts  as  may  be  so  made,  the  county  will 
be  responsible." 

That  the  Board  of  Supervisors  were  loyal  and  patriotic  their  labor 
during  the  years  of  the  Rebellion  readily  shows.  They  loved  and  ven- 
erated their  national  emblem,  the  stars  and  stripes  ;  and  not  only 
would  they  sacrifice  all  in  defending  it  from  further  insult,  but 
desired  to  confer  upon  it  greater  honor.  Accordingly  the  following 
resolution,  offered  by  Supervisor  Maxey,  May  13,  1861,  was  unani- 
mously and  heartily  adopted : 

"Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Knox  county,  that  the 
Sheriff  be  required  to  erect  on  the  top  of  the  court-house  a  suitable 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  283 

standard  with  the  flag  of  the  American  Union  thereon,  and  that  the 
same  shall  be  displayed  during  the  sessions  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors and  Circuit  Court  of  Knox  county,  until  otherwise  ordered,  as 
evidence  of  devotion  to  the  Constitution,  the  Union,  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws." 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  bills  for  relief  of  the  fami- 
lies of  volunteers,  at  the  January  meeting,  1862,  of  the  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors, made  the  following  report:  "  That  we  have  examined  said 
bills,  and  find  them  to  amount,  as  corrected  by  your  committee,  in  the 
aggregate  for  each  town,  as  follows:  Galesburg,  $781.43;  Knox, 
$237.37;  Cedar,  $198.81;  Haw  Creek,  $69.74;  Chestnut,  $59.9t>;  On- 
tario, $173.29;  Maquon,  $92.94;  Victoria,  $23.81;  Elba,  Orange  and 
Rio,  no  claims;  Sparta,  $263.24;  Henderson,  $152.74;  Walnut  Grove, 
$73.78;  Lynn,  $20.95;  Indian  Point,  $271.23;  Copley,  $65.58;  Truro, 
$25.83;  Salem,  $66.54;  Persifer,  $8.  Total,  $2,583.52.  The  com- 
mittee, which  was  composed  of  Geo.  A.  Charles,  M.  B.  Mason  and  J. 
P.  Parsons,  attached  the  following  recommendation  to  their  report: 
""We  recommend  such  bills  be  allowed,  as  corrected,  and  in  future  no 
relief  be  given  to  persons  who  are  not  actual  residents  of  the  county. 
We  also  recommend,  as  we  see  charged  in  most  of  the  bills,  if  not 
all,  for  articles  which  appear  small  in  their  amount,  but  make  a  large 
proportion  of  the  aggregate  sum,  such  as  nutmegs,  allspice,  ginger, 
tea,  coffee,  etc.,  that  Supervisors,  in  giving  orders,  should  specify  the 
articles  proposed  to  be  drawn  on  such  orders.  And  we  further  rec- 
ommend, as  we  know  many  of  the  taxpayers  in  consequence  of  high 
taxes  and  hard  times  have  discarded  altogether  the  use  of  coffee  and 
tea,  that  Supervisors  also  discard  the  use  of  these  articles  in  giving 
relief  contemplated  in  the  former  resolutions  passed  by  this  Board." 

Large  bills  of  the  same  nature  were  audited  and  ordered  paid  at 
each  meeting  of  the  Board  for  several  years.  Sometimes  the  aggre- 
gate would  amount  to  over  $12,000.  Although  the  committee  recom- 
mended a  less  liberal  use  of  many  necessary  luxuries,  yet  at  each 
session  of  the  Board  bills  were  presented  fully  as  large,  showing  that 
those  for  whom  they  were  made  were  not  stinted.  At  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  held  July  31,  1861,  petitions  were 
read  from  the  people  assembled  in  mass  meeting  and  from  the  city 
councils  of  Knoxville  and  Galesburg,  asking  an  appropriation  of  $25,- 
000  for  bounty  purposes.  The  resolution  passed  by  the  mass  meeting 
is  as  follows:  " Resolved,  By  the  people  of  Knox  county,  in  mass 
meeting  assembled,  that,  to  encourage  enlistments  into  the  volunteer 
service,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Knox  county,  now  in  session  at 
the  court-house,  are  hereby  petitioned  and  recommended  to  appropri- 


284  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

ate  the  sum  of  $25,000,  to  be  expended  as  bounty  money  to  enlisted 
men  from  Knox  county  under  the  recent  call  of  the  President." 

The  following  resolutions  were  passed  by  the  City  Council  of  Gales- 
burg  July  19,  1861:  "  Whereas,  At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Gales- 
burg,  convened  at  Dunn's  Hall  on  the  17th,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  call  of  the  Government  for  more  troops  to  take  the  field  immedi- 
ately, at  which  meeting  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted:  Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  meeting  the  City 
Council  should  appropriate  a  liberal  bounty  to  each  resident  of  the 
city  who  will  volunteer  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and  the 
Council  is  requested  to  take  the  matter  under  consideration  as  soon  as 
practicable  ;  and,  whereas,  the  condition  of  the  country  calls  for 
immediate  action  to  make  it  more  effective;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  city  of  Galesburg,  that 
they  recommend  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  to  meet  and  appropriate 
the  sum  of  $25,000  for  war  purposes,  and  out  of  that  sum  they  offer 
as  a  bounty  to  each  able-bodied  man  volunteering  for  three  years,  or 
for  the  war,  the  sum  of  $50,  to  be  paid  to  them  when  mustered  into 
the  service." 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  of  Knoxville,  Tues- 
day evening,  July  29,  on  motion  of  Alderman  A.  W.  Martin,  the  fol- 
lowing paper  upon  the  same  subject  was  unanimously  adopted: 

"  In  view  of  the  recent  call  of  the  President  for  troops,  and  evident 
necessity  of  getting  a  large  number  of  men  into  the  field  at  an  early  day, 
and  considering  that  the  existence  of  the  United  States  Government  is 
in  peril,  and  that  in  the  absence  of  a  stable  government  there  can  be 
neither  personal  security  nor  security  in  the  possession  and  enjoy- 
ment of  property;  and  believing  that  the  people  are  fully  alive  to  the 
necessity  pressing  on  their  Government,  and  that  they  are  willing  to 
contribute  any  amount  of  money  necessary  to  subdue  the  existing 
rebellion; 

"  The  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Knoxville  do  re- 
spectfully request  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Kuox  county  to  appro- 
priate a  sum  of  money  not  less  than  $25,000,  to  be  expended  in 
bounties  to  volunteers  and  in  the  support  of  their  families,  in  such 
manner  as  the  Board  may  deem  fit." 

The  Board  was  convened  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  passing 
upon  these  resolutions.  Meetings  had  been  held  in  every  town,  patriotic 
speeches  made,  resolutions  of  duty  and  devotion  to  their  country  read 
and  passed  with  shouts.  But  the  above  resolutions  and  petition  were 
passed  by  a  large  mass  meeting,  and  by  the  City  Councils  of  the  two 
largest  cities  in  the  county,  and  so  unanimous  were  the  great  mass  that 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  285 

the  Board  could  not  help  but  regard  them;  indeed,  they  wished  to. 
Supervisor  Gale,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  report  a  plan  of 
action  for  the  Board  in  accordance  with  the  preceding  petitions,  re- 
ported by  offering  the  following  resolutions:  "Resolved,  That  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  will  pay  to  each  of  the  first  500  soldiers  enlist- 
ing for  the  war,  recruited  in  Knox  county  for  Knox  county  compa- 
nies or  to  fill  up  all  regiments,  or  who  may  have  enlisted  in  any  com- 
pany organizing  or  forming  in  this  county  under  the  President's  call 
for  300,000  men,  during  the  month  of  August  next,  a  bounty  of  $50, 
and  an  additional  bounty  to  as  many  of  them  as  shall  have  enlisted 
before  the  loth  of  said  month  of  $20; 

"  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  Board,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  audit  all  claims  for  such  bounty,  and  on  presentation  of 
suitable  proof  that  such  claimant  has  fulfilled  the  condition,  and  been 
duly  enlisted  and  received,  to  issue  suitable  certificates,  which  shall 
entitle  the  bona-fide  holder  or  owner  thereof  to  demand  and  receive  at 
any  future  meeting  of  this  Board  within  one  year  from  its  date  a 
county  order;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  committee  to  file  with 
the  Clerk  of  this  county  a  statement  of  all  certificates  issued."  This 
resolution  was  voted  upon  and  defeated  by  one  vote. 

Supervisor  Le  Baron  then  offered  the  following  as  a  substitute  for 
the  report  of  the  committee,  which  after  much  parleying  was  ac- 
cepted :  Whereas,  The  citizens  of  Knox  county,  in  mass  meeting 
assembled,  have  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors to  appropriate  the  sum  of  $25,000  to  be  expended  in  additional 
bounties  to  volunteers,  and  thus  secure  at  the  earliest  day  possible  the 
full  quota  of  Knox  county  of  the  300,000  men  called  for  by  the  Pres- 
ident to  aid  in  suppressing  the  rebellion,  and  restoring  peace  and  the 
re-ucion  of  the  States;  and  whereas,  similar  petitions  have  been  re- 
ceived from  the  cities  of  Galesburg  and  Knoxville,  from  their  respective 
City  Councils,  and  such  recommendations  meeting  with  our  hearty 
approval;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1st,  That  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the  enlistment  of 
volunteers  for  the  United  States  service  to  be  raised  in  the  county  of 
Knox,  there  be  appropriated  a  sum  not  exceeding  $25,000. 

2nd,  That  out  of  the  sum  so  appropriated  there  shall  be  paid  to 
each  volunteer  of  the  first  500  who  shall  enlist  in  such  service  on  or 
before  August  15,  1862,  the  sum  of  $50.  The  said  sum  shall  be  paid 
to  said  volunteers  when  and  as  soon  as  they  are  legally  mustered  in 
to  the  service  of  the  United  States.  The  right  of  the  party  entitled 
to  the  above  named  bounty  shall  be  decided  by  the  committee  having 
charge  of  the  appropriation,  upon  presentation  to  them  of  his  certifi- 


286  HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

cate  of  enlistment,  and  such  other  vouchers  as  may  be  required,  pro- 
vided that  volunteers  in  any  company  now  forming,  or  partly  or- 
ganized, shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  bounty  arid  that  the  bounty 
hereby  authorized  shall  only  be  paid  to  such  volunteers  as  have  not 
received  an  equal  or  greater  amount  from  any  other  source  than 
the  United  States  as  a  bounty.  And  whenever  any  volunteer  shall 
have  received  any  bounty  from  any  other  source  than  the  U.  S.,  the 
amount  so  received,  if  less  than  hereby  authorized,  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  part  of  their  bounty. 

3rd,  That  a  War  Fund  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  be 
appointed  to  disburse  said  appropriations,  under  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  Board.  That  the  committee  be 
authorized  and  required  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  with 
volunteers  enlisted  under  this  act,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  such 
portion  of  their  pay  as  they  are  willing  to  appropriate  towards  the 
support  of  their  families. 

4th,  That  all  orders  on  the  Treasurer,  under  the  authority  of  these 
resolutions,  shall  be  receivable  for  the  payment  of  the  tax  levied  for 
this  appropriation. 

5th,  That  the  committee  hereby  appointed  be  required  to  make  the 
necessary  arrangements  for  the  redemption  at  par  of  such  county 
orders  as  may  be  issued  under  these  resolutions,  and  be  authorized  in 
the  name  of  the  county  to  borrow  the  necessary  sum  of  money  at  a 
rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  ten  per  cent. 

6th,  That  said  committee  be  authorized  to  pay  such  bounty  to  such 
person  or  persons  only  as  have  been  or  shall  be  enlisted  at  a  recruit- 
ing office  in  this  county,  in  answer  to  the  call  of  the  President  for 
300,000  troops,  unless  the  committee  having  this  fund  shall  be  able 
to  make  arrangements  with  the  Governor  of  this  State  to  have  duly 
credited  to  this  county  on  such  call  such  men  as  shall  enlist  to  fill 
up  companies  previously  organized  in  this  county. 

7th,  That  this  Board  at  its  September  meeting  will  levy  such  a  tax 
imder  an  act  of  the  Legislature  entitled  "An  act  to  encourage  the  for- 
mation and  equipment  of  volunteer  companies,"  sufficient  to  meet 
all  expenditures  under  the  foregoing  resolutions. 

The  plan  promulgated  by  Supervisor  LeBaron  proved  practical, 
and  accordingly  during  the  remaining  years  of  the  rebellion  all  busi- 
ness pertaining  to  the  military  of  the  county  were  conducted  in  accor- 
dance with  them.  A  War  Fund  Committee  was  immediately  selected, 
and  two  days  thereafter  this  committee  advertised  in  the  county  papers 
for  volunteers,  offering  $50  bounty,  and  also  for  a  loan  of  $25,000  as  a 
bounty  fund.  This  committee  was  composed  of  the  chairman,  Hon. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  287 

J.  M.  Holyoke,  W.  R.  Le Baron  and  Cephas'  Anns.  The  County 
Clerk  prepared  some  elaborate  parchment  bonds,  or  certificates,  which 
were  bought  by  the  following  gentlemen  without  delay:  C.  PL 
Mathews,  $2,000;  J.  F.Dunn  &  Co.,  $5,000;  Phillips  &  Bro.,  $5,000; 
Timothy  Moshier,  $3,000;  Geo.  A.  Charles,  $2,000;  John  W.  Cams, 
$2,000;  Daniel  Fnqna,  $600;  P.  H.  Sanford,  $500;  Miles  &  Bro.,  $1,- 
000;  C.  Eunkle,  $2,500;  Miles  Smith,  $800;  Geo.  Woodmansee,$500; 
total,  $24,900. 

This  committee  borrowed  in  September  of  the  same  year,  $33,710. 
To  January  12, 1863,  they  had  paid  1,123  bounties  and  36  more  due. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  May  12,  1862,  the  committee  to  whom 
was  referred  the  bills  for  the  relief  of  the  wives  and  families  of  volun- 
teers, reported  that  they  had  examined  the  bills  presented  by  the 
several  supervisors,  and  ''have  recommended  the  passage  of  orders  for 
the  foregoing  amounts;  and  we  further  recommend  that  in  future  the 
appropriations  for  the  said  purpose  be  suspended."  On  the  following 
day  Supervisor  Jackson  offered  the  following  resolution  in  harmony 
with  the  recommendation  of  the  committee:  "Resolved,  That  no 
assistance  be  hereafter  rendered  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  to  the 
wives  and  families  of  volunteers,  after  the  said  volunteers  have  been 
in  the  service  of  this  State,  or  of  the  United  States,  for  the  period  of 
three  months;  but  in  lien  of  such  assistance  the  Board  recommend 
that  each  township  take  such  action  and  make  such  provision  for  the 
assistance  of  said  families,  residing  in  such  townships  respectively,  as 
to  them  shall  seem  meet."  This  being  an  important  question  the 
yeas  and  nays  were  demanded  on  voting  for  its  adoption.  The  vote 
resulted  as  follows  :  Yeas — Messrs.  Jackson,  Godfrey,  Hamrick, 
Lotts,  Robertson  and  Woods;  nays  —  Messrs.  Meek,  McKinnie 
Finch,  Newell,  Arms,  LeBaron,  Miles,  McCornack,  Buffum,  Wilson, 
Copley  arid  Gibbs.  The  resolution  was  thus  defeated  by  a  vote  of  six 
to  twelve. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  May  9th,  1864,  Super- 
visor Holyoke  moved  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  audit 
the  claims  for  the  support  of  the  wives  and  families  of  volunteers; 
which  was  adopted.  The  chair  appointed  Messrs.  Holyoke,  Stewart 
and  Knable  sakl  committee.  Supervisor  Potter  offered  the  follow- 
ing resolution  : 

"Resolved,  That  all  discharged  soldiers,  from  any  cause,  be  assisted 
in  the  same  manner  and  under  the  same  regulation  as  aid  is  ren- 
dered to  the  families  of  volunteers,  for  the  next  nine  months,"  to 
which  motion  Supervisor  Stewart  offered  the  following  amendment: . 
"Resolved,  That  we  understand  the  resolution  passed  at  the  May 
17 


288  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

meeting,  1861,  embraced  the  cases  of  deceased  and  discharged  soldiers, 
if  their  families  are  actually  in  need  of  assistance."  After  some  dis- 
cussion Mr.  Potter  withdrew  his  motion. 

The  Governor  made  a  call  for  soldiers  for  one  hundred  days,  and  with 
the  same  liberality  always  manifested  by  the  honorable  Board  they 
voted  the  boys  a  bounty  ol  $25.  Not  only  did  the  Board  want  the 
boys  from  Knox  county  to  have  bounty,  but  it  was  their  earnest  wish 
that  every  one  enlisting  from  the  State  should  receive  a  liberal  bounty. 
Accordingly  the  following  resolution  was  offered  by  Supervisor  Arms 
January  9,  1865,  and  adopted  : 

"Resolved,  That  our  Senator  and  Representative  in  the  General  As- 
sembly of  this  State  be  requested  to  use  every  effort  to  procure  the 
passage  of  a  law,  at  this  session  of  the  State  Legislature,  giving  to 
every  volunteer  who  may  be  credited  to  the  quota  of  this  State,  under 
this  or 'any  succeeding  draft,  the  sum  of  $300,  as  a  State  bounty." 

Call  after  call  had  been  made  for  troops,  and  every  time  promptly 
filled,  and  still  treason  was  not  crushed.  The  President  issued  another. 
Knox  county  had  always  filled  her  quota  quickly,  but  now  it  was  ap- 
parent without  some  extra  inducement  a  draft  must  be  made.  Ac- 
cordingly at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  Jan.  10,  1865, 
Supervisor  Gray  offered  a  resolution  that  the  county  pay  a  bounty  of 
$200  to  each  volunteer.  For  this  resolution  Supervisor  LeBaron 
offered  the  following  substitute,  which  was  adopted:  Whereas,  The 
President  has  issued  a  call  for  300,000  men,  and  a  draft  has  been 
ordered  to  take  place  on  the  15th  day  of  February  next  for  the  pur- 
pose of  filling  said  call;  therefore,  Resolved,  That  Knox  county  will 
pay  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  each  acceptable  recruit,  to 
make  up  the  deficiency  of  any  town  in  Knox  county,  to  be  paid  on 
the  certificate  of  the  Provost  Marshal  of  the  5th  district  that  said  re- 
cruit is  accepted  and  duly  credited  to  some  town  in  this  county. 

Resolved,  That  any  town  in  said  county  that  may  have  furnished,  or 
shall  furnish  any  recruit,  by  town  authority  or  association,  to  fill 
deficiency  of  said  town,  such  town  shall  be  entitled,  from  the  county 
treasury,  to  the  sum  of  $300  bounty  for  each  recruit  so  furnished. 

On  motion,  the  foregoing  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  January  27, 1865, 
Supervisor  Stewart  offered  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  the  soldiers  now  in  the  field,  or  those  who  may  here- 
after volunteer,  the  widows  of  deceased  soldiers,  and  widows  who  have 
sons  in  the  army,  or  who  may  hereafter  volunteer  from  the  county  ot 
Knox,  shall  be  exempt  from  the  payment  of  the  bounty  tax  levied,  or 
to  be  levied,  to  pay  the  bounty  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  289 


at  the  regular  January  meeting  of  this  Board,  was  amended  so  as  to 
read,  "Provided,  it  does  not  conflict  with  (the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  State  of  Illinois."  Unanimously  adopted  as  amended. 

Kichrnond  had  fallen,  the  war  ended,  yet  there  were  soldiers  .who 
never  returned  to  their  families;  others  came  crippled,  broken  in 
health.  Such  must  be  provided  lor,  and  the  families  of  those  who  died 
on  Southern  soil.  This  subject  elicited  the  following  resolutions, 
offered,  by  Supervisor  Drinlap  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  May  1, 
1866: 

?  Resolved,  That  this  Board  adopt  and  ratify  the  resolution  passed 
at  its  laat  meeting,  refusing  further  aid  to  families  of  volunteers  by  the 
county,  from  and  after  this  date."  Supervisor  Vaughn  offered  the 
following  as  an  amendment: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Supervisor  of  each  town  be  and  is  hereby  au- 
thorized to  extend  aid  to  the  families  of  volunteers  who  are  still  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  or  who  have  died  or  been  disabled  in  such 
service,  when  such  families  are  really  in  need  of  such  aid;  and  although 
the  families  of  any  deceased  soldiers  may  receive  a  pension  from  the 
Government,  of  eight  dollars  per  month,  this  shall  be  no  bar  to  such 
aid  when  absolutely  needed* any  resolution  of  the  Board  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding;"  which  was  adopted. 

SOLDIERS'  AID  SOCIETY. 

The  people  were  liberal  as  well  as  patriotic;  and  while  the  men  were 
busy  enlisting,  organizing  and  equipping  companies,  the  ladies  were 
no  less  active. 

The  continued  need  of  money  to  obtain  comforts  and  necessaries  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  of  our  army,  suggested  to  the  loyal  women  of 
the  North  many  and  various  devices  for  the  raising  of  funds.  Every 
city,  town  and  village  had  its  fair,  festival,  picnic,  excursion,  con- 
cert, which  netted  more  or  less  to  the  cause  of  hospital  relief,  accord- 
ing to  the  population  of  the  place  and  the  amount  of  energy  and 
patriotism  displayed  on  such  occasions. 

The  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  of  Knox  county  did  a  noble,  generous 
work;  and  one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  county's  history  is  that 
which  records  their  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers.  Their  devotion 
to  the  loyal  principles  of  the  national  government  was  undying,  and 
its  defenders  were  objects  of  their  deepest  sympathy.  We  believe  it 
not  an  exaggerated  statement  when  we  say  that  the  women  of  no 
county  in  any  of  the  States  of  the  Union-loving  North  made  a  brighter 
record  during  the  dark  and  trying  days  of  the  Rebellion  than  the 
patriotic  ladies  of  Knox  county.  In  their  efforts  to  palliate  the  suf- 


290  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

ferings  of  their  brothers  upon  the  Southern  fields  of  carnage,  they  were 
actuated  by  heroic  love  of  country,  devotion  to  kindred,  and  sympathy 
for  those  in  distress.  Though  physically  incapacitated  to  share  with 
them  the  toil  and  perils  of  battle,  yet  before  its  smoke  and  the  echoes 
of  its  artillery  passed  away,  the  offerings  of  their  hands  would  relieve 
their  pain,  and  inspire  them  with  holier  ardor  fur  the  cause  they  were 
defending.  The  number  of  weary  sufferers  on  the  field  of  battle  and 
in  the  lonely  hospital  relieved  by  their  bounty  and  cheered  by  their 
presence,  none  but  the  Recording  Angel  can  tell. 

Among  the  many  noble  women  whose  names  will  be  forever  en- 
shrined with  those  of  the  brave  defenders  of  our  country,  none  will 
shine  with  greater  luster  than  that  of  Mrs.  Bickerdyke,  who  among 
the  soldiers  was  generally  known  as  "  Mother  Bickerdyke."  She  was 
one  of  the  most  constant,  earnest,  determined  and  efficient  laborers  in. 
the  hospital  and  in  the  field  that  ever  relieved  the  wants  and  soothed 
the  pains  of  soldiers. 

In  August,  1861,  she  was  sent  from  Galesburg  to  Cairo  to  ascertain 
what  the  troops  stationed  at  that  point  needed  ;  and  after  remaining 
there  for  some  time  she  returned  home,  where  she  barely  continued 
long  enough  to  put  her  household  in  or^ler  for  a  more  prolonged  ab- 
sence. At  Donelson  and  at  Pittsburg  Landing  she  was  untiring  in 
her  efforts  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded.  After  the  bat- 
tles of  Missionary  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain  she  remained  in  the 
field  30  days,  and  for  four  weeks  was  the  only  female  attendant  upon 
the  wounded  of  the  former  battle.  At  Yicksburg  she  undertook  the 
difficult  task  of  correcting  abuses  in  the  use  of  sanitary  supplies,  and 
naturally  was  not  at  all  times  a  welcome  guest  to  the  officers  in  charge 
of  such  goods.  One  of  the  officers  applied  to  "  headquarters  "  to  have 
a  woman  removed  from  his  hospital,  on  the  complaint  of  improper  in- 
fluence. "  Who  is  she?"  inquired  the  General.  "A  Mrs.  Bicker- 
dyke,"  replied  the  Major.  "Oh,  well,''  said  the  General,  "she  ranks 
me  :  you  must  apply  to  President  Lincoln."  This  distinguished  com- 
mander was  none  other  than  General  Grant. 

We  give  another  of  Mother  Bickerdyke's  operations,  as  it  is  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Knox  county.  Her  re-organization  of  the 
Memphis  hospital  is  historic, — how  she  transformed  the  filthy,  uncom- 
fortable Gayoso  into  a  model  of  neatness  and  comfort.  But  she  found 
it  impossible  to  obtain  milk,  butter  and  eggs  for  her  boys,  and  these 
were  prime  necessities.  "  I  know  where  I  can  get  them,"  said  this 
indomitable  woman;  "  the  farmers  of  Knox  county  have  plenty  of  cows 
and  chickens,  and  they  will  give  them  to  me  if  I  ask  them."  Accord- 
in  My  she  came  north,  and  one  dismal  day  burst  in  upon  the  u  Soldiers' 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  293 

Aid  Society  "  like  a  thunder-clap,  seized  the  Secretary  and  marched 
her  off  with  no  explanation  further  than,  "I  have  need  for  you.'' 
Away  they  went,  through  the  storm  and  the  gathering  blackness  of 
night,  to  Ontario,  where  a  meeting  was  convened  to  listen  to  a  re- 
turned soldier.  There  Mrs.  Bickerdyko  told  her  story  in  her  own 
rough  way,  but  eloquent  with  the  heart  back  of  it.  A  number  of 
cows  were  pledged  immediately.  The  next  morning  the  two  ladies 
started  out,  calling  at  the  farm-houses  through  the  neighborhood,  and 
on  the  route  home,  telling  at  each  the  story  of  the  needs  of  our 
sick  and  wounded  boys.  The  result  was  that  in  less  than  a  week  Mrs. 
Bickerdyke  was  returning  to  Memphis  triumphant,  with  two  hundred 
cows  and  a  thousand  hens  on  her  train.  Such  a  lowing  and  a  cackling 
was  never  before  heard  in  that  city.  It  so  jarred  the  sensitive  nerves 
of  the  secessionists  that  they  complained,  to  the  .commanding  General 
of  Mrs.  Bickerdyke  and  her  noisy  flocks  and  herds  as  a  nuisance. 

Grant  assigned  her  President's  Island,  where  her  chickens  cackled 
to  their  hearts'  content  and  laid  eggs  proportionately,  and  her  cows 
grew  fat  and  poured  out  milk  in  abundance.  Here  they  remained 
till  the  hospitals  were  closed,  when  they  were — almost  all  of  them  we 
believe — distributed  among  the  poor  contrabands,  who  bad  proven 
their  fidelity  by  efficient  service  during  the  war.  The  history  of  some 
of  these  cows  is  so  romantic  and  full  of  interest  that  it  deserves  to  be 
preserved.  Often  after,  when  Mother  Bickerdyke  went  south,  she 
made  inquiries  after  her  cows. 

Distinguished,  from  the  outset  of  her  efforts,  by  her  practical  good 
sense,  firmness  in  maintaining  the  rights  of  the  soldiers  and  an  un- 
ceasing energy,  she  was  soon  known  among  all  western  soldiers  as 
one  of  their  best  and  most  faithful  friends. 

After  the  war  Mrs.  Bickerdyke  moved  to  the  West,  often  returning 
to  her  old  home  in  Galesburg,  where  she  had  buried  her  husband  and 
where  she  had  so  many  warm  friends.  During  the  famine  in  Kansas 
a  few  years  ago  her  generous  heart  prompted  her  again  to  engage  in 
her  labor  of  providing  for  the  suffering.  She  came  to  Galesburg,  and 
in  the  county  raised  and  shipped  to  Kansas  ten  car-loads  of  provision, 
much  clothing  and  considerable  money.  This  noble  woman  resides  in 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming  Territory,  where  she  is  engaged  in  a  missionary 
and  charitable  work. 

Scarcely  a  hamlet  or  even  a  house  in  the  whole  county  which  did 
not  send  something  from  its  stores  to  hospital  or  battle  field,  and  in 
the  larger  towns  were  well  organized  soldiers'  aid  societies  working 
systematically  and  continuously  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  till 
its  close.  Many  of  them  failed  to  record  their  own  good  works,  but 


291  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  record  is  written  in  heaven  and  in  the  hearts  of  grateful  soldiers. 
Each  did  a  noble  work.  "We  give  a  sketch  of  the  Galesburg  society, 
whose  secretary's  books  have  been  placed  at  our  disposal  for  this  pur- 
pose, as  illustrating  the  work  of  all: 

At  the  first  call  for  troops  by  President  Lincoln,  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers for  the  17th  Regiment  was  raised  in  Galesburg.  The  ladies 
offered  to  make  up  their  clothing,  which  offer  was  accepted  by  Govern- 
ment, and  the  work  satisfactorily  completed.  Much  other  work  for  the 
soldiers  was  done  during  the  summer  by  the  ladies,  but  a  permanent 
organization  was  not  effected  until  Oct.  26,  1861.  From  this  time  till 
the  close  of  the  war  the  history  of  this  society  is  that  of  "patient  con- 
tinuance in  well  doing,"  days  and  nights  of  hard  work,  with  little  of 
romance  to  brighten  the  page,  but  with  plenty  of  self-sacrifice  to  hal- 
low it. 

A  few  figures  may  give  some  idea  of  the  money  value  of  their  work. 
This  society  disbursed  for  soldiers  and  soldiers'  families  during 

1862 $  2,397.82 

1863 2,686.66 

1864 5,806.89 

till  August,  1865 2,694.76 


Total $13,586.13 

During  the  same  time  Galesburg  sent  to  the  Christian  and 

Sanitary  Commissions,  aside  from  this  society $  6,614.73 

For  soldiers'  arid  freedrnen's  reading , 2,199.10 

and  paid  in  bounties  and  in  city  aid  to  soldiers'  families    39,950.00 


Making $62,340.16 

from  this  one  township  alone. 

At  first  the  work  of  the  society  was  mainly  that  of  making  cloth 
ing,  preparing  lint  and  bandages.  Soon,  however,  the  need  for  anti 
scorbutic  tood  in  the  army  became  so  pressing  that  great  exertioi 
were  made  to  secure  and  forward  fresh  vegetables,  pickles  and  fruits. 
Could  we  set  in  array  the  barrels  of  pickles  and  boxes  of  canned  fruit 
forwarded  by  this  society,  they  would  stretch  in  continuous  line  fro  in 
one  end  of  the  county  to  the  other.  These  supplies  were  sent  some- 
times direct  to  the  boys  in  the  field  by  trusty  agents ;  sometimes 
to  the  St.  Louis  or  Chicago  Branch  of  the  Sanitary  Commission;  to 
Miss  MarySafford,  Cairo,  "The  Angel  of  the  Gunboats,"  as  the  boys 
called  her;  by  Mrs.  Cunningham,  who  accompanied  some  of  our  Illi- 
nois regiments;  by  Mother  Bickerdyke.  After  its  organization  a  large 
proportion  of  stores  were  sent  through  the  Illinois  State  Com  mission, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  295 

whose  agents,  Col.  Williams  and  Mr.  0.  T.  Chase,  at  Cairo,  took  the 
greatest  pains  in  distributing  these  supplies. 

From  the  battle  field  of  Pittsburg  Landing  two  boat  loads  of 
wounded  were  sent  np  to  Quincy.  No  notice  of  their  corning  had 
been  given;  no  preparations  made  to  receive  them.  They  were  car- 
ried to  a  warehouse,  which  happened  to  be  empty,  and  laid  on  the 
floor  until  beds  could  be  improvised  for  them.  This  was  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Quincy  hospitals.  The  good  people  of  that  city  did 
what  they  could  to  alleviate  the  suffering  of  these  poor  men,  but  the 
task  was  too  great  for  them  and  they  telegraphed  for  aid.  The  Gales- 
burg  society  responded  promptly  and  generously,  and  from  that  time 
till  the  fall  of  1865,  when  those  hospitals  were  closed,  scarcely  a  week 
passed  in  which  stores  of  some  kind  were  not  sent  to  them, — clothing, 
reading  matter,  pickles,  dried  and  canned  fruit,  besides  perishable 
goods,  such  as  green  vegetables  and  butter,  that  could  not  be  sent  fur- 
ther south.  These  were  all  sent  to  Mother  Liebriech,  who  distributed 
them  personally  to  the  patients.  Hundreds  of  letters  from  those  men 
testify  their  gratitude  for  these  supplies.  Nor  were  like  expressions 
.lacking  from  more  distant  fields:  the  secretary  has  now  case  after  case 
,of  letters  from  the  boys  in  blue  telling  of  good  done  them  through 
the  work  of  this  society. 

Often  the  boys  brought  their  thanks  in  person.  One  day,  in  answer 
to  a  knock  at  her  door,  the  secretary  opened  it  and  saw  standing  there 
a  blue-coated  figure  leaning  heavily  upon  two  crutches;  the  face  was 
so  thin  and  pale  that  she  failed  to  recognize  it,  though  it  proved  to  be 
that  of  one  of  her  own  scholars.  "Don't  you  know  your  Charlie?" 
he  said,  so  pathetically  that  the  tears  sprang  to  her  eyes. 

After  resting  awhile  on  the  sofa,  he  told  his  story;  "You  saved  my 
life,"  he  said.  "I  came  to  tell  you  so."  In  answer  to  her  question- 
ing, incredulous  look,  he  told  how  he  had  been  sorely  wounded  at 
Chattanooga,  and  while  lying  helpless  on  the  battle  field  was  struck 
again  arid  again  by  rebel  balls.  At  last  he  was  carried  to  the  rear, 
unconscious,  and  so  severely  wounded  there  seemed  no  hope  of  his  re- 
covery. Here  Mrs.  Jeremy  Porter  found  him  and  brought  him 
back  to  life.  "The  first  thing  I  can  remember,"  said  Charlie,  "was 
Mrs.  Porter  holding  some  cordial  to  my  lips  and  saying,  'Drink  it; 
it  will  do  you  good;  it  came  from  home.'  It  did  do  me  good  in  more 
ways  than  one;  for  as  soon  as  I  was  able  to  hold  it,  Mrs.  Porter  placed 
the  bottle  in  my  hands,  and  on  it  I  read,  'Galesburg  S.  A.  Society. 
I  recognized  the  label  as  in  your  hand-writing;  the  sight  of  it,  with 
the  thought  that  the  dear  ones  at  home  were  working  and  praying  for 
us,  as  I  knew  you  were,  brought  me  back  to  life  again." 


296  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  preparation  of  this  blackberry  cordial  was  a  specialty  with 
the  Galesburg  society,  and  from  nothing  did  they  receive  more  grati- 
fying returns.  They  prepared  it  by  the  gallon,  the  cask,  and  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  C.  T.  Chase,  put  it  up  in  pocket  flasks  and  sent  it  to 
the  front  to  be  used  just  as  it  was  in  Charles'  case.  He  wrote  that 
from  personal  knowledge  he  believed  it  had  saved  hundreds  of  lives. 

How  was  the  money  raised  for  carrying  on  this  work?  In  many 
ways;  but  underlying  all  was  the  "willing  heart  that  gave  freely, 
whether  from  abundance  or  from  penury."  Membership  fees  in  the 
Society  (twenty-five  cents  annually)  brought  in  a  small  amount,  dona- 
tions swelled  the  sum;  but  the  chief  reliance  was  upon  entertainments 
and  the  one  great  fair  which  netted  over  four  thousand  dollars  for 
three  days'  work. 

Whenever  a  great  battle  or  any  other  emergency  made  unusual  de- 
mands, appeals  were  made  through  the  paper,  and  were  never  made 
in  vain.  All  classes  vied  with  each  other  in  responding.  Again  and 
again  and  again  did  the  men  in  Brown's  shops  and  in  the  railroad  shops 
take  up  collections  among  themselves  and  pay  into  the  treasury  one  or 
two  hundred  dollars  at  a  time.  Other  mechanics  and  the  teachers  of  the 
county  often  devoted  a  day's  wages  to  this  cause.  Merchants,  bankers, 
artists,  professional  men  all  joined  in  the  good  work. 

While  doing  so  much  at  home,  they  were  not  unmindful  of  the  calls 
abroad.  Articles  valued  at  $280.45,  donations  of  citizens  generally? 
were  sent  to  the  Chicago  Sanitary  Fair.  In  connection  with  the 
State  Agricultural  Fair  of  1864  was  a  sanitary  department,  to  whicl 
Knox  county  contributed  more  liberally  than  did  any  other  county  ii 
the  State.  Circulars  were  sent  to  some  responsible  person  in  every 
township  in  the  county,  asking  for  contributions  in  money  or  in  any- 
thing that  could  be  turned  into  money,  and  pledges  of  hospital  stores 
to  be  sent  direct  to  the  field  as  needed.  The  response  was  most  gener- 
ous. One  farmer  would  give  a  horse,  another  a  cow,  another  a  hog, 
another  a  load  of  hay,  and  so  on  down  to  a  dozen  of  eggs.  All  these 
donations  were  sold,  and  added  to  the  money  contributed  and  that  re- 
ceived from  sale  of  articles  at  the  fair,  netted  nearly  $1,000;  hospital 
stores  pledged  at  this  time  and  forwarded  afterward  amounted  to 
$3,000  more. 

Two  ladies  from  Galesburg  and  one  from  Knoxville  went  to 
Decatur  and  remained  during  the  fair,  superintending  the  department 
where  these  contributions  were  sold.  This  department,  ostensibly  de- 
voted to  fancy  articles,  contained  something  more  substantial;  for 
example,  a  corn-planter  given  by  G.  W.  Brown,  another  by  his  em- 
ployees, a  sugar-mill  from  Frost's  M'f'g.  Co.,  and  many  other  like 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  297 

things.  The  ladies  had  such  good  success  in  selling  these  that  Mr. 
Deere  of  Moline  told  them  he  would  donate  his  fine  plow  on  exhibi- 
tion at  the  fair  if  they  would  sell  it.  They  did  so,  and  several  other 
manufacturers  followed  his  example.  George  W.  Brown  then  con- 
cluded he  could  put  the  splendid  corn-planter  he  had  made  expressly 
for  exhibition  at  the  State  Fair  to  no  better  use,  and  he  gave  that 
also,  making  the  third  he  had  given  to  the  cause. 

But  this  effort,  great  as  it  was,  was  exceeded  by  the  Galesburg  San- 
itary Fair,  held  July  3d,  4th,  and  5th,  1864.  All  who  remember  the 
history  of  that  time  know  how  fearful  was  the  strain  of  that  closing 
year  of  the  war.  Grant  was  tightening  his  death  grip  on  the  Confed- 
eracy; thousands  of  men  were  required  to  do  it;  the  battle  line 
stretched  from  Chattanooga  to  the  sea,  from  Yicksburg  to  the  Gulf. 
All  these  thousands  must  be  cared  for,  and  they  needed  many  things 
the  Government  could  not  supply.  Demands  for  all  sorts  of  anti- 
scorbutic food  were  never  more  urgent.  But  potatoes  were  a  dollar 
and  onions  from  two  to  three  dollars  a  bushel.  The  usual  ways  of 
raising  money  were  not  adequate  to  the  demand.  So  it  was  decided 
to  have  a  grand  fair.  To  enumerate  all  who  contributed  to  the  suc- 
cess of  this  enterprise  would  be  to  give  the  census  of  Galesburg  and 
the  surrounding  country.  The  fair  was  held  in  the  old  Academy 
building,  then  standing  where  the  Union  Hotel  now  stands,  with  din- 
ing rooms  in  Colton's  Block  near  by.  It  netted  in  cash  $4,089.  Be- 
fore the  month  closed,  hundreds  of  dollars  of  this  money,  transmuted 
into  life-giving  stores,  were  making  glad  the  hearts  of  our  brave  boys 
at  the  front.  By  the  close  of  the  year  all  was  thus  expended,  or  used 
in  relieving  destitution  among  soldiers'  families  at  home. 

As  the  war  progressed,  the  care  of  soldiers'  families  became  an  im- 
portant part  of  the  work  of  soldiers'  aid  societies.  The  city  govern- 
ment of  Galesburg  expended  $16,000  in  this  work;  the  Aid  Society 
also  expended  large  sums  in  this  way,  arid  did  much  for  these  families 
that  no  city  government  could  do,  visiting  and  comforting  them, 
caring  for  them  in  sickness  and  helping  them  in  a  thousand  ways 
which  tender,  sympathetic  womanhood  alone  understands.  A  great 
deal  was  also  done  in  the  way  of  assisting  disabled  soldiers  to  secure 
pensions,  tra3ing  out  records,  looking  up  lost  papers  and  the  like. 

From  its  favorable  position  for  shipping  stores,  as  well  as  its 
ability  to  raise  the  money,  Galesburg  became  a  center  for  sanitary 
operations  for  much  of  the  county.  Smaller  towns  and  neighborhoods 
would  tender  their  services  to  this  society,  offering  to  makeup  bolts  of 
cloth,  if  they  could  be  sent  to  them,  or  to  fill  barrels  with  pickles,  if 
barrels  of  vinegar  and  spices  were  furnished.  Very  many  bolts  of  cloth 


298  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

were  thus  sent  out  and  returned  in  garments  ready  for  the  packing  box, 
and  hundreds  of  barrels  of  pickles  were  put  up  by  generous-hearted 
farmers' wives.  Hundreds — probably  thousands — of  one-gallon  jugs  of 
tomatoes  were  also  put  up  by  them  and  by  the  ladies  of  Galesburg,  and 
many  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  blackberries,  dried,  canned,  or  in 
cordial,  sent  on  their  mission  of  mercy. 

Do  these  statistics  seem  dry  and  commonplace?  To  some  they 
may,  but  when  the  despised  onion  saved  the  dear  one  from  scurvy,  or  a 
draught  of  blackberry  cordial  brought  him  back  from  the  jaws  of 
death,  not  the  spices  of  Araby  seem  more  fragrant  than  they. 

With  all  the  hard  work  this  society  performed  was  mingled  many 
things  which  live  pleasantly  in  the  memory.  The  work  itself  was  a 
great  reward,  in  the  feeling  it  gave  that,  thus  weak  women  as  they 
were,  they  were  doing  something  for  the  redemption  of  the  nation. 
Often  the  privilege  was  given  them  of  ministering  personally  to  regi- 
ments passing  through  Galesburg,  and  no  such  opportunity  was  al- 
lowed to  pass  unimproved.  If  there  were  time  for  but  a  cup  of  coffee 
handed  in  through  the  car  window,  that  cup  was  given,  and  be  as- 
sured it  was  the  best  that  even  Galesburg  ladies  could  make;  if  time 
allowed,  a  sumptuous  meal  was  prepared  for  those  whose  daily  rations 
were  hard-tack  and  bacon.  Then  the  entertainments,  whose  primary 
object  was  to  raise  money,  afforded  much  social  enjoyment  and  drew 
hearts  very  close  to  each  other. 

And  this  working  together  for  a  common  cause  was  a  bond  of  union, 
uniting  not  the  ladies  of  Galesburg  alone,  but  of  all  the  county  together. 
We  have  seen  how  the  lines  of  labor,  marked  by  prosaic  bolts  of  cloth 
and  barrels  for  pickles,  radiated  from  this  center  throughout  the 
county.  Occasionally  the  workers  came  together  that  they  might  see 
eye  to  eye,  and  gain  inspiration  from  the  light  of  each  other's  faces. 
The  most  notable  occasion  of  this  kind  was  June  4,  1863,  when,  in 
response  to  an  invitation  from  the  Galesburg  society,  a  county  con- 
vention of  ladies  assembled  in  Dunn's  Hall,  where  reports  were  re- 
ceived from  the  various  bands  of  workers  throughout  the  county,  plans 
for  increased  efficiency  discussed  and  adopted.  The  crowning  feature 
of  the  day  was  a  "  talk"  of  an  hour  and  a  half  by  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Liv- 
ermore.  She  had  just  returned  from  her  visit  to  the  camps  around 
Vicksburg,  and  her  heart  was  full  of  the  scenes  witnessed  there.  She  • 
spoke  with  a  thrilling  pathos  which  will  never  be  forgotten.  After 
she  closed,  an  address  to  our  soldiers,  which  had  been  prepared  by 
order  of  the  society,  was  read  and  unanimously  adopted.  It  was  after- 
wards printed  and  sent  to  Knox  county  soldiers,  as  "from  the  women 
of  Knox  county  to  their  brothers  in  the  field."  It  was  a  noble,  soul- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  299 

inspiring  message,  and  kindled  anew  the  intenesst  love  for  home, 
country,  and  a  determination  to  crown  the  stars  and  stripes  with  vic- 
tory. As  showing  the  patriotism  burning  in  the  hearts  of  these 
noble,  devoted  women,  we  give  the  address  in  full: 

"You  have  gone  out  from  our  homes,  but  not  from  our  hearts. 
Never  for  one  moment  are  you  forgotten.  Through  weary  march  and 
deadly  conflict  our  prayers  have  ever  followed  you;  your  sufferings 
are  our  sufferings,  your  victories  our  great  joy. 

"  If  there  be  one  of  you  who  knows  not  the  dear  home  ties,  for  whom 
no  mother  prays,  no  sister  watches,  to  him  especially  we  speak.  Let 
him  feel  that  though  he  may  not  have  one  mother  he  has  many  /  he 
is  the  adopted  child  and  brother  of  all  our  hearts.  Not  one  of  you  is 
beyond  the  reach  of  our  sympathies;  no  picket-station  so  lonely  that 
it  is  not  enveloped  in  the  halo  of  our  prayers. 

"During  all  the  long,  dark  months  since  our  country  called  you 
from  us,  your  courage,  your  patient  endurance,  your  fidelity,  have 
awakened  our  keenest  interest,  and  we  have  longed  to  give  you  an  ex- 
pression of  that  interest. 

"  By  the  alacrity  with  which  you  sprang  to  arms,  by  the  valor  with 
which  those  arms  have  been  wielded,  you  have  placed  our  State  in  the 
front  ranks;  you  have  made  her  worthy  to  be  the  home  of  our  noble 
President.  For  thus  sustaining  the  honor  of  our  State,  dear  to  us  as 
life,  we  thank  you. 

"  Of  your  courage  we  need  not  speak.  Fort  Donelson,  Pea  Ridge, 
Shiloh,  Stone  River.  Yicksburg,  speak  with  blood-bathed  lips  of  your 
heroism.  The  Army  of  the  Southwest  fights  beneath  no  defeat- 
shadowed  banner;  to  it,  under  Grod,  the  nation  looks  for  deliverance. 

"But  we,  as  women,  have  other  cause  for  thanks.  We  will  not 
speak  of  the  debt  we  owe  the  defenders  of  our  Government;  that 
blood-sealed  bond  no  words  can  cancel.  But  we  are  your  debtors  in  a 
way  not  often  recognized.  You  have  aroused  us  from  the  aimlessness 
into  which  too  many  of  our  lives  had  drifted,  and  have  infused  into 
those  lives  a  noble  pathos.  We  could  not  dream  our  time  away  while 
our  brothers  were  dying  for  us.  Even  your  sufferings  have  worked 
together  for  our  good,  by  inciting  us  to  labor  for  their  alleviation, 
thus  giving  us  a  work  worthy  of  our  womanhood.  Everything  that 
we  have  been  permitted  to  do  for  your  comfort  has  filled  our  lives  so 
much  the  fuller  of  all  that  makes  life  valuable.  You  have  thus  been 
the  means  of  developing  in  us  a  nobler  type  of  womanhood  than  with- 
out the  example  of  your  heroism  we  could  ever  have  attained.  For 
this  our  whole  lives,  made  purer  and  nobler  by  the  discipline,  will 
thank  vou. 


300  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

"  This  war  will  leave  none  of  us  as  it  found  us.  We  cannot  buffet 
the  raging  wave  and  escape  all  trace  of  the  salt  sea's  foam.  Toward 
better  or  toward  worse  we  are  hurried  on  with  fearful  haste.  If  we 
at  home  feel  this,  what  must  it  be  to  you!  Our  hearts  throb  with 
agony  when  we  think  of  you  wounded,  suffering,  dying;  but  the 
thought  of  no  physical  pain  touches  us  half  so  deeply  as  the  thought 
of  the  temptations  which  surround  you.  We  could  better  give  you 
up  to  die  on  the  battle-field,  true  to  your  God  and  to  your  country, 
than  to  have  you  return  to  us  with  blasted,  blackened  souls.  When 
temptations  assail  fiercely,  you  must  let  the  thought  that  your  mothers 
are  praying  for  strength  enable  you  to  overcome  them.  But  fight- 
ing for  a  worthy  cause  worthily  ennobles  one;  herein  is  our  confidence 
that  you  will  return  better  men  than  you  went  away. 

"By  all  that  is  noble  in  your  manhood;  by  all  that  is  true  in  our 
womanhood;  by  all  that  is  grand  in  patriotism;  by  all  that  is  sacred 
in  religion,  we  adjure  you  to  be  faithful  to  yourselves,  to  us,  to  your 
country,  and  to  your  God.  Never  were  men  permitted  to  fight  in  a 
cause  more  worthy  of  their  blood.  Were  you  fighting  for  mere  con- 
quest, or  glory,  we  could  not  give  you  up;  but  to  sustain  &  principle, 
the  greatest  to  which  human  lips  have  ever  given  utterance,  even  your 
dear  lives  are  not  too  costly  a  sacrifice.  Let  that  principle,  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  our  independence,  be  crushed,  and  we  are  all  slaves.  Like 
the  Suliote  mothers,  we  might  well  clasp  our  children  in  our  arms 
and  leap  down  to  death. 

"  To  the  stern  arbitrament  of  the  sword  is  now  committed  the  honor, 
the  very  life  of  this  nation.  You  fight  not  for  yourselves  alone;  the 
eyes  of  the  whole  world  are  on  you;  and  if  you  fail  our  Nation's 
death-wail  will  echo  through  all  coining  ages,  moaning  a  requiem 
over  the  lost  hopes  of  oppressed  humanity.  But  you  will  not  fail,  so 
sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  Heaven.  He  never  meant  this  richest  ar- 
gosy of  the  nations,  freighted  with  the  fears  of  all  the  world's  tyrants, 
with  the  hopes  of  all  its  oppressed  ones,  to  flounder  in  darkness  and 
death.  Disasters  may  come,  as  they  have  come,  but  they  will  only 
be,  as  they  have  been,  ministers  of  good.  Each  one  has  led  the 
nation  upward  to  a  higher  plane,  from  whence  it  has  seen  with  a 
clearer  eye.  Success  could  not  attend  us  at  the  West  so  long  as  we 
scorned  the  help  of  the  black  hand,  which  alone  had  power  to  open 
the  gate  of  redemption;  the  God  of  battles  would  not  vouchsafe  a 
victory  at  the  East  till  the  very  foot-prints  of  a  McClellan  were 
washed  out  in  blood. 

"  But  now  all  things  seem  ready;  we  have  accepted  the  aid  of  that 
hand;  those  foot-steps  are  obliterated.  In  his  His  own  good  time  we 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  301 

feel  that  God  will  give  us  the  victory.  Till  that  hour  comes  we  bid  you 
fight  on.  Though  we  have  not  yet  attained  that  heroism,  or  decision, 
which  enables  us  to  give  you  up  without  a  struggle,  which  can  pre- 
vent o'ur  giving  tears  for  your  blood,  though  many  of  us  must  own 
our  hearts  desolate  till  you  return,  still  we  bid  you  stay  and  fight  for 
our  country,  till  from  this  fierce  baptism  of  blood  she  shall  be  raised 
complete',  the  dust  shaken  from  her  garments  purified,  a  new  Memnon 
singing  in  the  great  Godlight." 

Stirring  meetings  were  held  at  various  times  and  great  enthusiasm 
prevailed.  At  a  meeting  held  in  the  old  First  Church,  Galesburg, 
Chaplain  McCabe  gave  reminiscences  of  Libby  Prison.  He  then 
called  for  contributions,  when  nearly  two  thousand  dollars  were 
pledged  as  fast  as  the  names  could  be  written. 

The  prominent  part  taken  by  the  misses  of  Galesburg  in  the  for- 
mation of  the  "Juvenile  Soldiers'  Aid  Society"  deserves  especial 
notice.  About  48  little  girls  held  regular  meetings  and  worked  very 
industriously  for  many  months  in  preparing  and  making  articles  for 
the  use  and  comfort  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the  hospital.  In 
May  of  1863  they  sent  a  box  of  their  handiwork,  with  books  and 
papers,  and  delicacies  for  the  sick  lying  in  Hospital  No.  1,  Quincy, 
Ills.,  for  which  they  received  the  following  kind  letter  signed  by 
James  Wise  of  the  37th  Indiana  Eegiment,  and  31  others. 

HOSPITAL  No.  1,  QUINCY,  ILLS.  May  14,  1868. 

The  undersigned  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  box 
from  your  society,  containing  articles  we  so  much  need,  and  in  return  we  send  our 
kind  regards  and  sincere  thanks  for  your  kindness  to  us,  who  have  been  disabled  for 
a  time  in  the  service  of  our  country.  We  can  not  find  words  to  express  our  gratitude 
for  your  kindness  and  generosity,  so  you  will  have  to  take  the  thought  for  the  deed ; 
and  you  may  rest  assured  that  you  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  soldiers  you 
have  done  so  much  to  make  happy.  Accept  our  best  wishes  for  the  welfare  of  your 
good  society,  with  the  hope  that  it  may  flourish  to  see  treason  driven  from  our  land 
and  peace  restored  to  our  once  happy  country,  and  happiness  to  the  Little  Ones. 

Many  of  the  little  girls  of  that  society  are  doubtless  living  in  the 
county  at  this  time  and  enjoy  many  pleasant  recollections  of  the 
good  work  they  so  heartily  engaged  in  for  the  good  of  their  country. 

The  women  of  Knox  county  were  not  only  willing  to  help  the  brave 
boys  to  fight  for  their  country,  but  would  not  countenance  treason 
under  any  circumstances,  as  the  following  true  incident  will  show: 
An  amiable  and  interesting  young  lady  of  Knoxville,  daughter  of  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  county,  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  a 
gentleman  of  Galesburg,  but  who  at  that  time  was  in  Missouri  trad- 
ing in  stock.  Naturally  many  letters  passed  between  them.  In  May, 
1861,  she  received  a  letter  from  her  devoted  lover,  stating  his  deter- 
mination to  join  the  rebel  army.  This  she  showed  to  her  father,  ask- 


302  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

ing  him  "  what  he  thought  of  that,"  at  the  same  time  saying,  "  We 
are  done  forever;  for,"  said  she,  "  a  man  reared  in  the  North,  with  all 
its  advantages,  that  will  forsake  his  home  and  country  is  not  worthy 
of  me." 

THE  CLOSE. 

The  war  ended  and  peace  restored,the  Union  preserved  in  its  integrity, 
the  sons  of  Knox  who  had  volunteered  their  lives  in  defense  of  their 
government,  and  who  were  spared  to  see  the  army  of  the  Union  vic- 
torious, returned  to  their  homes  to  receive  grwud  ovations  and  tributes 
of  honor  from  friends  and  neighbors  who  had  eagerly  and  zealously 
followed  them  wherever  the  fortunes  of  war  called.  Exchanging 
their  soldiers'  uniforms  for  citizens'  dress,  most  of  them  fell  back  to 
their  old  vocations,  —  on  the  farm,  at  the  forge,  the  bench,  in  the 
shop,  and  at  whatever  else  their  hands  found  to  do.  Brave  men  are 
honorable  always,  and  no  class  of  citizens  are  entitled  to  greater  re- 
spect than  the  volunteer  soldiery  of  Knox  county,  not  alone  because 
they  were  soldiers,  but  because  in  their  associations  with  their  fellow 
men  their  walk  is  upright,  and  their  honesty  and  character  without 
reproach. 

Their  country  first,  their  glory  and  their  pride, 
Land  of  their  hopes,  land  where  their  fathers  died ; 

When  in  the  right,  they'll  keep  their  honor  bright, 
When  in  the  wrong,  they'll  die  to  set  it  right. 


SHERI  F 


HISTORY    OF    KN'OX    COUNTY.  305 


CPAPTER  XIV. 

IN  THE  FIELD. 
THE     WAB. 

There  were  only  seven  counties  in  the  State  that  furnished  a  larger 
number  of  soldiers  than  Knox  county  and  none  that  filled  her  quotas 
more  promptly.  She  was  called  upon  to  furnish  3,842  men,  but 
finally  credited  by  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  with  only 
3,837.  There  were  many  who  left  the  county  to  enlist  in  foreign  regi- 
ments, and  the  colored  troops  to  the  number  of  from  25  to  50  were 
never  credited  to  Knox  county. 

Besides  the  filling  of  her  quota  of  the  regular  calls  of  the  Presi. 
dent,  she  furnished  326  men  in  answer  to  the  Governor's  call  for  100 
day  men,  making  a  total  of  at  least  4,200  men.  These  were  distribu- 
ted among  82  regiments,  and  in  190  different  companies.  Of  this 
number  123  were  killed  in  action,  168  wounded  and  344  died;  96 
suffered  the  horrors  of  prison  life,  some  of  whom  died  at  Anderson  - 
ville  and  Libby. 

STONE    RIVER. 

The  battle  of  Stone  River  with  its  fearful  perils,  persistent  fighting 
and  deeds  of  desperate  daring,  furnished  a  rare  opportunity  for 
the  troops  of  Illinois  to  further  distinguish  themselves,  ^or  was  it 
misirnproved,  as  the  proud  record  of  their  skill  and  bravery  in  the 
midst  of  the  most  appalling  dangers  abundantly  prove.  Many  of  the 
Illinois  regiments  were,  however,  placed  in  situations  where  over- 
powering rebel  assaults  in  greatly  superior  numbers  rendered  success 
frequently  impossible.  Yet  there  is  associated  with  the  stern  resist- 
ance offered  a  moral  sublimity  that  almost  surpasses  the  glory  of  vic- 
tory itself,  especially  when  we  remember  the  patriotism  which  prompt- 
ed, and  the  adverse  circumstances  attending  it.  There  were  no  soldiers 
iu  the  battle  that  evinced  more  intrepid  courage,  nor  rendered  greater 
service  than  the  Kiiox  county  soldiers. 

After  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  General  Forrest  with  about  9,000 
men  attacked  Colonel  Hardin's  Regiment,  and  were  repulsed  by  about 
six  hundred  men.  About  two  o'clock  A.  M.,  Feb.  3,  the  Union  forces 
learned  the  Rebels  intended  an  attack.  They  were  supplied  with 


306  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

only  eight  rounds  of  ammunition.  The  Rebels  sent  in  p,  flag  of  truce 
asking  Col.  Harclin  to  surrender,  and  while  so  doing  planted  three  bat- 
teries in  close  proximity.  Col.  Hardin  replied  that  he  was  there  to 
defend  the  fort,  and  not  to  surrender  it.  At  this  the  Rebels  opened 
a  heavy  tire.  Capt.  Wilson,  with  his  sixty-five  brave  boys  from  Knox 
county,  was  stationed  near  a  large  siege  gun  which  they  used  for  some 
time  in  reply  to  the  firing  of  the  Rebels  ;  but  soon  all  firing  stopped 
on  both  sides,  and  the  Rebel  cavalry,  about  600,  came  up  within  20 
paces  of  the  gun,  and  three  men  rode  forward,  one  drawing  his  re- 
volver said,  "  Damn  you  !  we  have  your  gun  now."  "  But  you  have 
got  the  wrong  end,"  one  of  the  artillerymen  replied,  as  he  touched  it 
off.  It  having  in  a  double  load  of  canister  and  the  men  being  so  near 
they  with  their  horses  were  literally  torn  to  pieces.  The  Rebels  were 
dismayed,  and  at  this  point  Capt.  Gilson  with  his  stentorious  voice 
ordered  his  few  men  who  were  hid  behind  a  little  work  to  charge. 
This  put  the  enemy  to  flight,  and  the  sixty-five  men  pursued,  killing 
many  and  taking  several  prisoners. 

The  smoke  of  the  guns,  and  the  sudden  onslaught  with  fire  led  the 
Rebels  to  believe  their  force  too  small  to  cope  with  them.  One  brave 
Confederate  lieutenant,  who  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  said  h® 
had  been  in  16  battles,  but  never  before  did  he  see  his  troops  so  dis- 
mayed. A.  Anderson  of  Victoria,  and  one  of  the  company,  struck  off' 
after  the  Rebs  and  ran  across  six  men  in  a  log  cabin,  and  ordered  them 
to  surrender,  which  they  gladly  did.  One  of  them,  badly  frightened 
staggered  out  and  was  seen  by  a  Union  soldier  who,  shot  him  down, 
not  knowing  that  Anderson  was  present.  Anderson  brought  in  two 
other  Rebels,  taking  them  from  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Rebel  works. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  complete  victories,  considering  the  two 
armies,  on  record. 

PRISON  LIFE. 

We  give  the  following  incidents  of  life  in  Rebel  prisons  to  show  the 
sufferings  and  hardships  many  of  the  brave  boys  of  Knox  county  were 
called  upon  to  pass  through. 

Captain  Orville  Powell  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Chica- 
mauga  Sept.  20,  1863.  He  was  taken  to  Libby  prison,  Richmond. 
From  there  he  was  transferred  to  Macon,  Georgia  ;  thence  to  Savan- 
nah ;  afterwards  to  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  arid  finally  to  Columbus,  Ga.; 
where  he  boldly  made  his  escape.  It  would  be  vain  to  attempt  t0 
convey  to  the  reader  the  suffering  endured  during  these  transits  and 
while  in  the  prison  pens,  especial lysfor  a  wounded  man.  At  Columbus 
he  determined  to  effect  his  escape,  if  at  all  possible.  Accordingly 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

about  noon  one  day  he  drew  his  blanket  around  his  shoulders  and  fear- 
lessly walked  out  by  the  guard.  Joining  three  other  escaped  prisoner 
they  started  for  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  but  unfortunately  one  of  them  was 
captured.  The  suffering  passed  through  on  this  trip  seems  almost 
beyond  human  endurance.  They  were  four  days  in  the  mountains 
without  any  other  food  than  browse.  They  were  twenty-eight  days  in 
making  the  journey  ;  and  on  the  way  they  were  solicited  to  join  the 
Eebel  army.  One  evening  about  dusk  they  came  to  a  plantation  and 
waited  in  the  fence  corner  for  night  to  come  on.  The  planter  with  a 
companion  suddenly  appeared  coming  along  the  road.  Although  the 
escaped  prisoners  lay  close  to  the  ground,  they  were  seen  by  the  owner 
of  the  land,  who  wanted  to  know  what  they  were  doing  there.  They 
coolly  replied  that  they  were  resting.  Captain  Powell  boldly  stepped 
up  to  them  and  told  them  they  were  escaped  prisoners  from  Columbus. 
The  planter  invited  them  down  to  the  house  to  take  supper,  remarking 
at  the  same  time,  "The  old  woman's  very  anxious  to  see  a  live  Yan- 
kee." They  readily  complied  with  the  request,  for  they  were  nearly 
starved,  and  would  take  almost  any  risk  for  a  meal.  The  host  and  his 
companion  soon  left  the  house,  and  the  'k  old  woman  "  was  so  deeply 
interested  in  seeing  and  talking  with  the  "  live  Yankees  "  that  she  re- 
mained in  the  room  where  they  were  all  the  time,  and  made  no  effort 
to  set  their  supper.  The  soldiers  were  suspicious,  and  concluded  not 
to  remain  for  supper,  for  they  surmised  that  the  planter  had  gone  to 
some  of  his  neighbors  for  help  to  recapture  them.  Before  leav- 
ing, however,  they  took  two  loaves  of  bread.  It  was  then  dark. 
They  hurried  on,  and  soon  met  an  old  negro  who  told  them  his  mas- 
ter had  gone  for  help.  He  volunteered  to  pilot  them  by  the  shortest 
and  best  route  to  the  river,  which  was  some  nine  miles  distant.  They 
gladly  accepted  his  services,  although  it  was  apparently  great  labor 
for  him  to  hobble  along,  one  leg  being  shorter  than  the  other.  But 
so  anxious  was  this  old  negro  to  save  the  brave  Union  soldiers  that 
he  fairly  bounded  along  in  his  irregular,  limping  gait,  rendering  it 
difficult  for  them  to  keep  up  with  him.  The  merciless  planter  was  soon 
on  their  track  with  a  pack  of  blood-hounds.  The  soldiers  hurried 
along  after  the  wavering  outline  of  their  faithful  leader,  through  tim- 
ber and  underbrush,  over  fences,  across  streams  and  swamps.  The 
baying  of  the  hounds  sounded  louder  and  louder,  sending  a  shudder 
through  the  Captain  and  his  companion  as  each  knell  pierced  the  air. 
Soon  they  saw  it  was  useless  to  attempt  to  effect  their  escape  by  flight, 
so  they  decided  to  secrete  themselves.  The  negro,  who  was  familiar 
with  the  ways  of  the  hounds,  and  also  the  country,  took  the  soldiers 
through  a  cow-yard,  thus  throwing  the  dogs  off  their  trail.  They  then 
18 


308  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

hid  in  the  timber  ;  and  often  the  hounds  would  come  near  them  but 
could  scent  them  no  farther  than  the  barn-yard.  That  night  the 
brave  men  were  hunted  like  wild  beasts  ;  but  seemingly  through  a 
Providential  interference  they  were  preserved,  and  finally  effected 
their  escape. 

O.  P.  Cooley,  in  speaking  of  prison  life  in  rebel  prisons,  relates  an 
incident  of  the  killing  of  a  fellow  prisoner  while  at  Castle  Morgan 
prison.  This  unprovoked  murder  goes  to  show  upon  what  slight 
pretexts  the  lives  of  Union  prisoners  were  sacrificed.  As  a  Union 
soldier  was  walking  along  a  narrow  passage,  he  came  near  the  "dead 
line,"  but  not  quite  to  it.  The  guard  murderously  ran  his  bayonet 
through  the  prisoner,  killing  him  almost  instantly.  It  was  said  that 
the  guard  would  get  a  thirty  days'  furlough  for  this  noble  act. 

About  one  hundred  prisoners  made  their  escape  from  Libby  prison 
through  a  tunnel  made  by  them.  While  tunneling,  they  struck  a 
rock  which  they  were  obliged  to  go  under.  Colonel  Stout  was  among 
the  number  and  he  being  a  very  large  man,  it  was  only  with  the  ut- 
most difficulty  that  he  squeezed  through.  Some  took  him  by  the 
hands  and  pulled,  while  others  pushed  him.  "When  he  came  to  the 
rock  he  stuck  fast,  but  after  much  tugging,  pushing,  turning  and 
twisting  they  brought  him  through. 

INCIDENTS   OF    ENLISTING. 

In  the  fall  of  1861  Colonel  Winslow,  of  Princeton,  was  engaged  in 
raising  a  regiment  of  infantry.  At  the  same  time  General  F.  C.  Smith 
was  recruiting  an  artillery  company  at  Galesburg.  Winslow  sent  for 
Smith  to  see  about  uniting  the  two.  After  some  delay,  being  encour- 
aged by  the  liberal  promises  of  the  Colonel,  the  Galesburg  boys  went 
to  Princeton.  This  company  did  not,  ho\vever,  give  up  the  idea  of 
handling  the  heavy  guns.  Soon  Colonel  Berge  came  to  Princeto 
and  held  out  inducements  for  the  regiment  to  go  with  him  and  for 
a  regiment  of  sharp-shooters.  His  proposition  was  favorably  receiv 
by  the  men,  but  nothing  definite  done  in  that  direction,  only  tha 
Smith's  men  positively  refused  to  join  with  them.  The  Colonel  tol 
them  he  would  put  them  in  irons  as  deserters;  but  they  did  not  yiel 
nor  did  he  execute  his  threats.  General  Smith  returned  to  Galesbur 
leaving  everything  quiet  in  camp  at  Princeton;  but  one  morning  he 
received  a  telegram  from  his  men  to  hasten  there.  He  did  so,  and 
on  arriving  found  his  men  with  a  few  cavalry  in  camp  alone.  Colonel 
Winslow  had  marched  oft'  with  his  men.  He  had  ordered  the  Knox 
county  soldiers  to  fall  into  ranks,  but  they  refused  to  do  so.  The 
camp  was  about  one  mile  south  of  town,  where  the  Colonel's  residence 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  309 

was  situated.  Winslow,  at  the  head  of  his  troops  as  they  filed  through 
the  streets,  was  proud  and  happy.  He  must  bid  his  wife  and  children 
farewell  before  departing  for  the  field  of  glory;  so  "halt"  was 
sounded  along  the  line.  The  Colonel  dismounted  and  entered  his 
house  for  the  last  time,  perhaps,  as  he  thinks.  He  had  no  sooner  dis- 
appeared than  the  command  of  "  Forward,  march "  was  given,  in 
smothered  tone,  and  the  halting  columns  moved  on.  Soon  "  Quick 
march  "  rang  out  on  the  clear  morning  air.  "  What  does  this  mean?" 
enquired  one  of  another.  There  were  few  who  knew.  Colonel  Wins- 
low  had  lost  his  regiment.  Soon  the  gallant  Colonel  steps  from  his 
house  and  mounts  his  steed  to  place  himself  at  the  head  of  his  regi- 
ment, but  to  his  utter  amazement  his  men  were  gone.  In  hot  haste 
he  pursued  and  soon  overtook  them  and  attempted  to  take  his  place 
at  the  head,  but  he  finds  it  and  his  authority  usurped  by  an  emissary 
from  Colonel  Berge,  who  flatly  refused  to  yield;  and  Colonel  Wins- 
low  is  coolly  informed  that  by  virtue  of  the  unanimous  choice  of  the 
line  officers  he  had  been  chosen  commander  to  conduct  the  regiment 
to  the  rendezvous  of  Colonel  Berge's  sharp-shooters.  Winslow  re- 
turned to  his  camp  an  angry  and  sorrowing  man,  where  he  played 
Colonel  with  none  but  the  disobedient  Knox  county  company.  Smith, 
seeing  that  his  plan  of  raising  a  full  company  was  questionable,  and 
it  being  the  wish  of  his  men  to  engage  in  the  artillery  service,  he  no- 
tified them  that  he  would  be  on  the  midnight  train  bound  for  Chi- 
cago, and  that  he  had  transportation  for  all  who  desired  to  go.  The 
officer  of  the  guard  for  that  night  was  friendly  to  the  movement;  so 
such  disposition  of  the  guard  was  made  as  would  be  most  favorable 
to  the  stampede.  At  midnight  General  Smith  stepped  on  board  the 
train;  at  the  same  time,  from  the  side  opposite  to  the  depot,  every 
Knox  county  man  in  the  Princeton  camp  jumped  on.  They  went  in 
a  body  to  Camp  Douglas  and  joined  Captain  A.  C.  Waterhouse's  bat- 
tery, Company  E,  Light  Artillery.  Colonel  Winslow  appeared  at  the 
camp  and  demanded  that  the  men  should  bo  returned;  but  it  was  never 
done. 

THE  102ND. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  102nd  Infantry, 
well  known  as  the  regiment  of  the  "  OLD  DEMOCBATIO  WA.R-HOKSE," 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1863,  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  read  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  entire  regiment, 
without  one  dissenting  voice,  as  expressive  of  their  true  feelings  in 
regard  to  the  war,  its  conduct,  and  the  acts  of  the  government  to 
carry  it  on. 


310  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

We,  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  102nd  Regiment  Ills.  Yols.y 
assembled  in  our  camp  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1863r 
to  our  loyal  brethren  in  arms,  throughout  our  country,  and  to  our 
friends  at  home,  greeting.  First, 

Resolved,  That  we  are  fully  determined  in  our'"  innermost  heart  of 
hearts"  that  the  government  of  our  fathers  and  the  union  of  our 
States  must  and  shall  be  triumphantly  sustained  and  perpetuated  to 
our  children ;  Second, 

Resolved,  That  while  we  are  having  a  large  share  of  sympathy  and 
kindly  feeling  towards  many  brave  men  in  the  South,  who  are  the 
dupes  of  lying  demagogues,  and  misled  by  traitors  whom  ambition 
hath  made  mad,  still  we  must  meet  them  with  the  only  weapons  they 
will  regard,  the  implements  of  war;  Third, 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion  at  the  South 
as  the  "  spawn  of  hell  itself,"  for  whom  no  justice,  human  or  divine, 
can  be  too  severe;   that  neither  in  abolitionism  at  the  North,  nor  in  ; 
their  own  unbridled  thirst  for  power,  is  there  the  least  semblance  of  < 
justification  for  their  course;  and  they  are  they  whom  God  and  history  : 
will  hold  responsible  for  this  war  in  which  we  are  engaged;  Fourth, 

Resolved,  That  the  thought  of  their  succeeding  in  their  infamous 
schemes  no  true  patriot  will  entertain  even  for  a  moment;  that  to  i 
prevent  it  no  sacrifice  of  property  or  blood  can  be  too  great;  that,  , 
to  yield  to  them  while  there  is  any  one  left  to  fight  would  entitle  u&  ; 
justly  to  the  scorn   and  contempt  of  mankind,  and  be  an  insult  to  : 
the  memory  of  our  fathers  and  a  mockery  of  our  dead  brothers  who 
have  already  fallen;  Fifth, 

Resolved,  That  any  call  for  peace,  for  armistice,  or  compromise 
with  armed  men  who  sneer  at  any  terms  except  the  destruction  of  our  ; 
government,  is  to  ensnare,  to  beguile,  and  to  cheat;  Sixth, 

Resolved,  That  though  it  may  be  that  for  our  sins  God  in  His  wrath 
is  passing  us  through  the  baptism  of  fire,  still  we  cannot  believe  He 
will  allow  us  to  be  utterly  consumed;  for  not  with  blasphemous  pomp, 
but  reverent  faith,  we  exclaim,  "  Into  thy  hands,  O  God,  we  commend 
our  cause;"  Seventh, 

Resolved,  That  we  are  not  politicians,  but  citizen  soldiers  fighting 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  human  race,  and  against  those  who  upon  . 
the   destruction    of  our   now    free   government   would    establish   a  ' 
tyrannical  oligarchy,  depending  upon  force  for  its  maintenance,  and 
fatal  to  all  human  freedom,  independent  of  color  or  race;  Eighth, 

Resolved,  That  there  is  as  much  good  sense  in  making  the  inferior 
negro  help  us  in  our  struggle  for  free  government  in  any  way  which 
his  capacity  will  admit  of  as  there  is  in  the  rebels  using  him  in  their 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  311 

struggles  for  despotism,  and  we  will  not  weaken  our  struggle  for 
American  freedom,  from  any  squirmish  regard  to  the  desire  that 
rebels  may  have, —  that  nobody  shall  use  negroes  but  themselves; 
Ninth, 

Resolved,  That,  though  happily  desertions  are  few,  we  regard  it  the 
duty  of  our  friends  at  the  North  to  discountenance  by  all  practical 
means  all  desertions,  and  to  use  all  available  means  to  have  deserters 
returned  to  their  respective  commands;  Tenth, 

Resolved,  That  we  are  amidst  enemies,  with  our  numbers  constantly 
diminishing  by  the  casualties  of  war;  therefore  we  hear  with  de- 
light of  the  efforts  of  the  government  to  fill  the  decimated  ranks  of  our 
armies,  upon  whose  efficiency  alone  the  safety  of  our  government  de- 
pends. Hence  we  regard  the  passage  of  the  late  conscript  law  as 
eminently  wise,  expedient  and  just;  Eleventh, 

Resolved,  That  we  utterly  repudiate  those  public  presses  of  the 
North  which  persistently  vilify  our  officers  in  the  field,  and  by  constant 
carping  at  the  government  seek  to  weaken  its  hold  upon  the  affec- 
tions of  the  people,  and  thus  injure  us  more  than  they  could  with 
arms  in  their  hands  in  open  warfare;  Twelfth, 

Resolved,  That  for  ourselves,  come  weal  or  come  woe,  we  will  fight 
treason  to  the  bitter  end;  that  by  every  consideration  dear  to  man 
we  will  sustain  our  country  in  this  struggle  for  life,  or  we  will  perish 
with  her. 


KNOX  COUNTY  VOLUNTEERS. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


Adjt Adjutant. 

Art Artillery. 

Col Colonel. 

Capt Captain. 

Corpl Corporal. 

Comsy Commissary. 

Com Commissioned. 

Con Consolidated. 

Cav Cavalry. 

Capd Captured. 

Desrtd Deserted. 

Dis Disability. 

Disch., Discharged. 

Ex Expired. 

E ..Enlisted. 


Hos Hospital. 

Inf. Infantry. 

Kid Killed. 

Lieut Lieutenant. 

Ma] Major. 

M  O    Mustered  Out. 

Pris Prisoner. 

Pro Promoted. 

Regt Regiment 

Re-E Re-Enlisted. 

Res ; Resigned. 

riergt Sergeant. 

Trans Transferred. 

Vet ' Veteran. 

Wd Wounded. 


7th  EtfFAKTRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

First  Lieutenant, 

Solomon  F.  Flint,  Gales  burg,  e.  July  25, 1864,  m.  o. 
July  9,  1865. 

COMPANY  E. 

Walton,  James  H.,  Yates  City,  e.  Feb.  12, 1862. 
COMPANY  I. 

Jarnagin,  Spencer  L.,  Onelda,  e,  Oct.  1, 1861,  died 
Mound  City,  Dec.  15,  1862. 

Lynch,  Francis  M.,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  1,  1861. 

Morman,  Michael,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  1, 1861. 

Pitts,  Francis  G.,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  1, 1861,  died  Mon- 
terey, Tenn . ,  June  14,  1862. 

Shannan,  Samuel,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  1, 1861. 

8th  INFANTRY. 

Graybam,  Kobt.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  22,  1864,  dis- 
charged Sept.  21,  1865. 

Brittian,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  17,  1865,  m.  o. 
May  11, 1865. 

Doyle,  Michael,  Galesburg,  e.  April  17,  1865. 

Green,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  17,  18H5. 

Harvey,  Wm.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  discharged 
Aug.  10,  1865. 

lOlh  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  B. 

Gill,  Henry,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  83,  1864- 
COMPANY  C. 

Musician. 

Benj.  F.  Patrick.  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  d 
charged  Nov.  21, 1862,  disability. 

312 


Privates. 

Codding,  Geo.  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17. 1861,  m.  o. 

Aug.  31,  1864. 
Ferry,  James  H.,  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  17, 1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  July  4. 1865. 

Huffmire,  Wm.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17, 1861. 
Hubbard,  E.  R  ,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  trans. 

to  regular  army  Dec.  25,  1862 
James.  Wm.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  dis- 
charged Sept.  12, 1862.  disability. 
Morris,   Wm.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.   17,  1861,  vet,, 

died  Feb.  3. 1865,  of  wounds. 
Nixon,  P.  O.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  July  4,  1865,  corpl. 
Pettingill,  Samuel  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.  July  4,  1865,  corp). 
Randall,  Orville,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  July  4.  1865,  corpl. 
Skevin,  Jacob  C.,  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  17, 1861. 
Schneider,  Henry,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17.  1861,  m. 

o.  July  4.  1865. 
Ford,  Wm.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  1,  1864,  vet.,  sick 

in  hospital  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Hall,  Harmon  W.,  Galesburg,  e.   Aug.  17,  1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.  July  4,  1865. 
Lewis.  James  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  17,1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  July  4,  1865. 
Craft,  T.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  13,  1861,  died  Feb. 

21,  1863. 
Gee,  Henry,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  23.  1864.  m.  o.  Ji 

4.  1865. 
Goodell,   Benj.,  Knoxville,  e.   Feb.  24,  1864,  m. 

July  4,  1865. 
Girrard,  John  L.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  24, 1864, 

July  4.  1865. 

Howard,  Wm.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  15.  1861. 
Hankey,  C.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.    12,   1861,  vet 

pro.  2d  lieut.,  in.  o.  July  4.  186:>. 
James,  W.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  23,  1864,  disc 

Jan.  27. 1865,  disability. 
Lewis,  J,  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  5,  1861,  vet., : 

o.  July  4, 1865. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


31! 


Moon,  Job,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  22,  1864,  m.  o.  July  [Harris,  Jas.   A.,  Ontario,  e    Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o. 

4,  1865.  Aug.  8,  1865. 

Middleton,  J.  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  7,  1861,  trans.  Harch,  Jacob  W.,  Salem,  e.  Feb.  15.  1865,  m.  o. 

toreg.  army.  Sept.  16,  1865. 

Packard,  W.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  23,  1864.  m.  o.  Hogan.  Timothy  J.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13, 1865. 


Jane  26,  1865. 

St.  Clair,  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.   23,  1864,  m.  o. 
July  4, 1865. 

14th  INFANTRY.  (Reorgan- 
ized.) 

COMPANY  C. 

Privates. 

Atherton.  Wm.  B.,  Lynn,  e.  Feb.  24, 1865. 

Bell,  G.  W..Truro.  e.  Feb.  -22, 1865,  m.o.  July  31, '65. 

Baldwin.  G.,  Lynn,  e.   Feb.  24,  1865,  m.  o.  June 

13,  1865. 
Caldwell,  H..  Indian  Ft.,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865.  m.  o. 

Sept.  16.  1865. 
Jones,  J.  E.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1865, 

Johnson,  Wm..  Lynn,  e.  Feb.  28.  1865. 
Kinmouth,  O.  F.,  Lynn,  e.  Feb.  27, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

16,  1865. 

Harper,  James,  Rio,  e,  March  16, 1865. 
Rakestraw,  R..  Indian  Pt.,  e.   Feb.  21, 1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  1, 1865 
Stuckey,  J.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  21, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  16, 

1865. 

Shepherd,  Jas.,  Rio,  e.  March  16, 1865. 
White,  W..  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Feb.  21,  1862,  m.  o.  May 

29,  1865, 
Welch,  I..  Lynn,  e.  Feb.  24, 1865,  m.  o.  May  23, 1865. 

COMPANY  F. 

Heflin,  Martin,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  1, 1864,  vet.,  m 
o.  Sept.  16,  1865. 

COMPANY  €}. 

First  Sergeant. 

Wm.   H.  Bramell,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  pro 
2d  lieut.,  m.  o.  Sept.  16,  1865. 

Corporals. 

George  F.  Hurlburt,  Salem,  e  Feb.  15,  1865,  m.  o 

Sept.  16,  1865,  sergt. 
John  Fry,  Orange,  e,  Feb.  16, 1865 
John  Kelly,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  16, 

1865. 

Privates. 

Bowen,  George  G.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  pro. 

corpl,  m.  o.  Sept.  16,  1865. 
Beck,  Jacob,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Feb.  17, 1865,  m.  o. 

June  19, 1865. 
Baker,  Geo.  W.,  Ontario,  e.   Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1865. 
Bell.  George,  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  discharged 

July  17, 1865. 
Bruniiiger.  G  ,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

16,  1865 

Bleikner,  Henry,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16.1865. 
Brown.  Henry,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865. 
Chapman,  Wm.  H.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb    16,  1865. 
Benin.  Peter,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13,  1865. 
Doty.  J.  W.,  Elba.  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  disch.  July  17, 

1865.  disability. 
Derby,  J.  W.,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  m,  o.  Sept 

16,  1865,  corpl. 
Doering.  D.  J.,  Copley, e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  m.o.  Sept. 

1«,  1865. 
Fishback,  Killian,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865. 


Hall,  James,  Truro,  e.  Feb.  13.  1865. 
Johnson,  Harmon,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865. 
Kirtuer,  David  H.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  discb, 

July  17,  1865,  disability. 
Kock,  Geo.,  Salem,  e.  Feb.  15, 1865,  m.  o.  June  19, 

1865. 

ynch,  John,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13, 1865. 
^Joel,  Jackson,  Sparta,  e.  Feb,  16, 1865. 
storris,  Edward,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13, 1865. 
lltman.  Geo.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

16, 1865. 
Ries.  Michael,  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

16,  1865. 
Rotterman,  Frank,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1865. 
hutts,  James,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  m.  o.  July 

19, 1865. 
Strattan,  Wm.,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16,1865,  m.  o.  June 

20,  1865. 
Schneider,  Joseph,  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  died 

March  6,  1865. 
Strasberger,  Jacob,  Orange,  e.  Feb.  16, 1875,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1865. 

Sands,  John  H.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865. 
Smith,  William,  Salem,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865. 
Woodruff,  J.  H.,  Salem,  e.  Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16. 1865. 
White,  Wm.  L.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  16, ',1865. 

COMPANY  H. 

First  Lieutenant. 

!orydoa  P.  Snow,  Sparta,  e.  Feb  21, 1865,  m.  o. 
Sept.  16, 1865. 

Musician. 

W.  H.  Brown.  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  17,  1865,  m.  o. 
Sept.  16, 1865. 

Sergeant. 

Emerson  J.  Price,  Cedar,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865,  m.  o. 
June  19,  1865. 


Corporals. 

Wm.  G.  Vincent,  Lynn,  e.  Feb.  27. 1865,  pro.  sergt. 

m.  o.  Sept.  16.  1865. 
Michael  Sweely.  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  18,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1868. 

Privates. 

Astell,  N.  J.,  Cedar,  e.  Feb.  21,  1855,  m.  o.  Aug.  8. 

1865. 
Hammar,   Sam'l  J.,  Cedar,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865,  died 

March  31,  1865. 
Parker,  Chas.  W.,  Cedar,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865,  m.  o. 

May  23.  1865. 
Peters,  Julius,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  18,   1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16, 1865. 
Yocum,  Wm.  M.,  Knox,e.  Feb.  17, 1865,  m.  o.  June 


16th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Spencer.  Brainard  T.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  2,  1864, 
absent  on  furlough  at  m.  o.  ot  regr. 

COMPANY  F. 

Recruit. 
Blue,  Harrison,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  18, 1864. 


314 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


17th  INFANTRY. 

The  17th  Reg.  Ill  Inf.  Vols.  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Peoria, 
111.,  on  the  24th  day  of  May,  1861.  Left  for  Alton,  111.,  late  in  July,  proceeded  to  St. 
Charles,  thence  to  Warrenton,  Mo.,  where  it  remained  about  two  weeks.  The  regi- 
ment left  Warrenton  for  St.  Louis  and  embarked  on  transports  for  Bird's  Point,  Mo. ; 
ihence  to  Sulphur  Springs  Landing;  debarking,  went  to  Pilot  Knob,  Mo.,  in  pursuit 
of  Gen.  Jeff  Thompson,  and  joined  Prentice's  command  at  Jackson,  Mo.,  thence  to 
Kentucky  and  aided  in  the  construction  of  Fort  Holt.  Was  then  ordered  to  Cape 
Girardeau  and  were  again  sent  in  pursuit  of  Jeff  Thompson;  participated  in  the 
engagement  near  Greenfield;  returned  to  Cape  Girardeau  and  performed  provost  duty 
until  Feb.  1862.  Were  then  ordered  to  Fort  Henry;  participated  in  that  engagement 
and  Fort  Donelson,  losing  several  men  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoners.  Soon 
after,  went  to  Pittsburg  Landing  and  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  West  Tennessee; 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  suffering  great  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded ;  was  in  the  advance  to  Cornith ;  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  marched  to 
Jackson,  Tenn.;  remained  until  July,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Bolivar,  where  they 
remained  until  Nov.  1862,  participating  during  the  time  in  the  expediti  >n  to  luka  to 
reinforce  Gen.  Rosecrans,  where  they  were  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  Hatchie; 
marched  to  Lagrange,  Tenn.;  the  middle  of  November  reporting  to  Gen.  John  A. 
Logan,  and  were  assigned  to  duty  as  provost  guard.  Early  in  December  marched  to 
Holly  Springs,  via  Abbyville  and  Oxford.  After  the  battle  of  Holly  Springs  wrere 
assigned  to  Gen  McPherson's  command,  then  proceeded  to  Moscow,  Colliervil'e  and 
Memphis,  and  were  assigned  to  duty  at  the  navy  yard,  remaining  until  June  16,  then 
embarking  for  Vicksburg,  re-embarking  for  Lake  Providence,  La,  where  they  remain- 
ed until  the  investment  of  Vicksburg  began.  Went  to  Millikin's  Bend,  May  1,  com- 
menced the  march  across  the  Delta  to  Pekin's  Landing,  advanced  with  McPherson's 
command  to  the  final  investment  of  Vicksburg.  After  the  surrender  of  that  city, 
remained  there,  making  frequent  incursions  into  the  enemy's  country  until  May, 
1864,  the  term  of  service  expiring  on  the  24th  of  May  of  that  year. 

The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Springfield,  111.,  to  muster  out,  when  those  who  had 
not  re-enlisted  as  veterans  received  their  final  discharge.  A  sufficient  number  not 
having  enlisted  to  entitle  them  to  retain  their  regimental  organization,  were  consoli- 
dated with  the  8th  111.  Inf.,  and  were  finally  mustered  out  with  that  regiment  in  the 
Spring  of  1866. 

There  were  131  men  from  this  county  in  the  17th,  4  were  killed,  8  wounded,  8  died, 
1  taken  prisoner. 


Lieutenant-  Colonel. 

Francis  M.  Smith,  Qalesburg,  e.  1861,  term  expired 
June,  1864. 

Chaplain. 

Sanford  A.  Kingsbury,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  23, 1861, 
term  expired  June,  1864. 

Company  C. 

Privates. 

Allen,  Cyrus.  St.  Augustine,  e.  May  25. 1861,  pro  2d 
lieut.,  term  expired  June,  1861. 

Babbett,  Joel.  St  Augustine,  e.  .May  25.  1841. 

Combs,  John  T,  Maquon,  e.  May  25/1801. 

Fry,  John,  Maquon,  e.  May  25.  1361,  discharged 
Aug.  7.  1862. 

Hughes,  George,  Maquon,  May  25. 1861. 

McGrew,  John  L.,  Maquon,  e.  May  25,  1861.  dis- 
charged June  12,  1862. 

Robinson, Barney  J.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Recruits. 

Ruble,  George,  Maquon,  e.  Jane  1,  1861. 
Stinyard,  Augustus.  Yates  City,  e.  Juue  1.  1861. 
discharged  Sept.  30,  1861,  disability. 

Company  !>• 


Sanford  M.  Green,  Oneida,  e.  May  2>,    1861,  dis- 
charged April  28,  1862,  disability. 


Corporals. 

A.  Curtiss  Mathews,  Altona,  e.  May  25,  1861, pro- 
Is'  lieut,,  resi«ued  Feb.  18,  1863. 

John  W.  Davis..  Wata?a,  e.May  25,1861,  discharged 
May  13,  1862. 

Musicians. 

Barnett  M.  Pippin,  Oneida,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged March  29,  1862,  disability. 

Privates. 

Brooks,  Benjamin  F, Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Oct.  25, 1862.  disability. 

Beggs,  Adouijah,  Oneida,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged June  13,  1862.  disability. 

F)emsbur2.  Henry,  Altona,  May  25.  1861,  died  May 
19,  1862. 

Guliher,  Jason  D,  Knoxville,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Harrington,  Isaac  J.,  Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged April  :;0.  1862,  disability. 

Harvey  .John  C.,  Altona.  e.  May  2.3, 1861,  discharged 
Oct  24,  1862,  disability. 

Jewell,  Charles.  Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  15, 1862,  disability. 

Kelloirg,  Charles.  Oueida.  e  May  25.  1861,  acci- 
dental y  killed  March  18.  186*. 

McVicker.  Alexander.  Alioua,  e.  May  25.  1861. 

Moore.  William.  Altora.  e.  May  25.  1861. 

Mitchell,  Joseph  H.,  Altona.  e.  May  25. 1861. 

Newton,  Orlo  C,  Altona,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Olson,  William  C.,  Oneida,  e.  May  25.  1861,  dis- 
charged Sept.  4,  1862  wounds. 

Risling.Samuel.  Altona,  e.  May  25,  1861,  killed  at 
Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  13,  1862. 


c 
o 

X 
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HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


317 


Rogers,  Jackson  .T.,  Oneida,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  2,  1862.  disability. 

Reynolds,  John  W.,  Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Nov.  4,  1861,  disability. 

Strong,John  C.,  Altona,  e.  May  25, 1861,  discharged 
May  13,  1862. 

Teter,David  W.,  Altona,  e.  May  25, 1861,  discharged 
Dec.  20,  1862.  disability. 

Wales,  Otis  A.,  Altona,  e.  May  25,  18R1. 

Wyman,  Cornelius,  Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861.  vet., 
transferred  to  Co.  E,  8th  infantry. 

Walrath,  Abraham  E.,  Altona,  e.  May  25, 1861, dis- 
charged June  14,  1862,  disability. 

Wedge,  D.  A.,  Victoria,  e.  May  25,  1861,  vet. 

Recruits. 

Harvey,  William  H.,  Altona,  Aug.  10,  1861,  term 
expired  Aug.  10,  1865. 

Johnson,  Jonas,  Wataga,  e.  Jan.  22,  1864,  dis- 
charged June  3, 1865,  disability. 

Iluch,Phillip  J.,  Altona,  e.  May  25, 1861,transferred 
to  Co.  E,  8th  inf.  pro  corp'l,  m.  o.  May  4,  1866. 

Teter,  Solomon  C,  Altona,  e.  Jane  17,  1861,  m.  o. 
June  24,  1864. 

Wales,  Edwin  M.,  Altona,  e.  Nov.  20,  1861,  vet., 
transferred  to  Co.  F,  8th  inf.,  pro  sergt,  m.  o. 
May  4, 1866. 

Company  E. 

Captains. 

Francis  M.  Smith,  Galesburg,  e.  April  19, 1861,  pro. 
to  lieutenant-colonel. 

Roderick  R.  Harding,  Galesburg,  e.  May  20,  1861 
resigned  May  15,  1862. 

George  C.  Smith,  Galesburg,  e.  May  15,  1862,  re- 
signed Feb.  16,  1863. 

William  J.  Merrill,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  16,  1863 
term  expired  June,1864. 

First  Lieutenant«. 

James  C.  Beswick.  Galesbnrg,  e.  May  20,  1861. 
David  Clough,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  16,  1863,  term 
expired  June,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

John  H.  Wells,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  16,  1863,  term 
expired  June,  1864. 

First   Sergeant. 

Harlan  P.  Sumner,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25.  1861,  dis 
charged  March  29,  1862,  disability. 

Sergeants. 

Chas.  F.  Matteson,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 
George  B.  Willard,  Gilson,  e.   May  25,   1861,  vet. 
transferred  to  8ih  infantry. 

Corpora/it. 

John  C.  Ewing,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis 
charged  April  24,  1862,  disability. 

Dolan  Dorman,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Emerson  Brand,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  12,  1862. 

Horace  Burtch,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Wesley  Hughes,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Theodore  A.  Smith,  Galesburg.  e.  May  25,  1871. 

Nelson  P.  Noreue,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Musician. 

Addison  J.  Filmore,  Galesburg,  e.  May  85,  1861. 
Privates. 

Andrews,Satnuel  J.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861 
m.  o.  June  17, 1865. 

Boam,  Benjamin  E.,  Galesbnrg.  e.  May  25.  1861. 

Butler,  Solon,  Abingdon.  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Nov.  1,  1861,  disability. 

Brothers,  Franklin  M.,  Henderson,  e.  May  25,1861 
vet.,  transferred  to  Co.  E,  8th  infantry. 


Benton,  George  W.,  Henderson,  e.  May  25,  1861, 
died  April  9.  186i,  wounds. 

Beam,  Samuel  D.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  16,  1862. 

Jaker,  Torralio,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Brown,  Henry  C.,  Galesburg,e.  May  25,  1861,  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  July  4.  1863. 

Beswick,  William,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25. 1861. 

Busby,  Thomas  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25.18dl. 

'Jarson,  Edward,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25. 1861. 

Courtney,  George,  Galesburg,  e.  May,  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged June  17,  1862,  disability. 

Jolville,  Robert,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  16,  1862,  disability. 

3olbourn,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861,  killed 
at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  13.  1862. 

3oe,  Edward(D.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Dunham,  Mulford  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861, 
killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  13,  1862. 

Erickson,  Oloff,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  16,  1862. 

Frantz,  Christian,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Griffer,  Joseph,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Dec.  20,  1862. 

Graham,  Joseph,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged July  24,  1861. 

Goddard,E.  Miles,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861,  vet,, 
m.  o.  May  28,  1866. 

Gallant,  Lloyd,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25.  1861. 

Gillett,  W.  Jasper,  Abingdon,  e.  May  25.  1861. 

Hughes,  George,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25. 1861. 

Hughes,  Albert  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Hicks,  Mason  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  16,  1862. 

Johnston,  John  C.,  Henderson,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Judson,  Franklin,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Jackeon,  William  R.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861, 
died  April  8,  1862. 

Lock,  Alfonzo,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Lane,  Elias  F.,  Henderson,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Landon,  Merrill  R..  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Lanni,  August,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Leran,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged March  31,  1862. 

Miles,  John  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Moore,  Rufns  H..  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged April  24, 1862,  disability. 

Ostron,  John  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861,  trans- 
ferred to  gun-boat  service,  Feb.  2,  1862. 

Olson,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Potter,  Andrew  J.,  Oneida,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged July  30,  1862. 

Samuels,  Jno.  L.,  Henderson,  e.  May  25,  1661, 
drowned  Nov.  21, 1861. 

Simcox.  Robert,  Henderson,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged June  13,  1862. 

Stokes,  Horace,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Dec.  13, 1862. 

Swanson,  A.  Swan,  Oneida,  e.  May  25, 1861,  dis- 
charged April  28,  1862. 

Spinner,  Joseph  F.,  Oneida,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis- 
charged Aug.  2,  1862. 

Thompson.  Alexander,  Galesburg.  e.  May  25,  1861, 
discharged  May  16, 1862,  disability. 

Temple,  John,  Galesbnrg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

VanBremer,  Benjamin,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

Vertrees,  Chas.  M.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  May  25, 1861. 

West,  Julius  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25.1861. 

Woolen,  Robert,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1861,  trans- 
ferred to  gun-boat  Feb.  2, 1862. 

Becruits. 

Barrell,  George  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  March  28,  1862. 

Booteii.  John  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  11,  1863. 
trans,  to  Co.  B.  8th  inf..  m.o.  May  4,  1866. 

Carpenter,  Benjamin  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861, 
died  April  12,  1862. 

Fitch,  Harman,  Galeeburg,  e.  Dec.  4.  1861. 

Graham,  Joseph,  Henderson  Grove,  e.  Feb.  6. 1862. 

Kilpatrick,  Joseph.  Oneida.  e.  June  15,  1861,  dis- 
charged April  30.  1862.  disability. 

Levhi,  Charles.  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  5,  1864,  m.  o. 
May  28,  1866. 

Lawson,  William.  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  5, 1864.  trans, 
to  Co.  B,  8th  inf  died  Oct.  1,  1865. 


318 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Linn,  James  H..  Gileon,e.May  25, 1861.  vet.,  trans. i  Privates. 

to  Co.  B.  8th  inf.,  m.o.   May  28.  1866. 
Long,  Edwin  G.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,   died  Alexander,  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861, vet,  m. 


Feb.  21,  1864,  wounds. 
Moore,  James  H.,  Galesburg,   e.  Dec.  4,  1861,  dis- 


m.  o.  July  17, 1865,  sersrt. 
Graw,  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  24,  1861,  vet.  m.  o. 

July  15,  1865. 

Slouson,  Rufus  L.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25,  1861,  dis-  Hanson,  L.  D..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  16,  1861,  vet.  m. 
charged  June  17,  1862.  o.  July  17, 1865.  sergt 


charged  Aug.  14. 1862. 
Rose,  Albert,  Galesbnrg.  e.  May  25,  1861. 
Stokes,  Horace,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25.  1861. 


o.  July  17,1865. 
Goodnoch,  B.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  16, 1861,  vet. 


Wells,  John  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  15,  1861. 

Walker,  Thomas  R.,  Galecburg,  e.  May  25,  1861. 

Parsons,  Freeman,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861,  pris- 
oner of  war,  m  o.  Feb.  2i.  1865. 

Flowers,  William  H..  Galesbnrg,  e.  Dec.  2.  1863. 
trans,  to  Co.  B,  8th  inf.,  died  April  13,  1865. 

COMPANY    I. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Theodore  Glancey,  Abingdon,  e.  May  25,  1861, 
term  expired  June,  1864. 

Privates. 
McGrath,  Joseph  V.,  Galesburg,  e.   Jan.  5,  1864, 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  8th  inf.,  pro.  corpl.,  m.  o.  May 

4,  1866. 
Miles,  Isaac  O.,  North  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861, 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  8th  inf.,  diech.  Aug.   11, 1864. 

38th    INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    «i. 

Coates,  Nathan,  Trnro,  e.  March  13,   1865,  m.  o. 

Aug.  14,  1865. 

Martin,  William  H.,  Rio,  e.  March  14.  1865. 
McCarty,  Edward,  Rio,  e.  March  14,  1865. 
McLean,  David,  Rio,  e.  March  14,  1865. 
Powers,  James,  Rio.  e.  March  14,  1865. 
Riley,  Charles.  Rio,  e.  March  14,  1865. 
Slow,  John,    Douglass,  e.   March  4,  1865,    m.  o. 

March  4.  1866. 
Lowery.  Albert  H.,  Henderson. Co.  H.,  e.  March  13 

1865,  m.  o.  March  13,  1866. 

30th    INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Sergeant 

Abner  L.  Titus.  Knox  Co.,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861,  dis 
charged  at  Paducah,  Feb.  27,  1862,  wounds. 


Rodgers,  Albert,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1861,  m.  o. 

Sept.  3,  1864. 

mith,  John,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  27, 1861,  died  Feb. 
8, 1862. 

Valentine,  J.,    Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   12,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  3,  1862,  disability. 

Roe.  Silas  J..  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 
June  4,  1865. 


COMPANY    G. 

First  Lieutenant. 

John  McClure.  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30, 1861,  resigned 
Sept.  15, 18t>4. 

Captain. 

David  H.  Wolf,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30. 1861,vet.  m. 
o.  July  17, 1865. 

Corporals. 

Benj.  F.  Miller,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30, 1861,  m.  o. 
1st  sergt. 

James  A.  Logan,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30, 1861,  pro- 
moted 1st  lieut. 

H.  H.  Hurst,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30,  1861,  m.  o. 
July  17,  1865,  let  sergt. 

Privates. 

Dodson,  R..  Abingdon,  e  Sept.  30, 1861,  discharged 

April  15,  1862,  disability. 
Purdue.  J.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  30, 1861,  died 

at  Ft.  Donelson,  April  4, 1862. 
Ditts,  J.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  28,  1861. 
Patterson,  Aaron,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  1, 1861. 
Willett,  D.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Jan.  6,  1861,  vet  m. 

o.  July  17,  1865. 
Willett,  T.,  Abingdon,  e.  Jan.  6, 1861,vet.  m.o.  July 

17,  1865. 


33d    INFANTRY. 

Was  organized  at  Camp  Butler  in  1861.  Sept.  20,  moved  to  Ironton,  Mo.,  remained 
during  the  winter.  March,  1862,  moved  with  the  command  of  Gen.  Steele,  south- 
ward, passing  into  Arkansas  at  Pitman's  Ferry,  and  marching  ma  Pocahontas  and 
Jacusonport  to  Batesville,  where  it  joined  Gen.  Curtis'  army;  thence  via  Jackson- 
port,  Augusta  and  Clarendon,  to  Helena.  Was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Cache,  and 
in  many  skirmishes.  At  the  battle  of  Cotton  Plant,  Co.  A.,  on  skirmish  line,  met 
and  checked  a  charge  of  2,000  Texan  Rangers. 

During  July  and  August  were  camped  20  miles  south  of  Helena,  and  engaged  in 
eight  expeditions  up  and  down  the  river.  Sept.  1,  was  moved  up  the  river  to  Sulphur 
Springs,  and  thence  to  Pilot  Knob.  Nov.  15,  moved  to  Van  Buren,  Ark.  Made  win- 
ter campaign  in  Southeast  Missouri.  Was  ordered  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  Mo.,  where, 
with  the  command,  it  embarked  for  Milliken's  Bend,  La.  Attached  to  the  1st  Brig., 
1st  Div.,  13th  Army  Corps,  it  was  engaged  in  all  its  battles,  participating  in  the 
battles  of  Foit  Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  Black  River  Bridge,  assault  and  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  the  siege  of  Jackson.  In  August,  moved  to  New  Orleans  with  13th 
Corps.  In  October  engaged  in  the  campaign  up  the  Bayou  Teche.  Returned  to 
New  Orleans  in  November.  Thence  ordered  to  Brownsville,  Texas,  but,  before  land- 
ing, was  ordered  to  Arkansas  Pa«s.  Disembarked  on  St.  Joseph's  Island,  marched 
up  St.  Joseph's  and  Matagorda  Islands  to  Saluria,  participating  in  the  capture  of 
Fort  Espeninza.  Thence  moved  to  Indianola  and  Port  Lavaca.  June  1,  1864,  the 
regiment  re-.enlisted  as  veterans,  and  March  14  reached  Bloomington,  111.,  and  received 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


319 


veteran  furlough.  April  10,  1864,  was  re-organized  at  Camp  Butler,  and  proceeded  to 
New  Orleans,  arriving  29th  and  camping  at  Carrollton.  May  17,  ordered  toBrashear 
City.  La.  Soon  after  its  arrival  the  regiment  was  scattered  along  the  line  of  road  as 
guard.  Sept.  17,  1864,  the  non-veterans,  were  started  home,  via  New  York  city  with 
rebel  prisoners  in  charge.  March  2,  1363,  ordered  to  join  the  16th  Army  Corps. 
Near  Boutte  Station  ihe  train  was  thrown  from  the  track,  and  9  men  killed  and  70 
wounded.  18th  Regiment  embarked  on  Lake  Ponchartrain  for  Mobile  expedition. 
Moved,  via  Fort  Gaines  and  Navy  Cove,  landed  on  Fish  River,  Ala.,  and  marched 
with  Gen.  Canby's  army  up  east  side  of  Mobile  Bay.  March  27,  arrived  in  front  of 
Spanish  Fort,  the  main  defense  of  Mobile,  and  until  its  capture,  April  8,  was  actively 
engaged.  After  the  surrender  of  Mobile,  marched  for  Montgomery,  Ala.  Here  it 
received  the  news  of  Lee  and  Johnson's  surrender.  Moved  to  Vicksburg,  April  14, 
1865.  Mustered  out  of  service  Nov.  24,  1865. 

The  33d  Regiment  had  106  men  from  Knox  county;  2  were  killed,  13  died,  5  were 
wounded,  and  4  were  prisoners. 


COMPANY    A. 

Privates. 

Scott,  Alexander  E.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  21,  1861. 
Scott,  Thomas,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1861. 

COMPANY    B. 

Loud,  Silas  J.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  6,  1864,  sick  at 
Nashville  atm.  o. 

McQueen,  Wm.  W.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  8, 1864,  m. 
o.  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Parkinson,  Jacob  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  6,  1864, 
sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 

Swanson,  Neltz,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864,  pris- 
oner of  war  at  m.  o.  regt. 

Lang,  Isaac  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  13, 1862. 

COMPANY    E. 

Captain. 

William  H.  Bryan,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  27,  1861, 
vet.  m.  o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

firgt   Lieutenant. 

Clarendon  A.  Stone.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  18, 1861, 
resigned  June  18,  1862. 

Edward  Marsh,  Abingdon,  e.  June  22,  1863  re- 
signed Jane  6,  1864. 

Sergeant. 

George  A.  Clarke,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  14, 1861,  dis- 
charged Dec.  6, 1862,  disability. 

Corporals . 

George  H.  Mnnroe,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  19,1861, 
discharged  Dec.  22,  1862,  disability. 

Henry  C.  Ward.  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  15,  1861,  dis- 
charged Dec.  22,  1862,  disability. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  Abram  P.,  Galesbnrsr,  e.  Aug.   14, 1861, 

discharged  Feb.  20, 1863.  disability. 
Butler,  James  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Burner,  John  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  27.1861,  pro. 

corporal,  discharged  Dec.  10,  1862,  disability. 
Borliogame.  Spencer,  Galesburg,   e.  Aug.  6,  1861, 

re-eulisted  as  vet.,  died  at  Brashear  City,  July 

14. 1864. 
Burlingame,  William  D.,   Galesburg.   e.  Aug.  ]9, 

1861,  wounded  at  Vicksburg,  May  22.  1863. 
Davis.  James  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861,  killed 

at  Vicksbnrg,  May "88, 1863. 
Davis,  John  W.,  Abiugdon,  e.  Aug.  27,  1861. 
Davis,  Frank  M.,  Galesbnrg.  e.  Aug.  19.  1861,  died 

at  St.  Louis,  Oct.  19,  1862. 
Irland,  William,  Galesburg,   e.  Aug.  16,  1861,  died 

at  St.  Louis,  Nov.  11,  1862. 
Moore,  William  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  24, 1861. 

transferred  to  Co.  H. 


Overstreet,  Mitchell  E.,Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  28, 1861. 
discharged  Nov.  27,  186a,  disability. 

Pisley,  Prince  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  28, 1861,  dis- 
charged Nov.  17,  1862.  wounds. 

Pratt,  Charles  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  23, 1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet.,  m.o.  Nov.  24, 1865,  as  1st  ser- 
geant. 

White,  George  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  20, 1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet.,  discharged  May  13,  1865,  as 
corporal,  disability. 

Porter,  John  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  23,  1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet,  m.o.  Nov.  24, 1865,  as  corporal. 

Flecker,  James  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  23. 1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet.,  discharged  Nov.  29,  1864,  dis. 

Wiley.  Walter  S.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  6,  1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet.,  m.o.  Nov.  24, 1865,  as  corporal. 

Recruits. 

Abbott,  George  W.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Nov.  6, 1861, 
transferred  to  inf.  corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 

Simmons,  Madison,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Nov.  6, 1861. 

Watson.  Jason  L.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  21,  1861, 
killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 

Watson,  James  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  6. 1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet.,  m.o.  Nov.  24,  1865,  as  corp'l. 

Taylor.  George  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  4,  1861,  m. 
o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

COMPANY    F. 

Lewis,  James  M.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  9,  1864,  pris- 
oner war  at  m.o.  regiment. 

Swanson,  August,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  19,  1864, 
prisoner  war,  m.o.  regiment. 

COMPANY  H. 

Captains. 

James  A.  McKenzie,  Galesburg.  e.  Sept.  18,  1861. 

resigned  March  10,  1863. 
George  E.  Smith,  Galesburg,  e.  March  10, 1863,  m. 

o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

First   Lieutenant. 

Robert  P.  Williams,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  18,  1861, 

resigned  July  1,  1863. 
Emmet  B.  Chambers,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861, 

m.  o.  Nov.  2t,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

John  M.  Ryland,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  re- 
enlisted  as  vet. 

John  M.  Follett,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  vet., 
m.  o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

Privates . 

Allen,  Jesse,  Maquon,  e.  Sept  19,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24.  1865. 
Barrer,  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Nov.  21,  1865,  as  1st  sergeant. 
Bay,  James  M.,  Abingdon,   e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  vet.. 

m.  o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 


320 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Bay,    Robert,    Abingdon,    e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  11,  1864. 

Beare,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19, 18sil. 
Boatman,  Aaron,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  vet.. 

m.  o.  Nov.  '24. 1865,  corporal. 
Cameron,  John,  Galesburg.  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  died 

at  Ironton.  Mo.,  Jan.  7,  1863. 
Carnes,  Edward  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861, 

discharged  Sept.  29, 1863,  disability. 
Chapman,  Grove  L.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19. 1861,  vei. 

discharged  May  18, 1865,  sergeant,  wounds. 
Conant,    Reuben  H.,  Galesburg,    Sept.    19,  1861, 

vet.  m.  o.  Nov.  -24, 1865,  as  sergeant. 
Converse,  Elbnr  A..  Galesburg,  e.  Sept  19,  1861, 

yet.  m.  o.  Nov.  24,  1863. 
Davis,  James  B..  Maquon,   e.  Sept.   19,  1861,  vet. 

discharged  July  13,  1865,  wounds. 
Davis.  William  H.,  Maquon.  e.  Sept.jl9,  1861,  died 

at  Arcadia,  Mo.,  Dec.  19,  1861. 
Ellison,   James    M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861, 

discharged  Jan.  18, 1863,  disability. 
Fauble,  Josiah  F.,   Galesburg.   e.    Sent.  19,  1861, 

discharged  Nov.  16, 1862,  disability. 
Ferris,  Frederick  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861. 

vet.  promoted  3d  lieutenant  74th  U.  S.  col.  inf. 
Freeze,  Joseph,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  dis- 
charged May  30,  1862.  disability. 
Hatch,  John  F.,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  corporal, 

trans.  Miss.,  marine  brig.,  Feb.  22. 1863. 
Hayes,  Festns  C.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  trans. 

to  vet.  res.  corps.,  March  15,  1864. 
Hicks,  Lauren  Myron,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861, 

died  at  Oldtown,  Ark.,  Sept.  21,  1862. 
Hitt.  Loreii.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,1861.  m.  o.  Oct. 

11, 1864. 
Uyde,  Jedediah  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.   19,1861, 

corporal,  died  at  Helena,  Aug.  19,  1862. 
Ingle,  John,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  discharged 

Feb.  26,  1863,  disability. 
Jackson,  Eli  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  vet. 

discharged  Sept.  1.  '65,  as  corporal,  disability. 
Jackson,  Henry  C.,   Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861, 

m.  o.  Oct.  Jl,  1864.  as  corporal. 
Jackson,  James  F,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861, 

m.  o.  Oct.  11, 1864,  as  sergeant. 
Jones,  William,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  died 

at  Ironton,  Mo.,  Dec.  28, 1862. 
Keyes,  Asahel,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19,' 1861,  dis- 
charged Feb.  9, 1863,  disability. 
Martin,  Arthur,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  died  at 

Terre  Banne,  La.,  Sept.  1, 1864. 
Martz,  Alexander,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861 
MeCay,  Lewis  R.,  Maquon.  e.  Sept.  19,  1861. 
McHenry,  Daniel,  Maquon,  e.   Sept.  19,  1861,  vet. 

m.  o.  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Mills,  Joseph,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  died  at 

Ironton,  Mo.,  Nov.  25,  1862. 
Mott.  George  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  die 

charged  Oct.  15. 1861.  disability. 
Morgan,  Albert  W.,  Galesburg.  e.  Sept.  19, 1861, 

trans,  to  vet.  res.  corps.,  March  15.  1864. 
Keed.  Matthew,   St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861, 

vet.  pro.  corporal. 
Rodecker,  William    H.,    Abingdon,    e.    Sept.  19, 

1861,  traus.  to  Miss,  marine  brig,  Feb.  22,  1863, 
Smith,  Samuel  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  vet, 

m.  o.  Nov.  24,  186). 
Steel,  Henry,  Galesburg,    e.    Sept.  19,  1861,  m.  o 

Oct.  11,  1864. 
Steel,  Samuel  F.,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  dis 

charged  Sept.  30,  1862,  disability. 
Tripp,  Augustus    J.,  Victoria,  e.   Sept.    19,  1861 

corporal,  died  at  Ironton,  Dec.  2,  1861. 

Recruits. 

Brothers,  Francis,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3,  1863,  diec 

at  St.  Louis,  Nov.  20.  1862. 
Beoington,  Hyrcann,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  7. 1861. 
Cemer,  William  II.,  Galesburg,  Oct.  7,  1861,  vet 

died  at  Cairo,  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Fremole,  William,  Maquon.  e.  Oct.  7.  1831,  vet.  m 

o.  Nov.  24. 1865,  as  corporal. 
Fletcher,  Samuel,  Galesburg,  e.  March  11, 1863. 
Goddard,  George  V.  R..  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.10, 1881 

vet.  m.o.  Nov.  24, 1865,  as  corporal. 


Howe,  Charles,  Galesb'irg.   e.  Feb.  4. 1832.  trans 
to  Miss,  marine  brig.  Feb.  22,  1863. 

Miller,  Swan,   Galesburg.   e.  March  11,   1862,  m.o. 
March  11.  1865. 

Miller,  Jacob,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861,  vet.  m.o. 
Nov.  2t,  1865. 

Mott.   Avin  K  ,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  21,  1854,  m.  o. 
Nov.  24,  1855 

Mitchell,  Alexander,  Rio.  e.   Feb.  1,  1865,  died  at 
Vicksbnrg.  Sect.  17.  1865. 

Swazze,  Benoni  H..  Abingdou,  e.  Oct.  7,  1861,  dis- 
charged March  29,  1883,  disability. 

Swanson,  Andrew,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3, 1832,  dis- 
charged Aug.  31,  1862,  disability. 

Treadwell,    Charles,    Galesburg,  e.   Oct.  10,  1831, 
discharged  Nov.  26,  1862,  disability. 

Vanderwalker,  Edward,  Galesburg, e.  Feb.  15,1864, 
m.o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

Woolsey,  Isaac,  Maqnon,  e.  Oct.  7,  1861,  disch. 
Jan.  22, 1882,  disability. 

COMPANY  I. 

oe,  Robert  B.,   Galesburg,   e.  Sept.  5,  1861,  vet. 

m.o.  Nov.  24, 1865,  as  sergeant. 
oe.  Davirt  P..  Galesburg,   e.  Sept.  5.  1861,  diech. 

Jan.  27,  1863,  wounds. 

Davis,  Daniel  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  18, 1861,  dis- 
charged Aug.  IS.  1862,  disability. 
Kerrigan,  Frank,  Galesburg,  e.  April  7,  1865. 

36th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Boggs.  Elijah,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.   27,186},   m.o. 

"June  15,  1865. 
Brott,  Chas.  E.,  Copley,  e.  Sept    27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  15, 1865. 
Cams,   John   N.,  Copley,  e.   Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  17,1865. 
England,  George,  Copley,  e.   Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  10,  1865. 
Harrison,  Jacob  H.,  Copley,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864,  m.  o. 

June  15,  1865. 
Hurr,  Edwin  L..  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  15, 1865. 
McDowell,  Mathew  H.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864, 

m.  o  June  15,  1865. 
Phillips,  William,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  15,1865. 
Todd,  Warfleld   B.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  27,  m.   o. 

June  15,  1865. 
Warrenford,  James,  Persifer,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864,  m. 

o.  June  15,  1865. 
Wagher,  Albert  C.,  Copley,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  15,  1865. 

COMPANY   D. 

Bassinger,  John,  Elba,   e.    Sept.    27,    1S64,  m.  o. 

June  14,  1865. 
Crawford,  Robt.  R.,  Truro,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  killed 

at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  30,  1861. 
Kimler,   William,   Truro,  e.   Sept.  27,  1S64,  died 

Jeffersonville.  Jan.  25,  1865,  wounds. 
Kimler.  Walker,  Elba,  e.  Sept.  27, 1364,  m.  o.  Jun 

14.  1865. 
Lapham,  Leroy.  Truro,  e.  Sept.   27,    1861,   m.  o. 

June  14.  1865. 
Lapham,  Edward.  Truro,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864,  killed  at 

Nashville,  Tenn..  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Patten,  David  M.,  Elba.  e.   Sept.  27,  1864,  disch. 

May  29,  1865,  wounds. 
Russell.  Robt..  Elba.  e.  Sept.  27,  1S61,  disch.  June 

14,  1865,  pris.  war. 
Roath,  Robt.,  Elba,  e.  Sept.  27,  1861,  m.  o.  May 

29. 1865. 
Tucker.  John,  Trnro,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864,  m.  o.  June 

14.  1865. 
Temple,  John,  Truro,  e.  Sept.  27,1864,  m.  o.  June 

30,  1865. 
Zimmerman,  Andrew  J.,  Elba,   e.  Sept.  27,  1864, 

m.  O.June  14,  1865. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


321 


COMPANY  F. 


Dilley,  Washington,  Persifer,  e.  Sept.  27,  1804,  m. 

o.  June  14.  1865. 
Grump,  Nelson  H.,  Persifer,  e.  Oct.  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  8,  1865. 
Jamagen,  Isaac  M.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Sept.  27.  1864. 

m.  o.  June  14,  1865. 


COMPANY  G. 

Hapenstall,   Charles.   Indian  Pt.,  e.  Oct.  14,  1864 
died  at  Quincy,  Dec.  26,  1864,  wounds. 


COMPANY  H. 

Cook,  Thomas  G.,  Truro,  e.  Sept.  27,  1864,  disch. 
June  15,  1865. 


COMPANY  I. 


Byram,  Washington,  Indian  Pt..  e.  Sept.  27, 1864, 

died  at  Keokuk,  April  11,  1865. 
Blake,  Alfred,  Haw  Creek,  Sept.  27,  1864,  died  at 

Quincy,  Jan.  3,  1865. 
Clark,  Newton  G.,  Haw  Creek,  e.   Sept.  27, 1864, 

m.  o.  June  14,  1865. 
Martin,  William,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Sept.  27, 1864,  m. 

o.  June  14,  1865. 
Shay,  Moses.  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Sept.  27,1864,  m.  o. 

June  14,  1865. 
Tatten,  David  H.,  Elba,  e.    Sept.  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  14.  1865. 
Tales,  David  H.,  Indian  Pt..  e.  Sept.  27,  1864. 


»7«h  INFAXTRY. 

COMPANY^  B. 

Sergeant. 

Henderson  B.  Bleakley.  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861, 
disch.  Sept.  1,  1862,  disability. 

Prlvatet. 

Buff  am,  Emery  S.,  Altona.  e.  Aug.  19,  1861. 
Buffum.  John  W..  Altona,  Aug.  19,   1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  March  27. 1866. 
Baruey,  Win.  H.,   Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  May  1,  1866. 
Crogan.  Peter,  Lynn,  e.  Aug    19,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

4,  1S64. 
Dudley,  George  W.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  4,  1864. 
Dudley  Charles,  Lynn,  e.  Aug  19, 1861,  disch.  Aug. 

19,  1861. 
Ellsworth,  Alma,  Lynn,  Ausr.  19, 1861,  disch.  Jan. 

26, 1865. 
Lee,  Kicbard  M.  J.,  Lynn,  P.  Aug.  19,  1861,  vet. 

killed  by  guerrillas,  April  25,  1865. 
Miner,  Martin  V.  B.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861,  disch. 

Jan.  26.  1865. 
Patrick,  Wm.  M.,  Lynn.,  e.   Aug.   19,  1861,  disch. 

Jan  4,  1864. 
Reed,  Isaac  W.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19, 1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1-64. 
Reed,  Ira  C..  Jr.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19, 1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  May  15, 1866. 
Sellon,  Brodia,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1831,  m.  o.  Oct. 

4,  1861. 
Steri.s,  John  O.,  Lynn.  e.  Aug.  19, 1861,  vet,  m.  o. 

March  6,  1866.  sergt. 
Wyman.  James.  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19, 1861,  diech.  Oct. 

14,  1862,  wound?. 
Whitebead,  Albert,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861,  m.  o. 

Sept.  29.  1864. 
Wilkinson,  T.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  19,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

4.  1864. 


42d  INFANTRY. 

Was  organized  at  Chicago,  July  22, 1861.  Moved  to  St.  Louis  Sept.  21, 1861 ;  jointd 
Maj.-Gen.  Hunter  at  Tipton,  Mo,  Oct.  18,  1861,  and  was  assigned  to  Col.  Palmer's 
brigade.  Arrived  at  Warsaw,  Oct.  25.  Moved,  Nov.  1,  at  10  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  reached 
Springfield,  Mo.,  a  distance  of  97  miles,  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  4th.  Moved  from 
Springfield  on  the  9th,  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Smithton,  Mo.  Marched 
from  Smithton.  Feb.  3,  1862,  to  St.  Charles,  Mo.  Arrived  at  Fort  Holt,  Kan  ,  Feb. 
20.  Occupied  Columbus,  March  4,  1862.  Moved  to  Island  No.  10,  March  15,  and  was 
engaged  until  its  surrender  on  the  llth  of  April.  Col.  Roberts,  with  50  men  of  Co. 
A.,  spiked  6  guns  of  the  enemy  on  the  night  of  April  1;  joined  Gen.  Pope's  army 
llth;  moved  to  Fort  Pillow,  14th;  moved  to  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  arriving  April 
22.  Was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  Engaged  in  the  battle  of  Farming- 
ton,  May  9,  1862,  losing  2  killed,  12  wounded,  and  3  missing.  Led  the  advance 
in  the  pursuit  of  Beauregard's  army  to  Baldwin,  Miss.  The  42nd  occupied  Court- 
land,  Ala.,  from  July  25  until  Sept.  3,  1862,  when  it  left  for  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Skirmished  with  the  enemy  Dec.  30,  and  was  engaged  in  battle  of  Stone  River 
Dec.  31,  with  loss  of  22  killed,  116  wounded,  and  85  prisoners.  Engaged  in  the 
pursuit  of  Van  Dorn.  June  24,  entered  upon  the  Tullahoma  campaign.  July 
31,  camped  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.  Sept.  2,  engaged  in  the  Chattanooga  campaign ; 
marched  to  Alpine,  Ga.,  thence  to  Trenton,  and  crossed  Lookout  Mountain.  En- 
gaged Sept.  19  and  20  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  losing  28  killed,  128 
wounded,  and  28  prisoners,  and  retreated  to  Chattanooga.  Nov.  28,  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  lost  5  killed  and  40  wounded,  being  on  the  skir- 
mish line  during  the  whole  engagement.  Jan.  1,  1864,  regiment  re-enlisted;  en- 
tered Atlanta  campaign  May  3;  was  engaged  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Adairsville,  New  Hope  Church,  Pine  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station,  encamping  at  Atlanta  Sept.  8.  Total 
loss  in  the  campaign,  20  killed,  89  wounded,  and  7  prisoners.  June  15,  moved  by 
rail  to  Johnsonville,  Tenn.,  and  thence  by  water  to  New  Orleans,  and  camped  at 
Chalmette  June  23.  Jan.  10,  1866,  received  final  payment  and  discharge. 

Ninety-eight  men  from  Knox  county  were  in  Co.  C.  of  the  42nd  Regiment;  15 
were  killed,  20  wounded,  12  died,  and  4  were  taken  prisoners. 


322 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Colonel. 

Nathan  H.   Walworth,  Oneida,  e.   July  22,  1861, 
resigned  April  13,  1804. 

Major. 

James  Leighton,  Oneida,  e.  July  22, 1861,  killed 
Sept.  20,  1863. 

Surgeon. 

John  H.  Goddard,  Sparta,  April  29, 1865,  m.o.  Dec. 
16,  1865. 

Sergeants  Majors. 

Percy    St.  Clair,  Oneida,  Sept.  3, 1861,  disch.  Oct- 

4,  1862,  disability. 
Gilbert  A.  Parshall,  Oneida,  Aug.  10,  1861,  pro. 

Captain  Co.  B.,  killed  in  action,  Nov.  29,  '64. 

Musicians. 

Wm.  G.  Millsom,  Oneida,  — ,  died  July  23,  1864. 
J.  M.  Howland,  Oneida.  e.  Jan.  1, 1S61,  m.  o.  Dec. 
16,  1865. 

COMPANY  C. 

Captains. 

L/Preston,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  '61,  died  Dec.  31.  '63. 
Orville  Powell,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  pris.  at 
Libby,  vet.,  m.  o.  Dec.  16,  1865,  wounds. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Nicholas  P.   Furguson,  Walnut  Grove,    Dec.  24, 

1861,  resigned  June  13,  1862. 
Brainard  J.  Powell,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  killed 

at  Resaca,  May  15,  1864. 
J.  Stark,  Oneida,  Aug.  10,  '61,  vet,  m.o.  Dec.  16/65. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Egbert   M.  Scudder,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.   10,  1861.  re- 
signed Feb.  24,  1865. 
John  Wallace,  Oneida,  — ,  vet.,  m.o.  Dec.  16,  1865. 

Sergeants. 

A.  A.  Walker,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  m.o.  Sept.  16, 1864. 
N.  B.  Sweet,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  trans,  to  V.  K.  C. 

Corporals. 

Geo.  E.  Mosher,  Oneida,  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  a1 

Tipton,  Mo.,  Jan.  2,  1862. 
Andrew  Neeley,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,   1861,  disch. 

Aug.  18,  1864,  as  sergt.,  wounds. 
John  Aberdeen,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861, 

sergt.,  w'nd  at  Stone  River,  d'ch.  Apr.  20,  -63. 
George  W.  Burt,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  trans,  to 


invalid  corps. 


Bo.  Peter,  Oneidu. 

Calkins,  Calvin,  Oneida,  e.   Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 

Jan.  1. 1864,  wounds. 
Cornish,  Wm.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  m.o.  Sept. 

16,  1864. 
Carver,  Luther  R.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  in.  o. 

Sept.  16, 1864,  wounded. 
Cooley,  Orion  R..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  July  15,  1865,  pris. 
Cooley,  Sam'l  H.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  16, 1861.  disch. 

May  2, 1862. 

longer,  Geo.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861. 
Ihapman,  Asa,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  16,  1801,  trans,  to 

Eng.  corps  Sept.  18,  1861. 
Edgertun,  Rollin  H.,  vValnut  Grove,  Aug.  10,  1861, 

died  at  Annapolis,  Dec.  20, 1864. 
Eaves,  Jesse  T.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.  Dec.  16, 1865,  wounded. 
Erickson.  Alfred,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  wound- 
ed at  Stone  River,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Feeley.  Thomas,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  13,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Dec.  16,  1865.  wounded. 
Feeley,  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Gardner,  Benjamin  F.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,   1861, 

killed  at  Mission  Ridge. 
Goodair,  James  B.,Walnut  Grove,e.  Aug.  10,  1861. 

died  May  30, 1864.  wounded. 

Gnthrie,  J.,  Oneida,  Sept.  17,  '61,  trans,  to  V.R.  C. 
Hanson,  John,  Oneida,  Aug.  16, 1861,  trans,  to  V. 

R.  C.,  wounded  at  Mission  Ridge. 
Hawland,  Joseph,  Oneida,  Aug.  16,  1861,  killed  at 

Chickamauga. 
Hand,  George  W.,  Oneida,  Aug.  20,  1861,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Hand,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861,  discharged 

Dec.  17, 1862. 
Hulse,  Lewis  V..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  16,  1865. 
Holt,  Martin  V.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  m.  o. 

Sept.  16,  1864. 
Higgins,  Orlando  L..  Oneida.  e.  Aug.  16, 1861,  vet., 

discharged  June  5,  1865,  prip.,  wounded. 
Hawks,  Valentine,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  trans. 

to  eng.  corps  Sept.  18,  1861. 
Judson.  Whitcomb,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.. 

disch.  May  11,  1865,  wounds. 
Jones,  Owen  R.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  16, 1865  as  sergeant. 
Johnson,  Charles,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  22, 1861,  killed 

at  Stone  River. 
Leonard,  Henry  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.,  L»tC.  16, 1865,  as  sergeant, wounded. 
Lamphere,  Alonzo,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet., 

disch.  July  6.  1865,  as  corporal,  wounded. 
Lamphere,  Joseph,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  16,  1861,  died 

June  25, 1862. 
Linquist,  Charles.  Oneida,  Aug.  22, 1861.  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  16, 1865,  as  corporal,  wounded. 
McConnell,  Peter,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861,  vet., 


Privates. 


Camp  Worth,  Mo.,  Dec.  16,  1861. 
Anderson,D.  E.. Oneida.  e.  Antr.  10,  '61,  vet.,V.R.C. 
Anderson,  C.  <J..  Oneida.  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  killed  at 

ChlcamsuK*. 
Allen,  A.  E.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Ang.  10.  1861,  died 

at  Tipton,  Mo.,  Dec.  9,  1861. 
Anderson,  Chas.  W.,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  8, 1861. 


Bnrt,    Francis,    Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1801,  killed  at  Maynard,  Stanley,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861 


Stone  River,  Dec.  30, 1862. 
Burt.    William,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  at 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  5,  1864. 
Bnrt,  Jas.,  Oneida.  e.  Ang.  22, 1861,  died  at  Camp 

Hunter,  Mo..  Nov.  22.  1861. 
Bartholomew,    Alfred,   Oneida,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861. 

died  at  Bridgeport,  Ala..  Aug.  20, 1863. 
Barton,  James,  Oneida.  e.   Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  16,  1865,  as  corporal. 
Bryant,  Allen  J.,  Walnut  Grove. 
Booher,  David,  Oneida. 
Barnes,  T.  J.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1801,  trans,  to 

vet.  res.  corps. 


m.  o.  July  15, 1865,  as  corporal,  pris. 
Mclntosh,  George  D.,  Oneida,   e.  Aug.   10,  1861, 

disch.  Dec.  17, 1862,  disability. 
Andreas.  P.  B.,  Oneida.  e.  Ane.  10.  1861,  died  at  McCornack,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet., 


died  May  28, 1864. 
McKanckie,    Robert,   Oneida,    e.  Aug.  20,    1861, 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
McKanckie,  William,    Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1S61, 

killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15, 1864. 
Maxwell,  Thomas  J.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861, 

killed  at  Mission  Ridge,  Nov.  25, 1863. 


Nofscar,  Jacob,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,   died  at 

Keokuk,  Iowa,  July  17,  1862. 
Purdey,  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug,  16,  1861,  wounded 

at  Stone  River,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Pierce,  Patrick  H.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Piatt,  Jacob,  Altona.  e.  Aug.  16,    1861,  vet.,  pro. 

corporal,  m.  o.  Dec.  16,  1865. 
Pierce,  Wm.    H.    H..    Altona,  e.  Aug.  22,   1861, 

wounded  twice,  m.  o.  Sept.  16, 1864. 
Roach,  Edward,  Altona. 
Reynolds,  Warren  Altona,  e.  Aug.  16,  1861,  killed 

at  Stone  River,  Dec.  31,  1862. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


323 


Rice,  George,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  discharged 
July  15,  1862,  disability. 

Shamp.  Joseph  S.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861.  trans, 
to  V.  R.  C. 

Scudder,  Giles  B.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  dis- 
charged Aug.  25,  1863,  disability. 

Starr,  William  A.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861, 
discharged  Sept,  24, 1862. 

Sullivan,  Michael,  Oneida, 

Strain,  Milton,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  discharged 
April  19,  1862,  disability. 

Shaw,  Charles,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861,  trans, 
to  regiment  band. 


V.  R.  C. 

Tynan,  William,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Dec.  16,  1865. 
Thomas,  Hubert  J.. Oneida,  e.  Aug.  16, 1861,  killed 

by  railroad  accident,  October  16,  1864. 


Thomas,  P.  J..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861,  dis- 
charged April  7.  1862,  disability. 

Thompson,  David,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  trans, 
to  eng.  corps,  Sept.  18,  1861. 

Whiting,  Wilbert  L.,  Altona,  e.  Aug,  10,  1861, 
vet.,  killed  at  Calhoun,  Ga.,  May  16;  1864. 

Recruits. 

Anderson,  Calvin  B.,  Wataga. 
Fowler,  David  W.,Oneida,  killed  at  Mission  Ridge, 

Nov.  25.  1863. 
McCreery,  Henry,  Altona,  e.  March  8,   1865,  died 

June  3.  1865. 


Starr,  James  T.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  trans,  to  Spencer,  Marion,  Altona,  e.  March  8,   1865,  m.  o. 


Dec.  16, 1865. 
Voris,  Mills,  Oneida,  e.  March  11, 1862,  disch.  June 

24,  1864,  wounds. 
Wallace,  John,  vet.,  m.  o.  Dec.  16,  1865,  as   1st 

sergeant. 


43d  INFANTRY. 

The  43rd  Infantry  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler  in  September,  1861,  by  Col. 
Julius  Raith.  Oct.  8  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  St.  Louis.  Feb.  6,  1862,  moved  to 
Fort  Henry,  arriving  on  the  10th;  18th  moved  to  Fort  Donelson.  March  4,  moved  to 
Bell's  Landing,  and  14th  arrived  at  Savannah,  Tenn. ;  22nd  moved  to  Pittsburg 
Landing.  The  strength  or'  the  regiment  was  then  610  men.  The  regiment  was  in 
the  two  days'  bloody  battle  of  Shiloh,  losing  in  killed  and  wounded  200.  "Was 
engaged  during  the  siege  of  Corinth.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  200  men  of  the  regiment 
were  monnted,"by  order  of  Brig.-Gen.  Mason  Brayman,  commanding  post,  and  did 
excellent  service  capturing  guerrillas.  At  Jenkin's  Ferry,  the  army  of  Kirby  Smith 
having  come  up,  they  were  attacked  with  great  fury.  The  43rd,  and  a  section  of 
Vaughn's  Battery,  being  rear  guard,  were  first  attacked;  loss  in  this  battle,  700;  but 
that  of  the  enemy  over  2,000.  About  4,000  men  engaged  the  enemy's  force,  which 
amounted  to  20,000  men.  May  3,  arrived  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  where  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 

The  43rd  Regiment  had  83  men  from  Knox  county;  1  was  killed,  3  were  wounded, 
and  14  died. 


Surgeon. 

Hugh  M.  Starkloff.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,   1861. 
term  ex.  Dec.  16,  1864. 

COMPANY  C. 

Captains. 
Oloflf  S.  Edvall,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  died 

May  7,  1862. 
Carl  Arosenius,  Galesburg,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  con., 

m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865.. 

First  Lieutenants. 

John  P.  Andberg,  Galesburg,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  con., 
term  ex. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Nels  P.  McCool,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  died, 
Nels  Knntson,  Galesburg,   e.  Sept.  1,  1851,  trans, 
to  Co.  A,  con.,  term  ex. 

First  Sergeant. 

Magnus  M.  Holt,  Qalesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  disch. 
June  14, 1862,  wounded. 

Sergeants. 

Nels  Nelson,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861. 
Nels  Anderson,  Galesburg.  Sept.  1,  1861,  disch. 
May  22,  1862,  disability. 

Corporals. 
Gustaf  A.  Anderson,  Galesburg,  e.  Pept.  1,  1861, 

vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Charles  Cling,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,   con.,  m.  o.  Nov. 30. 1865. 
Oloff  A.  Hallfast,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con,,  m.  o.  Nov.  30, 1865. 
Peter  Bentzson,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 


Adolph  Larson,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  disch. 

Sept.  4, 1862,  disability. 
John  Paulson,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

Sept.  26,  1864. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  Andrew  J.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861' 
vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865' 

Anderson,  Lewis  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861i 
died  at  St.  Louis,  June  14,  1862. 

Anderson,  William,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  died 
at  Hebron,  Miss.,  Aug.  15,  1863. 

Botelson.  Nels,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  disch. 
Oct.  11, 1862,  wounded. 

Benning  Henry,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  disch. 
July  8,  1863,  disability. 

Erickson,  John  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861, 
disch.  April  29, 1862,  disability. 

Eugstrom,  Andrew,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  1,1861,  musi- 
cian,vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  A.  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30,'65. 

Dudley,  David  A.,Galesbnrg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  wag- 
oner, m.  o.  Sept.  16,  1864. 

Harpman,  William,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  disch. 
Aug.  14,  1862,  disability. 

Johnson,  Chas.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  disch. 
Sept.  9,  1862,  disability. 

Johnson,  Jno.,  Wataga,  e.Sept.  1, 1861,  died  at  He- 
lena, Ark.,  Aug.  21,  1863. 

Johnson,  Charles  P.,  Ontario,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  m. 
o.  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Lundquist,  John,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  died  at 
St.  Louis,  Feb.  4,  186-2. 

Malmberg,  Swen  P.,Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  l,1861,vet., 
trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  diech.  Sept.  2,  1865,  dis. 

Nelson,  Swen  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  died 
at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  Sept.  30, 1863. 

Nelson,  Weste,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  ,1861,  died 
at  Little  Rock,  Dec.  16,  186. 


324 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Nelson,  Louis,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.   1,  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Olson,  Sweu,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  1.  1801,  disch. 

June  21, 1862,  wounded. 
Olson,  Peter,   Galesburg,  e.   Sept.   1,  1801,  m.  o. 

Sept,  26,  186 1. 
Olson,  Nels,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1801,  died  at 

Savannah,  Tenn.,  April  10,  1802. 
Olson,  William,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.   1,  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30,'65,as  corp'l. 
Olson,  Swen  T.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept  1.  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30, 1865. 
Peterson,  Nels  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  1,1861.  vet.. 

trans.  Co.  A,  con.,  died  at  Knoxville  Jan.  24,'65. 
Peterson,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  vet.. 

trans,  to  Co.  A.  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30,  '65,  as  corp'l. 
Peterson,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861. 
Peterson,  Olof,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  disch. 

Nov.  8.  1862,  disability. 
Peterson,  Nels  N.,  Galesburg.  e.   Sept.  1,   1861, 

trans,  to  inv.  corps,  Nov.  15,  1863. 
Peterson,  Swen  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861, 

vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  A.  m.  o.  July  31,  1865. 
Peterson,  Swen,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861. 
Sandberg,  Andrew,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861, 

m.  o.  Sept.  26,  1861. 

Swenson,  Swen  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861. 
Swenson  Swen,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  vet. 

died  at  Little  Rock  Sept.  15, 1364. 
Swenson,  Begt,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1,  1861,  disch. 

Sept.  6, 1862,  disability. 

Recruits. 
Anderson,  James,  Galesburg,    e.  Feb.   11,  1864, 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Esping,  Exel,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  29,  1864,  trans. 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30, 1805. 
Holt,  Magnns  L.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  29.  186*,  pro. 

to  113th  U.S.C.T. 
Huttbnrg,  Samuel  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  29, 1861, 

trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30, 1865. 
Hockoml),  Magnns,  Galesbnrg,  e.  March  11,  1864, 

trans,  to  Co.sA,  con.,  m.o.  May  25, 1865. 
Johnson.  William,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  15,  '64,  trans 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  died  at  Mound  City  Oct.  25. 1864. 
Jacobeon,  John,  Galesburg.  e.  March  11,  '64,  trans. 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30, 1865. 
Johnson,  Charles.  Galesbnrg,  e.  March  1,  '64,  trans 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Johnson,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  March  21, 1864,  trans. 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Larson,  John,  Lynn,  e.  March  25,  1864,  trans,  to 

Co.  A,  con.,  m.  o,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Mengerson,  Samuel  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  March  27. 

1864,  Iran?,  to  Co.  A.  con.  m.o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Peterson,  Swen,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  25,  1863,  trans. 

to  Co.  A,  con.,  rn.o.  Nov.  30,  186o. 
Samuelson,  Charles  A.,  Galesburg,  e.   March  11, 

1864,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  con.,  m.o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 


William,  Gnstaf,  Gales'  urg,  e.  Feb.  29, 1864.  trans, 
to  Co.A,con.,died  at  Little  Rock,  Oct.  16,  1864. 

COMPANY  E. 

Kaser,Jobann,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  killed  at 
Shiloh  April  6,  1802. 


COMPANY    C.-(ConsolidatecI    Infan- 
try). 

Recruits. 

Anderson,  C.  F.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  1,  1865,  m.  o.  Nov 

30,  1865. 
Anderson,  Charles,  Lynn,  e.  March  10,    1865,  m.o 

Nov.  30,  1865. 
Johnson,  John  F.,  Lynn,  e.  March  10, 1865,  died  at 

Little  Rock,  Oct.  22,  1865. 
Lunstrnm,  Gustave  F.,  Lynn,  e.  March  24, 1865,  m. 

o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Ryddall,  Swen,  Lynn,  e.  March  24,  1865,  m.o.  Nov. 

30, 1865. 

Strum,  E.,  Lynn,  e.  March  10,  '65,  m  o.  Nov.  30,'65. 
Swanson,  L.,  Lynn,  e.  March  10,   1865,  m.  o.  Nov. 

30,  1865. 
Johnson,  Samuel,  Lynn,  e.  March  10,  1865,  m.  o 

June  16, 1865. 
Johnson,  C.,  Lynn,  March  10,  '65,m.o.June  11, '65 

COMPANY  K. 

Sergeant. 

J.  M.  Harris,  Abingdon,  e.  Mar.  29,  '65,  m.  o.  Aug. 
25,  1865. 

Corporals. 

James  E.  Walls,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29, 1865,  m. 

O.  Nov.  30,  1865,  as  eergt. 
John  T.  Calhonu,   Abingdon,  e.   March  29,  186'.. 

m.  o.  Nov.  30, 1805. 
Robert  M.  Hamilton,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29,  1865, 

m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Sylvester  Fleming,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29,1865, 

m.  o.  Nov,  30.  18'i5. 
W.  F.  Spence,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29,  1865,  m.  o. 

Nov.  30,  1865. 

Priva'es. 

Henry,  Anthony,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29, 1865,  m. 

o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Ogle,  Thomas  N.,  Abingdon.  e.  March  29, 1865,  m. 

o.  Nov.  30, 1865. 
Shoemaker,  Solomon  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  March  29. 

1865,  m.o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Murbary,  Charles,  Lynn,  e.  March  24, 1865. 


45th  INFANTRY. 


The  Washburne  Lead  Mine  Regiment  was  organized  at  Chicago,  Dec.  25,  1861. 
Mustered  into  service  as  the  45th  Infantry  Jan.  15, 1862,  moved  to  Cairo,  111.,  Feb.  11 ; 
moved  toward  Fort  Donelson,  and  during  the  succeeding  days  bore  its  part  of  the 
suffering  and  of  the  battle.  The  flag  of  the  45th  was  the  first  planted  on  the  enemy's 
works.  Loss,  2  killed,  26  wounded.  The  45th  took  a  conspicuous  and  honorable- 
part  in  the  two  days'  battle  of  Shiloh,  losing  26  killed,  199  wounded  and  missing — 
nearly  half  the  regiment.  On  the  5th  marched  to  Bethel,  7th  to  Montezuma,  and  on 
8th  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  the  enemy  flying  at  its  approach.  Mustered  out  July  12, 1865. 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  arrived  at  Chicago,  July  15,  1865,  for  final  payment  and 
discharge. 

The  45th  Eegiment  contained  79  men  from  Knox  county;  5  were  killed,  6  wound- 
ed, 9  died,  and  1  was  taken  prisoner. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


325 


CO  IIP  AX  V     I. 

Horton,  James  W.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  23,  1861,   dis- 
charged Jan.  17.  1882. 
Riggs,  C  ,  Abingdou,  e.  Mar.  29,'tj5,  m.o.July7,'65. 

COMPANY    Ji. 

Captain. 

Benjamin  F.  Holcomb.  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  24,  1881, 
term  ex.  Dec.  24,  18154. 

Fir»t  Lieutenants. 

J.  Graj,Wataga,  e  Dec  24,  '61,  term  ex.  Dec.24,'64. 

Augustas  W.   Dole*,    Henderson,  e.  Dec.  25, 1864. 

vet.  m.o.  July  12,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Luther  B.  Hunt.  Wataga,  e.  Dec.  2 I,  1861,  resigned 

June  1,  1862. 
Wm.  H.  H.  Amett.  Qalesburg,  e.  July  9, 1865,  m.o. 

July  12,  1865,  vet. 

Sergeants. 

R.  Fraser,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  '61,  m.o.  Dec.  23,'6t. 
Edward  R.  Huxley,  Henderson,  e.   Oct.    15,  1861, 

discharged  June  1, 1863,  wounded. 
Horace  M.  Kicker,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.   1,  1861,  m.o. 

Dec.  23, 1864. 

Corporals. 

Isaac  Sines,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  sergt.,killed 
at  Vicksburg,  June  26  1863. 


John  Gordon,  Wataga,  e.   Sept.  23,  1861,  died  at  Tbomas,  Hiram  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  18, 1861,  vet.,  in. 


Savannah  April  24, 1862,  w>>undf>. 

Ambrose  A.  Thorpe,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  23,11831,  dis- 
charged Dec.  12,  1*63. 

Jonathan  Collingwood,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  23, 1861, 
m.o.  Dec.  2!,  1864. 

Sidney  M.  Smith,  Wataga,  e.  Sep.  30.  1861,  m.o. 
Dec.  23.  1864. 


Benjamin  F.  Baker,  Wataga.  e.  Sfpt.  18  1861  died  Taylor,  Nathan  S.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept. 
at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Feb.  27, 188-'.  charged  Dec.  24,  1861,  disability. 


George  W.  Greer,  Wataga.  e.  Sept.  23, 1861,  killed 
at  Shiloh,  April  6, 1862. 

Musicians. 

Charles  M.  Denison,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1801,  died 

at  St.  Louis,  May  15,  1862. 

Cyrns  C.  Logan,  Altona,  e.   Sept  25,  1861,   dis- 
charged April  28,  1862,  disability. 

Privates. 

Buckman,  Peter,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  17,  1861.  killed 
at  Shiloh,  April  fi,  1862. 

Bilton,  John.   Wataga.  e.  Oct.  10. 1861,  discharged 
Sept.  26,  1862,  disability. 

Bunker,  Dwight,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861,  dis- 
charged Oct.  19, 1862,  wounds'. 

Cole,  Stephen  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  4  1831,  dis- 
charged April  30,  1862,  wounds. 

Comstock,  John,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  5    1861    m  o 
Dec.  24,   1864. 

Conley,  Lindsey  G.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  dis- 
charged May  15,  1862. 

Doles,  Albert  O.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  2,  1861,  died 
at  Quincy  April  21, 1862. 

Delain,  Olof,  Wataga.  e.  Sept.  17,  1861. 

Denton,  Henman  F., Wataga,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861,  dis- 
charged July  23,  1862,  disability. 

Eastman,  Alfred  A.,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  dis- 
charged  June  22,  1862,  disability. 

Eastman,  Edward  H., Wataga,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  dis- 
charged  June  22.  1862,  disability. 

Fulford,  Charles  W.,  Wataga,  e.  Nov.  11,  18Cl,vet. 
trans,  to  U.  S.  Navy. 

bo£:  DHl08-  Wataga.  e.  Sept.  16,   1861,  died  at 
Shiloh  April  18,  1802. 

Henderson, William  S..  Knoxville.  e.  Sept.  24, 1861. 
vet.  m.o.  July  12,  1865. 

19 


H-ilstan,  Samuel.  Tlender-xvi   e.  Oct.  8.  1851,  dis 

charged  July  21,  1862,  disability. 
Hawks,  Richard,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  10.  1861,  vet, 

m.o.  July  12,  1865. 
Lewi*,  Quintus  C.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  23,  IbOl,  died 

at  Vicksburg  Oct.  30, 1863. 
Laird,  Allen,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  23,  1861,  vet.   m.  o. 

July  12,  1865,  as  corpl. 
McClure,  Hugh,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  in.  o. 

Dec.  2:(,  1864. 

McCleery,  Solomon,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  18,  1861,  dis- 
charged July  23  1862,  disability. 
Matterson,  George  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  2,   1861, 

m.o.  Dec.  23.  1864. 

Nash,  Joseph.  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861. 
Kendall,  Joshua,  Henderson,  e.  Nov.  11,  1861, vet. 

trans,  to  U.  S.  Navy. 

O'Brien,  Henry,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861. 
Ohlson,  Nels,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  17. 1861,  discharged 

June  24.  1862. 
Piper,  Benjamin, Wataga,  e.  Oct.  2,  1862,  vet.  m.o. 

July  12,  1865,  as  corp'l. 
Paddock,    Daniel,  Wataga,   e.   Dec.  3,  1861,   dis- 

cbarzed  Oct.  1, 1863,  disability. 
Ricker,WM Wataga,  e  Sept.  23,'6t,  disch.Aug.  2,'62. 
Rowe,  Anson,  Jr.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  18,  1861,   died 

at  Padncah,  Ky.,  March  6,  1862. 
Ramsey, Alfred  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  23,  1861.  vet. 

died  at  Audersonville  prison,  grave  No.  176">. 
Shumate,  Joshua  B..  Henderson,  e    Sept.  30,  1861, 

vet.  m.  o.  July  12,  1865. 
Soner,  George  W.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  8,  1861,vet., 

m.  o.  July  12,  1865,  as  eergt. 
Sweet,  Henry  P.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  23,  1861,   died 

Aug.  22,  1863. 
Smith.  J..  Wataga,  e.  Sept  16,  '61,  m.o.  Dec.  23,  '61. 


o.  July  12,  1865. 
Thorp,  Orville  R.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  28,  1861,  vet., 

m.o.  July  12,  l.-'65,  as  corp'l. 
Taylor,  William  C.  Jr.,Watasa,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861, vet. 

pro.  to  1st  Heat,  and  Q,.  SI. 
Tebbetts,  William  H  ,  Wataga.   e.   Oct.  22,   1861, 


killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 


16,   1861,  dis- 


Wandless,  Joseph,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  dis- 
charged Sept.  4.  1862,  wounded. 

Wentworth,  Milton,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861,  dis- 
charged Dec.  5,  1862.  disability. 

Williams,  Joseph  S.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16, 1861. 

Wilks,  T.,  Wataga,  e.  Sept.  16, '61,  m.o.  Dec.  s!3,'64. 

Wild, J.. Wataga,  e.  Oct.  13,1861,  died  at  Cairo,Feb. 
27,  1862. 

Yancy.Walter  C.,Wataga,  e.  Sept.  23, 1861,  killed  at 
Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 

Yancy,  J..  Wataea,  e.  Dec.  16,  1861,  disch.  July  20, 
1862,  disability. 

Recruits. 

oiling.  W.,  Wataga,  e.  Feb.  1. 1862,  discb.  Aug.  18, 

1862.  wounded, 
lapp,  H.  U.,  Galesburg,  e.  Mar.  27, 186 1,  m.  o.  July 

12, 186:x 
Doles,  G.  M.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  9,  1865,  m.o.  July 

12,  1865. 
Morse,  Augustus,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  7,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  12.  1865. 
Morse.  G.  N..  Henderson,  e.   Feb.   9,   1865,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Merrick,  Stephen  F..  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  9,  1865, 

m.  o.  July  12. 1865. 
Osborn,  Stephen  S.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  7,  1864,  m. 

o.  July  12.  1865. 
Rouse,  Benj.  F.,  Oneida,  e.  June  23,  1862,  m.  o. 

June3,  1865,  corpl. 
Roberts,  Geonre  B.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  7,  1864.  m. 

o.  July  12,  1865. 
Shumate.  W.  H.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  9,  1865,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 

Fisk,  T..  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  7,'6t,m.o.  July  12.'65. 
Thorp,  C.  O.,  Wataga.  e.  Feb.  25,  1864,  m.  o.  July 

12.  1865. 
Tye,  T.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  9,  '65,  m.o.  July  12,'65. 


326 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


47th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Nims,  Herbert.  Altona.  e.  Aug.  16,  1861. 

Kims,  O.  L.,  Altona,  e.  Aug  16,'61,  m.o.  Oct.11,'6 

COMPANY  C. 

Captain, 

A.  C.  Hoptanstall,  Galesburg,  tn.o.  Jan.  21,  1866. 
Corporal. 

Wilmore  B.  Aaron.  Yotes  City.  e.  Aug.  18, 1861,  die 
charged  May  18,  1862,  disability. 

Privates. 

Adams,  .T.  M.,  Elba.  e.  Aug.  18,  1881,disch.  Apr 

28,  1863,  disability. 
Faith,  W.  J.,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  18, 1861,  vet.,corpl 

trans.  Co.  B  .  con. 

Green.  J.,  Yates  City.  e.  Aug.  18, '61,  m.o.  Oct.  11. '64 
Holcorab,   Samuel  R,.  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  18,  186 

discharged  March  27.  1863,  disability. 
Kiofler.  John  W.,  Maquon,  e,  Aug,  18,  1861,  m.  o 

Aug.  18,  1861. 
Null.  Samuel.  Yate*  City,  e.  Aug,  18,  1861,  disch 

Nov.  20, 1862,  disability. 

COMPANY  E. 

Sergeants, 

Edward  O'Connor,  Elba.  e.  Feb.  15,  1865,  died  a 

Selma.  Ala.,  Oct.  24,  1865, 
Richard  Walch.  Elba,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  died  at  Sel 

ma,  Ala.,  Oct.  12.  1865. 
James  Haley,  Indian  Pi.,  e.  Feb.  28,  1865. 

Corporals. 

Dennis  O'Connor,  Sparta,  e.  Feb,  21,  1865,  m.  o 

Jan.  21, 1866,  as  sergt, 
James  Fahey,  Victoria,  e,  Feb.  20, 1865,  m.  o.  Jan 

21.  1866,  as  sergt. 
P.Daniels,  Indian  Pt.,e.  Feb.  21, '65,  m.o. Jan.  21, '66 

Privates. 

Burk.  Thomas.  Yates  City,  e.  Ang.  16,  1861, 
O'Rouke,  Michael,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  16.  1861. 
Byrne,  J.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  16.  '65,  m.  o.  Jan.  21,'  66 
Brady.  M..  Elba,  e.  Feb,  16,  '65.  m.  o.  Jan.  21,  '66 
Bulsrer,  J.,  Indian  Ft,  e.  Feb.  16, '65,  m.o.  Jan.21,'68 
Dunnigan,  John,  Indian  Pt.  e.  Feb.  28, 1865. 
Dermont.  B.,Indian  Pt.,e.Feb,21.'65,m.o.  Jan,21.'66 
Fisher,  Francis,  Elba,  e.  Feb.  17,  1865,  m.  o.  Jan 

21.  1866,  as  corpl. 

Hanley,  James.  Indian  Pt..  e.  Jan.  27,  1865. 
Hennessey,  W..Victoria.e.Feb.6.'65,m.o.Jan.21, '6 
Kelch,  A.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Feb.  20.  65,  m.o.  Jan.  21/66 
Keely,  E.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  16,  '65.  m.  o.  Jan.  21,  '66 
O'Driscoll,  L., Victoria,  e.Feb.!6,'65.m.o.Jan.21, '66 
Ryan,  Martin.  Indian  Pt..  e.  Feb.  28,  1865. 
Redmond.  J.,  Sparta,  e.  Feb.  21, '65,  m.o.  Jan.  21, '66 
Scott,  W., Indian  Pt.,e.  Feb. 28,'65,m.o.  Jan. 21, '66 
Wade,  J.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  16,  '65, m.  o.  Jan,  21,  '66 


50th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  G. 

Corporals. 

Israel  Babbitt.  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  24, 1861,  died 

at  Paducah.  Ky,.  April  3. 1862. 
John  W.  Rankins,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  21,  1861, 

m.  o.  Sept.  27,  1864. 
Woods  B.  Callison.  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  24, 1861 

m.  o.  Sept.  27,  1864.  as  sergt. 

Privates 

Bowman.  Jacob,  St.  Anenstine,  e.  Sept.  24, 1861 
discharged  July  31, 1862,  disability. 


Babbitt,  James.  Jr.. St.Augustine,  e.  Sept.  21,1861, 
m.  o.  Sept.  27.  1864.  corpl. 

Babbitt.  James  J..  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861. 
discharged  for  disability,  sergt. 

Babbitt,  John  J.,  St.  Augustine^  e.  Sept  21,  1861, 
m.  o.  Sept.  27,  18*4,  corpl. 

Babbitt,  Hugh,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  16,  1831,  dis- 
charged for  disability. 

Hants,  George  W.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  24.  1861. 
m.  o.  Sept.  27,  1864. 

Hants.  Daniel,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  16.  1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability.  June  15,  1862. 

Rogers.  Erastuo,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  12.  1861,  m. 
o.  Oct.  19,  1864. 

Williams,  Anson  L..  St.  Augustine,  e.  Sept.  24, 
1861,  m.  o.  Sept.  27,  1864. 

Walton,  George,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  24, 1861. 

COMPANY   I. 

Beetly  Edwin  W.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  July  13,  1865. 
Molden,  Ananias.  Knox  Co.,  e.  Sept.  16,  1861,  vet., 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Plynn,  Benjamin,  Knoxville,  e.  March  9.  1864. 
Mitchell,  Alexander,  Knoxville,  e.  March  9,  1864. 


51st  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    C. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Albert  Eads,  Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  24, 1861,  term  ex- 
pired Jan.  17, 1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
John  D.  Rambo.  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  20, 1861,  vet., 
m.  o.  Sept.  25, 1865. 

Privates. 
Duncan,  Rufus  H.,  Knoxville.  e.  Sept.  20,  1861, 

prisoner,  m.  o.  March  15,  1865. 
Flatt,  Daniel.   Knoxville,  e.   Sept.  20,  1861,  vet., 

corpl..  killed  at  Kenasaw,  June  27,  18K4. 
Garrett,  Benjamin.  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  20,  1861, 

discharged  for  disability,  April  24.  1862. 
Heagy,  Harry  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  6,  Ib61,vet, 

m.  o.  Sept.  25.  18(i5.  as  corporal. 
Hnggins,William  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept,  21  '61,vet., 

killed  at  New  Hope  Church.  Ga.,  June  3,1864. 
Fackson,  Francis.  Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  14.  1861. 
Jackson.  Henry,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  27.  1^61,  died 

at  Andersonville  prison,  June  29, 1864,  grave 


Lobach,   Joseph  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.  June  24,  1865,  prisoner  of  war. 
McGowan,  Curtis,  Knoxvi.le,   e.  Sept.  20,    1861, 

vet.,  m.  o.  Sept,  25,  1865. 
Morey,  Daniel  N.,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  20. 1861. 
Maxfleld,  Erastus  D..  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  20,  1861, 

died  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

Rezzer,  Henry  B.,  Knoxville.  e.  Sept.  20,  1861. 
Woolsey,  Henry  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861. 

Recruits. 
Garrett.  Benjamin  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  29, 1864, 

died,  July  16.  1864.  wounds. 
Rambo,  George  W..  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  22,  1864, 

died,  July  30, 1864,  wounds. 


COMPANY   H. 

Privates. 
iurgland.  Jonas,  Victoria,  e.  Nov.  4,  1861,  m.  o. 

Feb.  28,  1865. 
rom,  Erick,  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  29, 1861,  vet.  m.  o. 

Sept.  25,  18>i5.  as  sergeant, 
ohnson,  Jacob,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  10, 1862. 
ohnson,  James.  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  29,  1861. 
indy,  William.  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  9,  1862,   captured 

Sept.  19. 1863.  died, 
inda,  Lewis,  Victoria,  Dec..  18,  1861,  m.  o.  Feb. 

28,  1865. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


329 


Minard,  Milton  D..  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  29. 1861. 
Moss,  Sardus  B.,  Victoria,  e,  Oct.  29.  1861. 
Martin.  J.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  29, 1861,  disch.  July  14, 

1862. 

Mosher,  Palmer,  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  22.1861. 
Minard,  Adolphus  P.,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  25.180'},  m. 

o.  Keb.  20,  1865. 

Riggens,  Sylvester  B.,  Victoria,  e,  Jan.  12,  1862. 
Rosa.  William,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.   29,  1861,  died   at 

Big  Springs.  Miss.,  July  14, 1862. 
Scott,  William  O.,  Trnro,  e.  Dec.  13,  1861. 
Sweeney.  Edwin  P.,  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  23,  1861. 
Tothill,  Richard,  Victoria,  e.   Dec.  29, 1861,  m.  o. 

Feb.  28, 1865. 
Wolf,  Leonard,   Victoria,  e.  Dec.  25,  1861,  disch. 

April  7, 1862. 

COMPANY  K. 

Privates. 

Cook.  Archibald.   Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  1, 1862,  died 
at  Danville,  Va.,  Dec.  28.,  1863,  pris. 


Diles,   Samuel.  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  1,  186'J,  di-ch. 

Feb.  26. 1865. 
Gowde,  Julius  H.,    Galesbnrer.  e.  Dec.    11,   1861, 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb.  7,  1864. 
Lewis,  Henry  R.,  Ga'.esburg,e.  Dec.  21, 1861,  disch. 

March  1,  1862. 

May,  Harvey  L.,  Galesburs,  e.  Dec.  11,1861. 
Mirandy,  Cyrus.  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  26,  1861,disch. 

April  19,  1862. 
Robinson,  Thomas  G.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  20,  1862, 

died  at  Danville,  Va.,  Jan.  21,  186 ».  pris. 
White.  Daniel,  Galesbug.  e.  Dec.  18,  1861. 
Kendrick,  L.  A.,  Galeeburg,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861,  trans. 

57th  infantry. 
Mile*.  David  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861,  trans. 

57th  infantry. 
Pruitt,    William  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4,  1861, 

trans.  57th  infantry. 
Petty,  William  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  14,  1864, 

trans,  to  57th  infantry. 


55th   INFANTRY 


Was  organized  at  Camp  Douglas,  and  mustered  into  service  Oct.  31,  1861.  Nov.  9, 
left  Camp  Douglas.  Eemained  at  Camp  Benton  until  Jan.  12,  1863,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Paducah,  Ky.  On  the  morning  of  March  15  marched  out  with  expedition 
from  a  point  some  14  miles  above  Pittsburg  Landing,  for  the  surprise  and  overthrow 
of  Corinth. 

The  opening  of  the  battle,  Sunday  morning,  found  the  regiment  in  position  with 
an  effective  force  of  873  men.  Col.  Stewart  was  wounded  and  9  of  the  line  officers, 
3  of  whom  died  of  wounds;  102  enlisted  men  were  killed  and  mortally  wounded, 
and  161  wounded  and  taken  prisoners.  The  regiment  was  with  the  army  in  advance 
on  Corinth,  and  at  Russell's  house,  May  17,  lost,  in  skirmish,  8  men, — 2  killed  and  6 
wounded.  Entered  Corinth  May  30;  thence,  with  Gen.  Sherman,  westward  along 
Memphis  and  Charleston  R.  R.  The  regiment  re-embarked  with  army,  and  was 
present  and  under  fire  at  battle  of  Arkansas  Post,  Jan.  10  and  11,  1863,  losing  three 
men  wounded.  Was  at  Vicksburg  in  1863,  participating  in  the  fight.  Participated 
in  the  siege  of  Jackson,  Miss.  On  30th  Oct.,  1803,  marched  from  East  Point,  on 
Tennessee  river,  for  Chattanooga.  During  night  of  23rd,  with  rest  of  brigade, 
manned  a  fleet  of  pontoon  boats  in  North  Chickamauga  creek,  and  in  t&e  midst  of 
rain  and  intense  darkness,  with  muffled  oars,  descended  and  crossed  the  Tennessee 
river  and  captured  the  enemy's  picket  line.  Nov.  25.  marched  with  Sherman  to  the 
relief  of  Knoxville,  E.  Tenn.  June  27,  1:64,  participated  in  assault  upon  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Ga.  July  22  the  regiment  was  again  engaged,  with  an  effective  force  of 
239  men,  and  came  out  of  the  engagement  with  180  men.  Was  in  the  siege  of 
Atlanta;  in  battle  of  Jonesboro.  In  a  short  campaign  of  a  little  over  two  months 
the  regiment  lost  half  its  number.  Marched  with  army,  via  Richmond,  to  Washing- 
ton ;  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington.  During  its  term  of  service 
the  regiment  marched  3,374  miles. 

The  55th  Regiment  had  81  men  from  Knox  county,  of  whom  3  were  killed,  2 
wounded,  7  died,  and  1  was  taken  prisoner. 


COMPANY  A. 

Captain,. 

JohnB.  Ridenour,   Knox  co.,  e.  Sept.  1, 1861,  re- 
signed June  15,  1865.     • 

Corporal. 

Joseph  H.  Presson,Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  2, 1861,  pro. 
Q.  M.  Sergt. 

Privates. 

Brown,  John,  e.  Oct.  29,  1861,  vet.,  trans,  to  non- 
com,  staff. 
Hayden,  A.  R.,  e.  Oct.  30, 1861,  m.  o.  Oct.  31,  1864. 

CO  HP  ANY  D. 

Musician. 
F.  Parvin,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861,  vet. 


Recruit. 
Dunn,  H.,  Trnro,  e.  Jan.  9, 1865,  m.o.  Aug.  14,  1865. 

COMPANY    F. 

First  Lieutenant. 

H.  Presson,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  31,  1861,  resigned 
March  5,1862. 

Privates . 

Reynolds,  Joel,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  8,  1861. 
Holmes,  David  N.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861,  vet. 

pro.  1st  Lieut. 
Keffer,  Jacob  W.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  11, 1861,vet. 

m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1861,  as  sergt. 

COMPANY   H. 

Trout,  Lewis,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  8, 1861. 


330 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


COMPANY  I. 

Private*. 

Crocker.  Q.  W..  Knox  Grove,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861.  vet. 

died  at  Marietta.  Ga.  Sept.  30, 1864,  wounds. 
Matlock,  J.  W.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861, vet.  m. 

o.  Aug.  14.  1865. 
Kickrnan,  M.  B.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  17, 1861. 

COMPANY  K. 

Captains. 

3.  Black.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  31, 1861,  resigned  Feb. 

9.  186:5. 
James  W.  Kay*.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861,  m.  o. 

Aug.  14,  1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

John  H.  Fillmore,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m. 

o.  Nov.  26. 1862. 
William  Grounds,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  23,  1861.  vet 

m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Andrew  J.  Gillett,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  31,  1861,  re- 
signed April  7,  1862. 

William  D.  Lomax,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861, 
hon.  disch.  Oct.  31, 1864. 

First  Sergeant. 
Charles  K.  Encell,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 

Sergeant. 

James  M.  Massey,  Qalesburg,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861. 
Corporals. 

William  H.  Burnangh,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861 

m.  o.  Oct.  31,  1864. 

James  M.  Morris,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Moletus  Miller,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.  1861,  vet.  m 

o.  Aug.  14,  '65,  as  sergt. 
E.  P.  Westfall,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  21,  1861. 
James  Hawthorne,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Harry  Babbitt.  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  23,  1861. 

Priva'es. 


Anderson,  John,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  17, 1861. 
Bonham,  B.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Bellwood,  Milton,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861.  killed 

at  Vicksburg.  May  22,  1863. 
Bellwood,  Lemuel,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.  1861. 
Baldwin,  Martin,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.  1861,  trans. 

to  invalid  corps. 
Bonham,  A.  M.,  Abingdon,   e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  31,  1864. 
Chesney,  William  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22^  1861, 

vet.  disch.  for  disability  July  31,  1865. 
Curtice,  Daniel,  Abingdon.  e.   Oct.  22,  1861,  disch. 

for  disability.  Nov.  7, 1861. 
Cox,  Robert  M.,  St.  Augustine,  e.Oct.  22, 1861,  vet. 

m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Comes,  Joseph  P.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 

vet.  m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Collison,  Addison  P.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m. 

o.  Oct.  31.  1864. 
Coy,  George  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861,  vet.  m. 

o.  Aug.  14,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Coy,  U.  D.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861,  disch.  Nov. 

4.  1861. 
Davice,    Moses  S.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861, 

trans  to  invalid  corps. 
Been,  William   H.,   Henderson,   e.  Oct.  20,   1861, 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  May  1,  1864. 
Dickey,   Henry,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  31,  1864. 

Forey,  Ostrando  D.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861. 
Goold,  Jesse,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861.  died 

at  Belle  Isle,  rebel  prison. 
Greene,  John,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.   1861,  killed  E 

while  on  picket  Aug.  14,  1863. 
Hall,  William  M.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Johnson,  N.  H.,  Galesburg.  e.  Oct.  20,  1861. 


Kays,  Henry.  Abinadon,  e.  Oct.  22,  186), 
Latimer,   Thomas  P.,   Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,   1861, 

vet.  m.  o.  Ang.  14.1865  as,  1st  sere*. 
Murray,  Sidney  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct." 22,   1861,  m. 

o.  Oct.  31,  186 1. 

iVtapes,  Asbury,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.  1861. 
Marshall.  James.  Abingdon,  e.  Cci.   2J,   1861,  vet. 

m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1865,  as  sergf. 
Mount.   William,   Abingdon,   e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  vet. 

killed  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Aug.  4,  1864. 
Maxson,  Duaue,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Miller.  Francis  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861,  died 

at  St.  Louie,  Feb.  20,  186 •>. 
McKibben.  L.  C.,  Abingdon.  e.  Oct.  22, 1861,  disch. 

for  disability.  Jan.  28,  1863. 
Moneymaker,  Wm.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861, 

vet.  m.  o.  Aug.  14, 1865. 
Moneymaker,  J.  K.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861, 

died  at  Young*  Pt.,  La.,  Feb.  8,  1863. 
Meadows,  H.  W.,  Abinedou,  e.  Oct.  22.1861,  disch. 

Oct.  V5,  1861. 

Newkirk.-A.  W.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  23,  1861. 
Nelson,  Wiliam  H.,  Soludn,  e.  Oct.  2-i.  1861. 
Pointer,  James  T.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22.  1861,  vet. 

pro.  1st  sergt.,  died  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  July  25, 

1865. 

Rose,  Mason  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1?61. 
Rr>odecker,  G.   W.,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m.  o.  Nov.1,'64 
Reckner.  Daniel,  Abingdon,  e.Oct,  23,  1861.1 
Raymond,  T.  L.,  Abingdou,  e.  Oct.  23,  1861,  trans. 

toV.  R.  C.  May  1,  186  L 
Rechey,  S.  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  disch.  for 

old  age  Nov.  3,  1861. 
Spencer,  William,  Ahingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  vet. 

m.  o.  Aug.  14,  1865,  as  sergt.,  wounded. 
South,  Elijah,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Spitzer,  Andrew,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  31,  1864. 
Shoop,   Tnornas  T..  Abingdon,   e.   Oct.  22,    1861, 

disch.  for  disability.  Jan.  28,  1S63. 
Staggs,  David  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861. 
Townsend,  J.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22,  1861,  died. 
Williford,  William  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  22, 1861. 

Recruits. 

Crouch,  Hiram,  Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26, 1865,  m.  o.  Aug. 

14,  1865. 
Campbell,  Joseph  H.,  Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26, 1865,  m.  o. 

Aug.  14,  1865. 
Newkirk,  Absalom  W.,  Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26, 1865,  m. 

o.  Aug.  14.  1865. 
Romesuurg,  David,   Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m.  o. 

Ane.  14,  1865. 
Stiles,  Edgar  G.,  Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26,    1865,  died  at 

Jeffersonville,  Ind. 


COMPANY  A 

Dawdell,  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  13,  1861,  ve 

m.  o.  July  7,  1865. 
Ball,  James,  Galesburg,  disch.  July  20, 1862,  wds. 

COMPANY  D. 

Sergeant. 

Olof  Olson,  Victoria,  e.  Nov.10, 1861,  term  ex. 
Privates. 


Broberg,  A.,  Gilson,  e.  Oct.  11,  1861,  term  ex.  1861 
Garnett,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  8, 1861,  vet.  m.  ' 

July  7, 1865. 

Hanson,  J.,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  8,  1861,  term  ex.  1^6 
Norlund,  Lars,  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  20,  1861,  discb 

for  disability,  July  5,  1862. 
Peterson.  P.  L.,  Victoria,  e.  Dec.  .20, 1861,  disch 

for  disability  May  29,  1863. 
Rudeman,O., Victoria,  e.  Dec.  19,1861.  term  ex.  is 
^rickson.  John,  Truro,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  m.  o.  T" 

7,  1865. 
Quinburg.  Peter,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  8,1864,  m. 

July?,  1845. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


331 


58th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Barney,  G.  Eugene,  Galesburg,    e.  Oct.  29,  1861, 

trans,  as  let  sergeant  to  Co.  E. 
Stanley,  James  H.,    Galesburg,    e.  Nov.  21,  1861, 

vet.  discharged  for  disability  April  23, 1862. 

COMPANY  G. 

Captain. 

Loring  P.  Fuller,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  81, 1861,  term 
expired  Feb.  7, 1865. 

Privates. 

Bennett,  William,  Abingdou,  e.  Dec.  31, 1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability  Oct.  8,  1862. 

Camp,  Sterling  T.,  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  4, 1861,  pro. 
musician. 

Camp,  H.C.,  Abingdon,e.  Nov.4,  '61,m.o.Feb.7,  '65 

Cronnole,  John  P.,  Gilson,  e.  Dec.  30, 1861,  died 
at  Pittsburg  Landing  April  5,  1862. 

Fogirty,  John,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Nov.  26,  1861, 
discharged  for  disability  March  25,  1863. 

Garrard,  H.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  9,  1861,  -n.o. 
Feb.  7,  1865. 

Gillett,  W.  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  29,  '61,  trans,  to 
Co.  I.,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Shiloh. 

Gillett.  V.  M.,Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  29/61,  transferred 
to  Co.  I. 

Grabill,  J.,  Gilson,  e.  Dec.  18,  '61,  m.o.  Feb.  7,  '65. 

Grabill,  A.,  Gilson,  e.  Dec.  16,  '61,  m.o.  Feb.  7.  '65. 

Hull,  Daniel  W..  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  24,  died  of  ac- 
cidental wounds,  Feb.  14, 1862. 

Hatfleld.  G.,  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  12, 1861,  trans,  to 
Co.  I.,  vet.,  m.o.  April  1.  1866. 

Henness,  George  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  20.  1861, 
died  at  Evansville,  Ind. 

Imil,  Thomas,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Nov.  17,1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability  June  14,  1862.  >. 

Kitchen,  David,  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  28, 1861,  disch. 
for  disability  April  24, 1862. 

McDonnell,  James  H.,  Abingdon,   e.  Nov.  5,  1861. 

Meadow,  William  P..  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  31, 1861, 
trans,  to  Co.  I.,  vet.,  m.o  April  1, 1866. 

Nation.  Joseph,  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  25. 1861,  died 
on  Tenn.  river  April  10,  1862,  wounds. 

Nation,  Elijah,  Abingdon.  e.  Nov.  20,  1861,  vet. 
trans,  to  Co.  B,  m.o.  April  1, 1866 

Peabody,  George  N.,  Abiugdon.  e.  Dec.  3, 1861, 
trans,  to  Co.  I,  vet.  m.o.  April  1,  1866. 

Perry.  William  M..  Gilson,  e.  Dec.  16,  1861. 

Ryan.  Peter,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Nov.  26, 1861,  m.o. 
Feb.  7,  1865. 

Richey,  Samuel  H..  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  26,  1861. 

Ryan,  Thomas,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  30,  1861,  m. 
o.  Feb.  7,  1865. 

Sibley,  Lucien  G..  Abingdon,  e.  Nov.  26,  1861, 
discharged  for  disability  Aug.  5, 1862. 

Staggs,  John  W.,  Abingdou.  e.  Oct.  28,  1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability  Aug.  21,  1862. 

Staggs,  Allison  M.,  Gilson,  e.  Dec.  9,  1861,  trans, 
to  Co.B.  vet.  m.o.  May  2.  18%. 

Thompson,  J.  M.,  Hermon.  e  Nov.  16, 1861,  disch. 
for  disability  Aug.  3,  1863. 

Thompson,  Errick,  Abingdon,  o.  Dec.  4,  1861,  m. 
o.  Feb.  7.  1865,  was  prisoner. 

Griffin,  Augustus,  Galesburg,  e.  March  21, 1861. 


59th  INFANTRY. 

The  9th  Infantry  Missouri  Vols.  was  organized  at  St.  Louis,  Sept.  18,  1801.  The 
companies  composing  the  regiment  had  been  raised  in  Illinois,  and  mustered  in  at 
sundry  times.  Sept.  21,  1861.  ordered  to  Jefferson  City;  8uth  moved  to  Booneville; 
Dec.  15,  1801  ^  moved  to  Georgetown,  Mo.;  23rd,  returned  to  Lamine  Bridge.  Jan. 
1,  P.  Sidney  Post  was  commissioned  Major.  Feb  12,  1862,  by  an  order  of  the  War 
Department,  the  9th  Missouri  Vols  was  changed  to  the  59th  Illinois  Vol.  Infantry. 
Feb.  22,  moved  to  Cross  Hollows.  March  6,  moved  to  Pea  Ridge.  On  the  7th, 
fought  the  enemy  all  day;  Major  P.  Sidney  Post  was  scvere'y  wounded.  Lieut- 


Johnsou,  Olof,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  7,  1865. 
Nordquist.  Louis,  Wataga,  e.  Dec.  25,  1861,  term. 

ex.  1864. 

COMPANY  E. 

Captain. 

Charles  E.  Passenger,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  27, 1861, 
vet.,  died. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  Andrew,  Galesburg.  e.  Nov.  21,  1861. 
Bell,  Anderson.  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861,  vet.  m. 

o.  Juiy  7,  1865. 
Davis,  Frank  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861,  died 

at  Pittsburg,  Tenn.,  April  15,  1862 
Davis.  Martin,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861,  disch. 

April  29,  1862. 
Davis,  Disrhtou.  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861,  vet.  m. 

O.July  7.  1865. 
Hendricks,  Loran  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861, 

vet.  m.  o.  July  7,  1865. 

Smith,  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  25,  1861. 
•Watkins,  John  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861,  vet. 

m.o.  July  7,  1865. 
Wait,  Alva  S..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  10,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  7.  1865. 


COMPANY  H. 

Sergeant. 
H.  Reed,  Lynn,  e.  Sept.  £9,  1861,  m.o.  Dec.  25, 1864. 

Corporals. 

Edward  Cochran,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  5,  1861,  killed 

at  Corinth,  Miss.,  Oct.  4, 1862. 
Henry  McCabe,  Lynn,  e.  Sept.  24, 11861,  vet.  died 

prisoner  of  war. 

Privates. 

Annis,  John,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  25, 1861,  discharged 
for  disability  Sept.  8,  1862. 

Berlenmeier,  Christopher,  Lynn,  e.  Oct.  10,  1861. 
vet.,  m.o.  July  7,  1865. 

Bennett,  Phineas,  Lynn,  e.  Sept.  29,  1861. 

Boswell,  Riel,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  21,  1861,  disch.  for 
disability  April  29.  1862. 

Codding,  Jasper  C.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  29,  1861. 

Cotteral,  William  H.,  Lynn,  e.  Oct.  15,  1861,  dis- 
charged Feb.  1,  1862,  minor. 

Coon.  Charles,  Victoria,  e.  Nov.  20,  vet.  sergeant, 
killed  at  Resaca,  May  17,  1864. 

Dudley.  Henry,  Lynn.  e.  Oct.  2,  1861,  discharged 
for  disability  April  29,  1862. 

Hanna,  William,  Elba,  e.  Oct.  15.  1861. 

flurlhurt.  Horace,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861,  vet., 
m.o.  July  7, 1865. 

Miller,  C.,  Lynn,  e.  Sept.  26, 1861,  died  July  11,  '62 

Rice,  P.  L.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 
July  7. 1865. 

Spalding,  John  A..  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  29.  1861,  dis- 
charged for  promotion. 

Garrety.  Daniel.  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Oct.   15,  1861, 


killed  at  Corinlh,  Oct.  3,  1862. 


332 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Col.  Frederic  was  severely  wounded,  and  Capt.  Hale  commanded  the  regiment  during 
the  fight.  April  1,  Col.  Kelton  having  resigned,  Maj.  Post  was  commissioned  Col- 
onel. After  evacuation  of  Corinth,  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  as  far  as  Boone- 
ville;  18th,  crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Eastport,  and  camped  at  Waterloo;  Col.  Post 
took  command  of  brigade.  Oct.  8,  was  heavily  engaged  at  Chaplin  Hills,  losing  113 
killed  and  wounded,  out  of  361  men  going  into  action.  Arrived  at  Nashville,  Nov. 
7,  near  which  place  the  regiment  remained  during  the  year. 

The  59th  Regiment  had  104  men  from  Knox  county;  3  were  killed,  8  wounded, 
and  14  died. 


Colonel. 
P.  Sidney  Post,  Galesburg. 

Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Clayton  Hale,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  absent, 
sick  at  m.o.  of  regiment. 

Adjutant. 

Samuel  West,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  pro. 
captain  Co.  I,  resigned  Nov.  22, 1861. 

Surgeon. 

Charles  Bunce,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  25,  1862,  m.o. 
Dec.  8,  1865. 

Assistant  Surgeon. 

Joseph  W.  Gaston,  Knoxville,  died  Sept.  3,  1864. 
Sergeant-  Majors. 

John  F.  Smith,  Galesburg,  e.  July  17,  1861,  disch. 

Jan.  15,  1863,  wounds. 
George  P.  Ayers,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  5,  1863,  m.o. 

Dec.  8,  1865. 

COMPANY  A. 

Captains. 

David  M.  Bailey,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  died 

at  Knoxville  Oct.  10,  1864. 
James  Elrich,   Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  m.o. 

Dec.  8, 1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Alexander   Sanderson,  Knox  county,  e.  July  17, 

1861,  m.o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Samuel  F.   Patton,   Knoxville.,  e.   July  17,  1861. 

m.o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 

Sergeants. 

Edwin  P.    Higgins,    Knoxville  e.   July  17,  1861, 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Samuel  West,  Knoxville,    e.    July    17,  1881,  pro. 

com.  serg't. 
John  Hall,  Knox.  co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  disch.  for 

disability  May  1,  1862. 
Phillip  Anderson,  Kuoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  dis 

charged  for  disability  Oct.  21,  1861. 

Corporals. 

Edward  M.  Warren,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861. 

Albert  Collins,  Knox  co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  disch. 
Jan.  20,  1863,  as  serg't.,  wounds. 

John  W.  Dennis,  Knox  co.,  e.  July  17, 1861,  disch. 
Oct.  31, 1861,  disability. 

James  Elrich,  Knoxville,  e   July  17,  1861,  died. 

Jacob  Huptonstull,  Knox  co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability,  Oct.  31,  1861. 

Musicians. 

Thomas  R.  Owen,  Knox  co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  dis- 
charged for  disability,  April  10,  1862. 

William  P.  Rodecker,  Knox  co.,  e.  July  17,  1861, 
trans,  to  bat.  A,  2d  art. 

Wagoner. 

Wm.  H.Wot>lsey,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861.  vet. 
idl  une  17, 1864,  wounds. 


Privates. 

Allen,  Richard,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet., 
discharged  June  17,  1865,  as  sergeant,  wounds. 
Beatty.John,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8.  1865. 

Burnaugb, Nathan,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861,  died 
Nov.  7,  1861. 

Bryan  ,  Joseph  N.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,1861,  vet.. 
m.  o  Dec.  8, 1865,  as  sergeant. 

Calkins,Charle8  E.,  Knox  Co. ,  e.  July  17, 1861,  died 
Dec.  20.  1862. 

Collison, Anthony,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17, 1861,  vet., 
sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 

Camp,  Wm.  B.,  Galesburg.  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet., 
discharged  June  29, 1865,  as  sergeant,  wounds. 

Canfield,  George  W.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861, 
vet.,  sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 

Castle,Geo.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  vet.,  m. 
o.  Dec.  8,  1865,  as  sergeant. 

Colwell,  James  II,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  dis- 
charged Jan.  12,  1864,  as  sergeant,  disability. 

Corbin,  Francis,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861,  died  at 
Louisville,  Oct.  1,  1861 

Crentz,  Charles.  Galesburg,  e,  July  17,  1861,  dis- 
charged Feb.  2,  1864,  disability. 
ntbill,Gray.  Galesburg,e.  July  17, 1861,  discharged 
Sept.  17, 1862,  disability. 

Dawson,  George,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861.  dis- 
charged Aug.  16, 1861,  disability. 

Dallmeyer,  George,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861, 
transferred  to  Miss,  marine  brigade. 

Donnelly,  James  A.,  Knox  Co.,  July  17, 1861,  ser- 
geant, died  at  Louisville,  March  30,  1864. 

Donnellv.Jefferson  W.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,1^61, 
discharged  Aug.  15,  1861,  disability. 

Finch,  Lewis,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  8, 1865. 

ardiner,  Seth  P.  Knoxville,  e.  July  17.  1861,  vet., 
sergeant,  killed  at  Rough  Station,  July  4, 1864. 

Godfrey,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 
Dec.  8,  1865. 

George.  J.  K.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  discharged 

April  6.  1863,  disability, 
oodwin,  James,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861, ,m.  o. 

Sept.  17,  1861,  sergeant, 
lendon,  John,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  died 

Dec.  18,  1863. 

off,  Francis  W.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  Jnly  17,  1861,  killed 
at  Perryville.  Ky.,  Oct.  8, 1862. 

Goff,  Royal  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  m.  o. 
Dec. "8,  1865,  corporal. 

Griffith,  Benj.  A  ,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet., 
transferred  to  U,  S.  signal  corps. 

Hupstonstull,  J.,  Kuoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  dis- 
charged Nov.  20.  1862,  disability. 

Hall,  Jatnea  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17.  1861. 

Hopkins,  Wallace,  Knoxville.  e.  July  17,  1861.  dis- 
charged August  6,  1861,  disability. 

Hoppers,  Thomas  J.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,   1861, 
died  of  wounds,  June  9,  1863. 

Howard,  E.  A..  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m. 
o.  Dec.  8.  1865. 

Humphreys,  Z.  C.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1851,  dis- 
charged Feb.  2.  1863. 

Lotta,  John  S.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861. 

Martin,  Graham.  Knoxville.  e.  July  17,  1861,  died 
of  wounds,  April  22,  1863. 

Matteson,Benj.  J..  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861,  vet., 
m.  o.  Dec.  8,  1865,   sergeant. 

Matteson,  Peter.  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet., 
m.  o.  Dec.  8,  1865,  sergeant. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


333 


Mather,  David.  Knoxville,e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m 

o.  Dec.  8, 1865. 
McDowell,  James,  Knoxville, e.  July  17, 1861,  trans 

ferred  to  Mies,  marine  corps. 
Moore,  John  B..  Victoria,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m 

o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Morris,  Frederick,  Knoxville,e.  July  17, 1861,  m.  o 

Dec.  17,  1864. 

Mount,  Johu,  Abingdon, e.  July  17,  1861. 
Murray,  John,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m 

o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Neeley.  David  J..Oneida,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,m 

o.  Dec.  8.  1865. 

O'Harra,W.  J..  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861. 
Payton.John.  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861. 
Peterson,  John  P.,  Victoria.  P.  July  17.  1861,  vet. 

killed  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  29,  1864. 
Plummer,  J.  A.,  Kuoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  dis 

charged  August  6,  1861,  disability. 
Quirk,  Edward,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet. 

m.o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Raymond,  James  E.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861 

died  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo..  Oct.  8, 1861. 
Russell,  M.  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  died 

Nov.  20, 1861. 

Southerland,  John,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17, 1861. 
Tanner,  Prank,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  trans 

ferred  to  Miss,  mortar  fleet. 
Williams,  Thomas,  Knoxville,  July  17,  1861,  vet. 

m.  o.  Dec.  8, 1865. 
Wagher,  Alfred  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  July   17,  1861 

transferred  to  Miss,  marine  brigade. 
Wagher,  Wm.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  m.  o 

July  26,  1864. 
Wagher,  F.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861,  dis 

charged  Oct.  20,  1861  disability. 
Watkins,  Daniel,  Gilson,  e.  July  17,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  8.  1865. 
Watson,  William,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8,  1865,  as  corporal. 
Welsh,  John,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17, 1861,  discharged 

Nov.  18,  1864. 

Williams,  Chas.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861. 
White,  Mitchell,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17, 1861,  vet- 
transferred  to  U.  8.  V.  engineers. 
Westbrook,  N .  B . ,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17, 1861,  vet, 

sick  at  m.  o.  of  regiment. 

Wyman,  Arthur,  Abingdon,  e.  July  17, 1861,  trans- 
ferred to  Miss,  marine  brigade. 

Recruits. 

Cherrington,  M.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  July  17,  1861,  died 

at  Syracuse,  Mo.,  Dec.  8,  1861. 
Duncan,  Robert,  Knox  Co.,  e,  July  17, 1861,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8,  18£5.  as  corporal. 

Holcomb,  J.  B.,  Knox  Co.,  m.  o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Haskins.  Edward,  Knox  Co.,  transferred  to  Miss. 

marine  brigade. 
Horseman,  Eli  J.,  Knox  Co.,  m.  o.  June  14,  1S65, 

•  sergeant, 
Mitchell,  George  E.,  Knox  Co.,  discharged  Dec. 

22.  1864,  wounds. 
Minard.  David  M.,  Knox  Co.,  corporal,  died  Dec. 

6,  1803. 

Pratt,  E.  A.,  Knoxville,  vet.,  m.  o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Patton,  J.  H.,  Knoxville,  died  at  Louisville,  Jan. 

4, 1864. 
Porter,  Herman  D.,  Knoxville,  m.o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 

sergeant. 


COMPANY  B. 

Privates. 

Low  Joseph,  Galesburg,  e.  July  17,  1861,  trans 

ferred  to  Davidson's    Peoria    battery,  m.    o 

August  18, 1864. 
Rynerson,  Cicero  R.,  Galesburg,  e.  July  17  1861 

m.  o.  August  18,  1864. 
swenson,  Nelson,  Galesburg.  e.  July  17,  1861   m 

o.  Sept.  19,  1864. 


COMPANY  €. 

Captain. 
Carl  Arosneis,  Knoxville,  e.  July  17,  1861.  • 

COMPANY  I. 

Captain. 
harles  C.  Doolittle,  Galesburg,  detached. 

Private. 
Duncan,  Robert,  Knoxville.  e.  March  18, 1864. 

COMPANY  F. 

Barlow.  T.  S.,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  2,  1863,  m.  o.  Dec.  8. 
1865,  as  corporal. 

64th  IWFAtfTRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

Captain. 

John  W.  Stewart,  Abingdon,  e.  D«.c.  16,  1861,  pro- 
major. 

First  Lieutenant. 

William  N.  Stewart,  Abingdon,  e.   Dec.  16,  1861, 
resigned  June  20,  1862. 

Musician. 

Tames  Rubart,  St.   Augustine.  Dec.  1,  1861,  vet., 
disch.  Jan.  1,  1865,  wounds. 

First  Sergeant. 

'hornas  Fleming.  Hermon,  e,  Nov.  1, 1861,  vet.-,  m. 
O.  Dec.  17,  1864. 

Sergeant. 

teo.  W.  Bowden,  Hermon,  Nov.  1, 1861,  disch.  for 
disability,  July  7,  1862. 

Corporals. 

ames  P.  Stephens,  Hermon,  Nov.  1,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  July  11,  1865. 
leuben  Chapman.  Hermon, e.  Dec.  1,  186!,  vet.  m. 

o.  July  11,  1865. 

Privates. 

ieldon,Cbae.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  vet, 

m.  o.  July  11,  1865. 
heets,  John,  St.   Augustine,   Dec.  1,  1861,   m.  o. 

Jan.  21,  1865. 
lhapman.  Mason  R.,  Hermon,  e.  Nov.  1, 1861,  vet. 

pro.  Q.  M.  Sergt. 
)eskin,  Enoch,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.   1.  1861,  m.   o. 

Dec.  24, 1864. 
pperson,  P.   B.,  Hermon.  e.   Nov.    1,  1861,  vet., 

died  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  July  1.  1864.  wounds, 
[aver,  Horace,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  — . 
[endricks,  A.  G.,  Hermon,  P .  Nov.  1,  1861,  — . 
McKee,  James,  Hermon,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  vet.,  m.o. 

July  11.  1865,  as. first  sergeant. 
tfcDonald,  Wm.,  Hermou,   e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

Dec.  24,  1864. 
McDonald,  John,  Hermon   e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  disch. 

July  23, 1862,  disability, 
witzer,  Isaac,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  m  o.  Dec. 

24,  1864. 
hoemaker,  J.   J.,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861^  vet., 

pris.  of  war,  at  m.  o.  of  reg't. 
faurman,  James,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861. 
nderwood,  Wm.,  Hermon,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

Dec.  24, 1864. 
irtue.  Thos.  R.,  Hermon,   e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  22, 1862,  disability. 

Vhitehead,  John,  Hermon.  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  disch. 
Nov.  1,  1862,  disability. 


334: 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Recruits. 

Beldon,  Geo.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  21, 1864,  m.  o. 

July  11,  1865. 
Bread,  Geo.  P.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  29,  '62,  m.  o.  May 

31,  1865. 
Decker,  Wm.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  21. 1862,  m.  o.  May 

31, 1865. 
Donegan,  Michael,  Hermon,  e.  Aag.  21,  '63.  m.  o. 

May  33,  1865. 
Caruthers,  M.  S.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 

May  31,  1865. 
Gasi-ett,  James  H.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  13,  1863,  m.  o. 

June  12,1865. 
Havi  r,  George,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 

May  31.  1865,  as  corporal. 
Headley,  John,  Hermon,  e.  Sept.   13,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  8,  1865. 
Ma^sey,  David,  Hermon,  e.   Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 

May  31.  1862. 
Milim,  Lewis,  Hermon,  e.  Jan.  19,  1862,  m.o.  April 

25,  1865. 
Methenia.   S.,  Hermon,  e.  Jan.  17, 1862,  m.  o.  Jan. 

29.  1865. 

Vice,  J.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  21,  62,  m.o.  May  31,  '65. 
Rupert,  J.  N.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  21,1861. 

65th  INF  AX  TRY. 

COMPANY  A. 

Privates. 
Bailey,  S.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  31,  '62,  vet.,  m.  o. 

July  13,  1865. 
Crouch,  William,  Altona,  e.  Feb.  25,  1862,  vet.,  m. 

o.  July  13,  1861. 
Crites,  Eli,  Oneida,  e.    Feb.  28,   1862,  vet.,  m.  o. 

July  13,  1865 
Connor.  M.  R.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  24,  1862,  vet., 

in.  o.  July  13,  1865. 
Echerd,  Wm.,  Victoria,  e.  March  6,  1862,  vet.,  m. 

o.  July  13,  18S5. 
Hatuia,  J.  S.,  Knoxville.  e.  Feb.  5, 1862,  vet.,  m.o. 

July  13,  186). 
Hanna,  G.    A..  Knoxville,  e.   Feb.  4,  1862,  m.  o. 

April  18,  186  V 
Johnson,  Alex,  Henderson,  e.  March  9, 1862,  vet., 

m.o.  July  13,  1865. 
Lane.   I.,  Altona,   e.  Feb.  18,  186i,  vet.,  m.  o.  July 

13, 1865. 
Snell.  Jacob,  Altona.  e.  Feb.  23,  1862,  vet.,  m.  o. 

July  13, 1865 
Wilt,  John,  Henderson,  e.  March  6,  1862, vet.,  m.o. 

July  13,  1865. 
Wilt,  Wm.  J.,  Sparta,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m  o.  July 

13,  1865 

Shaw,  Ed.  W.,  Oneida,  e.  Feb.  22.  1862,  vet. 
Allen,  Henry,  Oneida,  e.  Apr.  5,  1862,  vet. 
Glen,  J.,  Oneida. 

66th   INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    A. 

Ross,  George,  e.  Nov.  25,  '61,  vet.  m.o.  July  7,  '65. 

COMPANY    F. 

First  Sergeant. 

John  A.  Courtney.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10,  1861,  vet. 
pro.  2d  lieut. 

Sergeant. 

William  B.  Riggs,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861,  died 
at  Corinth,  Aug.  23,  186i. 

Corporals. 
Troy  Pratt.  Abingdon.  e.  Oct.    10.  1861,  vet.,  m.o. 

July  7,  1865. 
Frederick  Sheffield.  Abingdon.  Oct.  10,  1861,  died 

at  Paducah,  Ky.,  April  5,  1862. 
Edwin  Shrader,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.   10,   1861,  dis 

charged  June  30.  186i,  disability. 


Privates. 

Addleman,Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  0, 1861, vet.  m. 
o.  July  7,1865,  as  corpl. 

Niven,  David  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  1, 1861. 

Powder,  Robert.  Abingdou,  e.  Oct.  10,  1861,  dis- 
charged Sept.  21,  1861. 

Swartz,  Edward.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861,  vet.  m. 
O.July  7,  1865. 

Virtue,  Samuel,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10,1861. 

Virtue,  James.  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861. 

Recruits. 

Bell,  William  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  15,  1861,  m. 

o.  July  7,  1865. 
Blair,  Andrew  J..  Abingdon,  e.  March  26, 1864,  m. 

o.  July  14,  1865. 
Boydston.  Wm.  H.,  Galesburg  e.  Feb.  15, 1864,  m. 

o.  July  7,  1865. 
Bailey,  Ezra,  Galesburg,  e.   Feb.  3,  1861,  died  at 

Kingston,  Ga.,  Aug.  5  1861. 
Clark,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  12, 1861,  m.o.  July 

7,  1865,  wounded. 
Gossett,  John  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  m.o. 

July  7,  1865. 
Leadieu,   Charles,  Galesburg,   e.  Feb.  22, 1864,  m. 

o.  July  7,  1865. 
McPherrin,  Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  March  11, 1864,  m. 

o.  July  7,  1865. 
Owen,   Charles,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  15,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  7,  1865. 
Peabody,  Washington,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  15, 1864. 

m.  o.  July  7,  1865. 
Tunnicliff,  C.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  7.  1865. 
Williford,  Geo    W..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  15,1864, 

m.  o.  July  7,  1865. 

Umssigned. 

Andrew,  James  H.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  12,  1 

third  enlistment. 
Axtell,  N.  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  March  12,  1864,  d 

charged  June  12.  1864. 
Cannon,  J.  H.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  di 

charged  May  14,  1864. 
Downs.  Levi  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  12, 1864,  thi 

enlistment. 

Frisbie.  Samuel  F..  Henderson,  e.  March.  16, 1864. 
Wells,  James  A.,  Henderson,  e.  March  16, 1861,  vet. 

recruit. 
Williamson,  James,  Abingdon.  e.  March   16,  1864. 

sell,  Charles,    Alton,  e.    May  1,  1862,   m.  o. 

May  15  1865. 
Rus-ell.  Ed.  C.,  Alton,  e.May  1, 1862,  m.  o.  May 

15,  1865. 

67th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  F. 

Adams.  W..  Yates  City,  e.  Jan.  2. 1862. 
Chrisman,  Geo.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  2.  1862. 
Grim,  Wm.,  Yates  City,  Jan.  3,  1862. 
Grim,  Milton.  Yates  City,  e.  May  31,  1862. 
Miller,  J.  O..  Yates  City,  e.  Jan.  2, 1862. 
Richardson.  I.,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  2, 1862. 
Shallenberger.  J.,  Maqion,  e.  Jan.  2,  1862. 
Swadley.  D.  F..  Yates  City,  Jan.  4.  1862. 
Shealy.  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  3,  1862. 
Shearman,  O..  Maquon. 
Ziner,  J.,  Maquon. 


69th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

Musician. 

Wm.  W.  Barnes,  Oneida,  e.  June  4, 1862, m.o.  Oct. 
5,  1862,  corporal . 

Privates. 


Beeton.  O.  P.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  June  4, 


2,  m. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


335 


Burnham,  Asa,  Oneida,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 

6,  18(52. 
Carson,  J.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  4,   1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  ti.  1862. 
Case.  J.  W.,  Victoria,  e.  June  4,  1832,  m.  o.  Oct. 

6, 1862. 
Elliott,  G.  W.,  Victoria,  e.  June  4,   1863,  m.  o. 

Oct.  b,  1862. 
Godaer.   Win.,    Altona,   e.   June  4,    1832,   m.    o. 

Oct.  6,  1862. 

Jones.  O.,  Oneida,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct.  6,1862. 
L*mphere,  J.,  Oneida,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 

6,  1862. 
Millberger,  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  4,   1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  6,  1862. 
Mollony.   P.  J.,  Lynn,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 

6,  1862, 
Pratner,  Wm..  Abingdon,  e.  June  4,  1862.  m.  o. 

Oct.  6,  1862. 
Powell.    E.  Oneida,  e.   June  4,  1862,  ra.  o.  Oct. 

6. 1862. 

Swan,  P.,  Altona,  e.  June  4,  1862.  m.  o.Oct.  6.1862. 
Topper,  E.,  Altona,  e.  June  4, 1862,  m.o.,  Oct.6,1862. 
Taft.  N.  G.,  Ontario,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 

6,  18tW. 
Clark,  H,   Galesburg,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.   Oct. 

6,  1862. 
White,  N.,  Victoria,  e.  June  4  1862,  m.  o.  Oct.  6. 

1862,  corporal. 

COMPANY F 

Cavenaueh,  J.,  Ontario,  e.  June  4,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 
6,  1862. 

Williams,  James,  Galesburg,  June  4,  186J,  dis- 
charged July  6,  1862. 


71st  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  B. 

Courtney,  James  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  10, 1862. 
Wade,  Hiram,  Henderson,  e.  July  10,  1862. 

COMPANY  D. 

Emerson.  John,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862. 
Howard,  K.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  3,  1862. 
Nation,  John,  Henderson,  e.  July  5,  1862. 
Stiggall,  John,  Galesburg.  e.  July  4,  1862. 
Scott,  William,  Galesburg,  July  3.  1862. 


COMPANY  E. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

illiam  D.  Latimer,  Galesburg,  e,  July  22,  1862. 
Sergeants. 

m.   Craig,   Galesburg,  e.   June  30,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29, 1862. 

J.  T.  Hair,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.  o.  Oct. 
29, 1862. 

Corporals. 
Spencer  Thompkins.  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862. 

m.  o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Elicha  H.  Goldman,  Galesburg,  e.  July  12, 1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29, 1862. 


Willis  D.  Baker,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29.  1862. 
Lewis  B.  Aiken,  Oneida,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29.  1>'62. 
Marcus  Davis,  Galesburg,  e.  July  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Theoriore  C.  Poling.  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862, 

m.  o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Jonathan  C.  Lntimer,  Abingdon,  July  5,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29.  1862. 
John  M.  Howard,  Galesburg,  e.  July  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct,  29,  1862. 

Privates. 

Ayers.  Geo.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  18K2. 
Andrews,  J.  H.,  Galesburg  e.  July  4,  1862  m.o, 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Comstock,  Merrill  H.,  Gale-burg,  June  30, 1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Downs,  Levi  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Dickerson,  Fountain,  Abingdon,  e.  July  5,  1862, 

m.  o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Dowdy,  J.  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  2'.»,  18  is?. 
Farquber,  David,  Galesburg,  e.  June  24,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Howard,  W.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  24,  1862,  m.  o, 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Loud   Silas  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  July  4,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Moburg,  Andrew,  Galesbnrg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Myers    Richard,  Galesburg,  e.  July  18,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Norris,  Joseph  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  June  30, 1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29,  If62. 
Norris,  John  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.-o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Price,  Charles  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29, 1832. 
Rogers,  G.  F.,  Galeaburg,  e.  July  18,  1863,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29.  1862. 
Robinson.  M.  L  ,  Galesburg,  e.  July  16, 1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Strong,  Samuel  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m. 

o.  Oct,  29,  1862. 
Scott,  Henry  C.,  Galesbnr:,  e.  July  21,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29.  1862. 
Wetmore.  T.  K.,  Galesburg.  e.  June  3%  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29,  1862. 
Wright,  Paul  Galesburg,  e.  June  30,  1862,  m.   o. 

Oct.  29,  1832. 
Woodward,  H.  T.,  Galesburg,  e.  June  30, 1862,  m. 

o.  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Weltey,  Joseph,  Galesburg.  e.  July  4,  1862,  m.  o. 

Oct.  29    1862. 

COMPANY  F. 

Corporal. 

William  F.  Poet,  Galesburg,  e.  July  18, 1832 
Privates. 

Pierce,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  July  24,  1862. 
Price,  Hershell,  Galesburg,  e.  July  18, 1832. 
Plumer.  J    N.,  Galesburg,  e.  July  18,  1862. 
West,  Dolphus,  Galesburg,  e.  July  19,  1862. 


INFANTRY. 

Was  organized  at  Chicago,  as  the  1st  Regiment  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade. 
Its  first  bills  were  put  out  for  one  company,  calling  itself  the  "  Hancock  Guards,"  on 
July  23,  1*62,  and  exactly  one  month  afterward  the  entire  regiment  was  complete 
and  mustered  into  service  for  three  years.  The  very  day  of  their  muster  they  were 
started  for  Cairo,  where  they  arrived  on  the  24th.  Their  strength  at  that  time  \vas  37 
officers  and  930  men.  On  the  6th  of  September  they  were  ordered  to  Paduoah,  Kan. 
March  1,  the  division  of  which  the  72nd  Regiment  formed  a  part,  started  down  the 
Yazoo  Pass;  but  finding  Fort  Pemberton  in  their  way,  and  not  being  able  to  take  it 


336 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


then,  went  back  April  23,  then  landed  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  and,  from  there, 
marched  with  Grant's  army  to  Vicksburg.  May  16,  they  arrived  at  Champion  Hill, 
just  in  time  to  turn  the  enemy's  left,  and  by  that  movement  decided  the  fate  of  the 
day.  Oct.  30, 1864,  they  were  ordered  to  report  to  Maj.-Gen.  Howard,  and  in  pursu- 
ance of  this  order,  arrived  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  13.  They  there  found  tLem- 
selves  too  late  to  join  Sherman  in  his  "  great  march  to  the  sea." 

Schofield's  army  found  it  convenient  to  retire  toward  Nashville.  On  Nov.  29  they 
evacuated  Columbia,  and  the  72nd  was  in  a  severe  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Spring 
Hill,  on  the  road  between  Columbia  and  Franklin.  On  the  succeeding  day  they 
arrived  at  Franklin,  and  hastily  threw  up  some  light  earthworks.  About  4  o'clock 
that  afternoon  Hood  attacked  them,  and  the  battle  raged  from  that  hour  until  mid- 
night with  terrific  fury.  In  that  fight  the  72nd  lost  9  officers  out  of  16  engaged,  and 
152  men.  who  were  either  killed  or  severely  wounded.  On  Aug.  6  they  were  mus- 
tered out  of  service  at  Vicksburg,  and  then  marched  directly  home  to  Chicago. 
During  their  term  of  service  they  received  450  recruits,  and  when  ordered  home 
they  transferred  270  of  these  to  the.  32nd  Illinois  Veteran  Vols.,  at  Meriden,  Miss. 
They  brought  home  22  officers  and  310  men. 

The  72nd  Regiment  contained  80  meu  from  Knox  county;  6  were  killed,  3  wound- 
ed, 7  died,  and  5  were  taken  prisoners. 


COMPANY  B. 

Recruits. 

Ayres,  Nelson,  AbiDgdon,  e.  Feb.  16,  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  181,5. 
Barton,  Hiram  S..  Henderson,  e.  Dec.  24, 1863,  m. 

o.  Nov.  24,1865. 
Benneson,    Henry,    Galesburg,    e.    Jan.   5,  fclS64. 

disch.  for  pro. 
Cole,  Stephen  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  5. 1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  18rt5. 
Cronan,  Richard,  Maquon,  e.  Der.  18, 1863,  killed 

at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  30, 1864. 
Dean,  Charles,  Henderson,  e.  Jan.  22,  1864. 
Davis,  James  R.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  5,  ]864,  killed 

at  Franklin,  Teun.,  Nov.  30, 1864. 
Frickle,  Erastus,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3, 1864,  m.  o 

Nov.  24, 1865. 
Hatfleld,  Isaac  B.,  Galesburg,  e,  Jan,  29,  1864,   m. 

o.  Nov.  24.  1865. 
Holmes.  David  H.,  Wataga,  e.  Jan.  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24, 1865. 

Hammond,  J.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  10.  1864. 
Johnson,  Frank  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  6,  1861,  m. 

o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 
Lond.  Silas  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  6, 1864,  sick  at 

Nashville. 
Lewis,  James  M..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  9, 1864,  pris. 

of  war. 
McQueen.  W.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  8, 1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24.  1865. 
Matthews,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  9, 1865.  m.o. 

Nov.  24, 1865. 
Mason,  Swen,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1864,  m.   o. 

Aug.  29,  1865. 
Nevett,  Wilson  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  7,  1863,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
Peterson,  Peter,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  28, 1863,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24, 1865. 

Parkinson,  Isaac,  Galesburg.  e.  Feb.  6,  1864. 
Penny,  Columbus,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  11.  1864,  m. 

o.  June  27, 1865. 
Swanson,  Nelse,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  8, 1864,  taken 

pris.  Nov.  30, 1861. 
Swanson,  August,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11, 1864,  pris. 

of  war. 
Swanson,  Eric.  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864,  m.  o. 

June  20, 1865. 
Snyder,  Robert  M..  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  11, 1864,  m. 

O.  Aug.  29,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Taylor,  Jerry,  Galeeburg,  e.  Jan.  5,  1864,  killed  at 

Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  30,  186 1. 
Vantee,  John,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  18  1863,  m.  o.  Nov 

24, 1865. 
Vantee,  J.  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  9, 1863,  pris.  of  war 

died  Nov.  1865. 
Whitman,  Isaac  A.,  Altona,  e.  Feb,  16,  1864,  sict 

at  New  Orleans. 
Whitman.  Geo.  E.,  Altona.  e.  Feb.  18,  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 


Waters,  John.  Wataga,  e.  Jan.  25,  1863,  m.   o. 

Nov.  24.1865. 
Walker,  Geo.  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  19,  1863,  died 

while  a  pris.  at  Corinth. 
Woodward,  H.   T  ,  Galesburg,   e.   Dec.   4,   1863, 

killed  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  3u,  1864. 

COMPANY  C. 

Sergeant. 

SamuelD.  Barnes,  Galesburg,  pro.  1st  Lieut. 1864, 
U.  S.  C.  Q. 

COMPANY  F. 

Beary,  Daniel,   Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  26,  1864,  m.o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
Collins,  John,  jGalesburg,  Jan.  5,   1864,  died  at 

New  Orleans,  La.,  May 4,  1865. 
Grant,  Charles  F.,  Galesburg,  e.   Dec.  28,  IS 

disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  7,  1865. 

COMPANY  G. 

Anderson,  Andrew  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3,  1864, 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
James,  Thomas,  Galesburg. 
Magoon,  Wm.  E.    Oneida,  e.  Feb.  20,  1861,  on 

furlough,  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Padduck,  Lemuel,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  13, 1864,  m. 

o.  Nov.  24,  1865. 

COMPANY  I. 

Sergeants. 

Richard  B.  Corbin,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14i 
1862,  disch.  fordisability,  March  30,  1863. 

Geo.  W.Bennett,  St  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,1862, 
mo.  o.  July  20,  1865. 

Corporal. 

John  Winsett,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 
disch.  for  disabili  y,  Feb.  6, 1863. 

Musicians. 

Allen  H.  Harrod,  St.  Augustine.e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  6,  1863. 
Wm     M     Hall,  St.   Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

disch.  May 25, 1865. 

Wagoner. 

William  Jennings,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug. 14, 
m.  o.  JuneS,  Ifc63. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


337 


Privates. 

Abbot,  Orin  H.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m. 

o.  Aug.  7,  1865. 
Babbitt,  C.  F..  St.   Augustine,  e.   Aug.  14,  1862, 

absent,  wounded  at  m.  o.  regiment. 
Bradbury,  N.,St.  Augustine,  e.   Aug.  14,  1862, m. 

o.  Aug.  7,  1865. 
Burrage,  Dewitt  C.,  St.  Augubtine,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862, 

died  atfit.  Louis,  July'31,  1863. 
Collison,  Victor,  St.  Augustine,    e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

m.  o.  May  29,  1865. 
Chreighton,  John  M.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14, 

1862,  m.  o.  May  29,  1865. 
Freese,  Phillip,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m. 

o.  May  29, 1865. 
Freese,  James,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m. 

o.  May  29.  1865,  as  corpl.,  wounded. 
Frelder,  William,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862, 

m.  o.  May  29,  1865. 
Hunts.   Daniel,  St.  Augustine,  e.   Aug.  14,  1862, 

trans,  to  invalid  corps. 
Honte,  James  E.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

m.o.  Aug.  7,  1865. 
LovewKl,  C.  W.,  St.    Augustine,   e.  Aug.  14, 1862, 

killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 
Owen,  B.  D.  C.,  St.    Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

m    o.  June  3,  1865. 
Randall,  Edwin,  St.  Augustine,  e.    Aug.  14, 1862, 

died  at  Ft.  Pemberton,  April  3,  1863. 
Roe,  J.  E.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  4,  1865. 
Switzer,   Peter,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.o. 

Aug.  7,  1865. 


Pccruits. 

Babbitt,  S.  J.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Jan,  3, 18ti4,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
Bowers,  J,  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  2,  1864. 
Collison,   James  C..  Abingdon,   e.  Feb.  22,  1864, 

disch.  May  11,  1865,  wounds. 
Darffy,   F.  M.,   Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  24,  1863,  disch. 

Oct.  4,  1864,  disability. 
Imel,  T.  J.,  St.  Augustine,  e.   Jan.   5,  1864,  m.   o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
Miller,  Wm.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  27,  1863. 
McGrew,  D.   O.,   Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  5.  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
McGrew,  C.  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
McGrew,  J.  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864,   m.   o. 

Nov.  24,  1865. 
Margors,  Sandy,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  22,  1864,  killed 

at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  30,  1864. 
Smith,  C.  F.,  Galesburg,  e,  Feb.  5, 1864,  m.  o.  Nov. 

24,  1865. 
Snyder,  Solomon,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  16, 1864,  died 

at  Vicksburg,  May  25,  1864. 

Scott,  Wm.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Jan.  5,  misMng  in  ac- 
tion at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  Nov.  30,  1864. 
Thurman,  Isaac,   Galesburg,   absent,  sick  at    m. 

o.  regiment. 
Turner,  C.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  29. 1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  24, 1864. 
Haurmon,  Isaac,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864. 


77th  OTFAWTRY. 

This  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  Sept.  3,  1862,  at  Peoria ; 
remained  in  camp  there  till  Oct.  4.  It  then  proceeded  to  Covington,  Ky.,  and  report- 
ed to  Maj.-Gen.  Gordon  Granger.  Nov.  20,  1862,  the  regiment  embarked  on  steamer 
for  Memphis;  remained  there  until  Dec.  20.  The  division  was  re-organized  and 
reported  to  Maj.-Gen.  Sherman.  Embarked  at  Memphis  on  the  20th,  and  proceeded 
down  the  river  with  Sherman's  army  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg.  The  77th  occu- 
pied the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  and  participated  in  the  attack  on  rebel  works. 
After  four  days  fighting  the  attack  was  abandoned,  and  the  army  proceeded  to  Milli- 
ken's  Bend,  La.  Left  there  Jan.  5,  1863,  and  arrived  at  Arkansas  Post  on  the  10th. 
Participated  in  the  assault  on  the  following  morning;  after  a  few  hours'  hard  fight- 
ing, carried  the  place,  capturing  all  it  contained.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  here  was 
6  killed  and  39  wounded — some  of  the  latter  mortally.  The  regiment  in  this  battle 
behaved  admirably,  and  was  complimented  by  the  commanding  general  for  its 
gallant  conduct. 

The  regiment  remained  with  Gen.  Grant's  army  during  the  entire  campaign  ar.  iund 
Vicksburg,  and  the  siege  of  the  latter  place,  until  its  surrender.  It  was  engaged  in 
the  actions  at  Champion  Hills,  May  17;  Black  river  Bridge,  May  19;  first  charge 
on  Vicksburg,  the  22nd  and  23rd ;  losing  in  these  engagements  20  killed,  86  wounded 
and  26  missing.  Vicksburg  surrendered  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  the  next  day  the 
regiment  marched  to  Jackson  with  the  army  under  Sherman.  Arrived  July  9,  and 
was  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy  at  that  place  till  the  16th,  when  Jackson  was  evacu-( 
ated,  and  the  77th  returned  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  remained  till  Aug.  25,  when  it' 
embarked  for  New  Orleans,  where  it  remained  in  camp  until  Oct.  3.  Left  New 
Orleans  at  that  time  for  Western  Louisiana;  marched  up  Red  river,  driving  the 
the  enemy  until  Sabine  Cross  Roads  was  reached,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1864,  where  it 
met  the  enemy  in  force.  The  77th  belonged  to  the  division  under  Gen.  Ransom, 
which  was  ordered  forward  to  support  the  advance  cavalry.  Before  the  army  could 
be  brought  forward  to  their  support  the  whole  rebel  army  came  down  on  them  and 
overwhelmed  the  entire  division.  In  this  engagement  the  77th  suffered  terribly: 
Lieut.-Col.  Webb  was  killed  instantly,  besides  176  officers  and  men  killed,  wounded, 
and  made  prisoners,  leaving  only  125  men  in  the  regiment  for  duty.  On  the  next 
day  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  came  up,  and  at  Pleasant  Hill  another  battle  Was  fought, 
ending  in  the  complete  defeat  of  the  rebels.  The  regiment  was  with  Gen.  Canby's 
army  during  the  entire  siege  and  capture  of  Spanish  Fort,  Blakely,  and  Mobile,  and 
was  under  fire  the  entire  time.  It  remained  in  camp  at  Mobile  until  July  10,  1865, 
at  which  time  it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 

In  this  regiment  were  154  men  from  Knox  county,  in  four  companies.     Of  these 
3  were  killed,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  17  died,  10  wounded,  and  5  taken  prisoners. 


338 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Lieutenant  Colonel. 

J.  hn  A.  Burdett,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862.  re- 
signed. Jan.  3,  1865. 

Sergeant  Major. 

Henry  P.  Ayres,  Galesbnrg,  pro.  adjutant, 
Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Wm.  Stiller,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug,  7.  1862.  m.  o. 
July  10, 1865. 

COMPANY  A. 

Captain. 

Gardner  G.  Stearns.  Knoxville,  Sept.  2,  1862,  m.  o, 
July  10,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Merritt  M.  Clark,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  2, 1862,  m.  o. 
July  10, 1865. 

Second  Lieutenant*. 

Charles  H.  Arms,  Knoxville,  e.  Ang,  1,  1862,  de- 
clined commission. 

Win.  H.  Willcox,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  pris. 
14  months,  m.  o.  July  10.  1865. 

First  Sergeant. 

W.  H.  Holcomb,  Jr.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862. 
pro.  in  U.  8.  C.  troops. 

Sergeant. 

Thomas  Harrison,  Galesburg,  e.  July  18,  1862,  pro. 
in  U.  S.  C.  troops. 

Corporal. 

John  H.  Sanburn,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  pro. 

in  U.  S.  C.  troop?. 
Lyiuan  West.  Galesburg,  e.  July  17,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  10,  1865. 
John  H.  Griffith,  Galesburg,  e.  July  31,  1862,  m.  o. 

J  une  7,  1865,  as  seryt. 
Charles  G.  Fields,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.o. 

July  10,  1865. 

Privates. 

Avery,  Robt.  H.,  Galesbursr,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862.  pris. 

at  Andersonville,  m.  o.  June  9,  1865. 
Anderson,  John,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  disch. 

for  wounds  received  at  Ark.  Post. 
Bacon,  H.  F..  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  killed  at 

New  Orleans,  Dec.  25,  1863. 
Barber,  Henry  A.  Elba,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

17,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Bolt,  Samuel.  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  died  of 

wounds,  June  21,  1863. 
Bull,  J.  H.,   Galesburg.  e.   Aug.  9,    1862,   disch 

April  6,  1863,  disability. 
Burdett,   W.   H.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862 

discb.  April  7, 1863,  disability. 
Burliugame,  J.  C..  Galesburg,  e.  July  17,  1862,  m. 

o.  July  10, 1865. 
Butler,  G.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  August  9,  1862,  m.  o 

July  10,  1865,  sergeant. 
Churchill,  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  died  a 

Young  Point,  La.,  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Coe,  W.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  discharged 

June  2, 1865,  sergeant,  disability. 
Connel),  Geo.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  transfe-red 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Conner,  Isaac,  Knoxville,   e.   Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o 

June  17,  1865. 

Dippery,  Milton,   Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  dis- 
charged Nov.  17,  1863,  wounds. 
Divert.  James,   Knoxville,   e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o 

July  10,  1865. 
Ferris,  H.  F.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  pro.  in 

U.  S.  C.  troops. 
Fisher,  Alex.  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  died 

in  Knox  Co.,  Oct.  10,  1863. 


Foster,  C.  P.,  Trnro,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,  discharged 

April  7.  1863.  disability. 
Fuller,   P.O.,   Galesburg"  e.  Aug.   13,  1862,  m.  o. 

Jnly  10,  1865. 
Green,  Edwin  F  ,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  17, 1865,  corporal. 
Hall,   Ira  R..   Galesburg.   e.   Aug.  15,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  10,  1855. 

Hester,  H.   D.,   Galesbnrg,   e.  Aug.   7,   1862.   dis- 
charged April  7,  1863,  disability. 
Hensey,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1882,  discharged 

April  7.  1863,  disability. 
Holcomb,  Peter,   Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  died 

at  New  Orleans,  Nov.  10,  1863. 
Hnrd,  A.  E..   Galesburg,   e.  Aug.  15,  1862.  m.   o. 

July  8,  1865. 
Jenney,  E.  W..  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o. 

July  10,  1865. 
Losey,  H.  E.,  Galesburg,  Oct.  1,  1862,  pro.  major 

in  U.  S.  C.  troop. 
Luddington,  W.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862, 

died  at  Cairo.  March  10, 1863. 
Mather,  S.  or  Lewis  R..  Kuoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862, 

died  at  St.  Louis,  Feb.  14, 1^63. 
Mather,  Lewis.  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  died  at 

St.  Louis,  March  16, 1863. 
Miller,  H.  H.,  Knoxville,   e.  Aug.  1,  1862,   pro.   in 

U.  S.  C   troops. 
McGraw,J.  M.,  Ualesburg,  e.  Ang.   18.  1862,  m.  o. 

June  17, 1865. 

Moore,  J.   D.,    Knoxville,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,   dis- 
charged June  11,  1863,  disability. 
Ostrander,  J.  W.,  Knoxville.  e.  July  31, 1862,  died 

at  Milliken's  Bend.  April  6,  1863. 
Ott,  William,   Knoxville,  e.  Aug.   6.   1862,  m.   o. 

June  17,  1865,  pris.  war. 
Rambo,  Julius,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  17, 1865. 
Randall,  J.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  12,   18fi2,  m.  o. 

June  17.  1865. 

Reynolds,  John.  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862,  dis- 
charged June  3,  1863.  disability. 
Russell,  Alfred,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  6,1862,  m.  o. 

July  17,  1865. 
•ianburn,  C.  W  ,  Knoxville,  e.  Ang.  1,  1862,  m. 

July  10,  1865 
Swan,  Lewis  J.,  Knoxville,  e  Aug.  7,  1862,  in.  o. 

July  10  1865. 
Tarletou,  J.  H  ,  Knoxville  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m. 

June  17. 1865 
Tompkins,  John,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  die 

of  wounds,  Jan.  16,  1863. 
Ward,  C.  H  ,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug  11,  1862,  pro.  ho 

pital  steward,  U.  S.  A. 
Wilber,  John,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  killed  i 

Vicksburg,  May  22,  1853. 
Witherell,  A.  D  ,  Kuoxville,  e.  Aug  12,  1862,  m.  i 

July  10,  1865. 
Woodmansee,  Geo  .Jr., Knoxville, e.  Aug.  5, 18 

m.  o    June  17,1865. 
Woodruff,  Joseph  D  ,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  11,  18 

died  at  Young  Point,  La,,  June  9, 1863. 
Woolsey,  J.  L  ,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,1832,  m. 

July  10,  1865. 

Recruits. 

Allison,  W.  C.  C.,  Galesbnrg,  Fab.  11,  1864,  m. 

Aug.  15.  1865. 
Arms,  H.   G.,   Knoxville,  e.,  Dec.   16,  1863,  m. 

June  17,  1865. 
Bartlett,  Levi  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3, 1864,  m. 

June  24,  1865. 
Bancroft,  C.  E..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  8,  1864,  m. 

Aug.  15, 1865. 
Boher,  Daniel.   Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  20,  1864,  m. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Bates.  Francis,  Galesburg.  e.  Jan.  26,  1864,  died  i 

Galesburg,  Oct.  12,  1864. 
Chadrich.  E.  A..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 

Conaro.  Geo.  W.,  Galesburg,  P.  Feb.  12,  1864. 
Day.  C.  H..  Wataga.  e.  Feb.  29,  1865,  m.   o.  An 

15,  1865. 
Evans,   F.   M.,   Galesburg,  e.   Feb.  9,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Heagy,  James  F.,  Gales-burg,  e.  Feb.  9,  1864,  died 

at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  July  18.  1864. 
Hope,  C.  C..  Galeeburg,  e.  Jan.  4.  1864,  m.  o.  Jane 

17,  1865. 
Jndson.  Alfred  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  27.  1864,  m. 

o.  Aug.  15,  1865. 
Kay,  Robert,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.   11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15  1865. 

Meadows,  C.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  trans- 
ferred to  V.  R.  C. 
May,  Chfirles.   Galesburg,   e.  Feb.  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Martin,   F.  M.,   Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  18,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Mather,  James,   Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  9,  1863,  m    o 

June  17,  1865. 
Ott.  Samuel,  Orange,  e.  Nov.  18,  1863,  m.  o.  Aug. 

15,   1865. 
Perkins,  Theodore,  Persifer,  e.   Nov.  30,  1863.  m. 

o.  June  17,  1865. 
Price,  C.  W  .,  Galesbnrg,   e.  Nov.  9,  1864.  pro.   in 

107th  U.  S.  C.  troop. 
Rambo,  J.  S.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Dec.  30,  1863,  m.  o. 

June  17,  1865,  pris.  war. 
Rambo,  Joseph.  Haw  Creek,  e.  Dec.  30,  1! 

charged  July  1,  1864,  wounds. 
Read,  C.   W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.   9,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Smith,   William,  Gilson,  e.  Dec.   30,   1863,   m.   o. 

June  17,  1865,  pris.  war. 
Smith,  C.   B..  Galeeburg,  e.   Feb.   11,   1864,  m    o. 

Aug.  15, 1865. 
Spidle,    Alfred,  Persifer,  e.  Feb.   10,  1865,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Tree,  Wm.  S.,  Persifer,  e.  Dec.  30,  1863,  died  at 

Tyler,  Texas,  July  22,  1864.  pris.  war. 
Wallace,  E.  A.,   Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  22,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Wentvvorth,  M.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb,  6,  1864,  m. 


Newman,  P.  S.  L..  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  22,   1862,  m. 

o.  May  13,  1865. 
Standiford,    DeWitt  C..   Knoxville,  e.    Ang    22 

1862,  mo.  June  2,  1865 
Thnrman,  Thomas,  Elba,  e.   Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  17,  1865. 
Thomas,  G.  W.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,m.  o.  Aug. 


15, 1865. 


Recruits. 


Adams,  J.  W,,  Yates  City,  e.   Dec.  29,  1863,  m.   o. 

Aug.  15,  1865,. 
Hamerick,  J.  D.,  Yates  City,  e.  Dec.  25, 1863,  m.  o. 

June  17,  1865. 
Lutkieweiz,  J.,  Persifer,  e.  Feb.  10,  1865,  m.  o" 

Aug.  15, 1865. 

COMPANY  ti. 

Wagoner. 

Jacob  Alderdice,  Eugene,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 
July  10,  1865. 

Privates. 

Collister,  William,  Eugene,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  17,  1864. 
Ensley,  Joseph  D.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  10,  1865. 
Ensley,  Isaac,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

10,  1865. 
Fetters,  J.  H,,  Yates  City,  e.   Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  10,  1865. 
German,  L.  A.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m,  o.  July 

10,  1865. 

Jacques,  H.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  5,  1861. 
Martin,  Elias,  Eugene,  e.  Aug.  12.  1862,  reported 


o  Ang  15  1865  died  °'  wounds  received  April  8,  1864. 

Witherell,  Geo.  W.,'  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11, 1864,  m.  Mle8'  A-  B-'  Eugene,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  pro.  hospital 

o  Aug  15  1865  steward. 

Wills',  Ben],  F'.,  Parsifer,   e.  Dec.  30,   1863,  m.  o.  Tuc*e£  8-  Enaene,  e-  AnS-   10'  1862'  discharged 

Aug  9  1865  I        Feb-  18'  1863- 

Wallack,  Jacob,  Persifer,  e.  Feb.  10,  1865,  m.  oJH«mmel> £a*Per' ^ates  City. 

Aug  15  1865  Stewart.  Robert  H.,  Elba,  e.  Feb.  19,  1864,  m.  o. 

Aug.  15,  1865. 

COMPANY  F. 

Captain. 

James  A.  Secord.  Yates  City,  e.   Sept.  2,  1862,  m. 
o.  July  10,  1865. 

first  Lieutenant. 

Geo.  C.  Kenyon,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  pro. 
captain,  m.  o.  Aug.  15,  1865. 

Musician. 

Charles  Nixon,  Gileon,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  killed  at 
Vicksburg,  June  22,  1863. 


Privates. 


Coe,  J.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o. 
17,  1865,  corporal. 

Fowler,  William,  Gilson,   e.   Aug.  22,   1862,  m.  o. 
June  17,  1865,  corporal. 

Hummell,  Casper,  Yates  City,  e.  July  28,  1862. 

Irwin,  T.  A.,  Knoxville,  e,  Aug.  7. 1862,  discharged 
Aug.  18,  1864,  disability. 

Johnson,  N.   E.,    Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  dis- 
charged May  30, 1863,  disability. 

Kent,  James  P.,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  22, 1862,  m.  o. 
July  10,  1865. 

Lawrence,  Geo.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  17,  1865,  sergeant. 

Lockbaura,  D.,   Knoxville,  e.   Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o. 
July  10,   1865. 

Miner,  James,  Knoxville.   e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  17,  1865. 

Macey,  D.   B.,   Yates   City,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  17,  1865. 

Miner,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,   e.    Aug.   11,   1862,  dis- 
charged June  10,  1863,  disability. 


June  Dixon 


COMPANY  I. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Thomas  C.  Mathews,  Salem,  e,  Aug.  14,  1862,  pro. 

captain,  m.  o.  Aug.  15,  1865, 
Abraham  Hull,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

10, 1865. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  L.  D.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  22, 1862,  m.o.  July 

10,  1865. 

Benton,  R.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862. 
Cox,  Wm.  M.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862,  died  at  Ben- 
ton  Barracks,  Mo.,  Feb.  2,  1862. 

,  Geo.  M.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.o.  June 

17, 1865. 
Finch,  Geo.  T.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

10,  1865. 
Hill,  J.  C.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  18,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

10,  1865. 
Hildebrandt,  P.  A.,  Elba,  Aug.  14, 1862,  discharged 

Aug.  19,  1863,  disability. 
Hauler,  Anthony,  Salem  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  died  at 

Louisville,  Ky.,  Jan.  3,  1863. 
Jordan,  J.  M.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

10,  1865. 
Keller,  Henry,  Salem,  e.Ang.  15, 1862,  died  at  Cov- 

ington,  Ky.,  Nov.  15, 1862. 
Matthews,  John  H.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862,  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Moore,  D.  D.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.   14,  1862,  died  at 

Young's  Pt.,  La.,  Feb.  1,  1863. 
Thurman,  Alexander,  Salem,  e.  Aug.   18,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  17, 1865. 
Torby,  Thomas,  Salem,  e  .  Aug.  18,  1862. 


342 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Recruits. 

Dixon,  J.  W.,  Yates  City,  e.  Dec.  23, 1863,  disch. 

May  11,  1864,  disability. 
McRill,  Samuel,  Eugene,  e.  Dec.  24,1863,  m.o 

Aug.  15,  1865. 
Null,  S.  C.,  Salem,  e.  Feb.  3,  1865,  m.  o.  Aug.  15, 

1865. 


Denton,  F.  F,,  Galesburg. 
King,  C.,  Eugene. 
Morrissey,  M.,  Galesbnrg. 
Murray,  Walter,  Galesburg. 
Martin,  F.  N.,  Wataga 
McAllister,  H.  S.,  Galesburg. 
Stevens,  Samuel,  Galesbnrg. 


83d  INFANTRY. 

Was  organized  at  Monmouth,  111.,  in  August,  1862,  by  Col.  A.  C.  Harding,  and 
mustered  in  Aug.  21.  KQOX  county  furnished  for  the  83rd,  416  men,  represented  in 
five  different  companies.  They  moved  from  camp  to  Cairo,  111.,  Aug.  25th,  arriving 
there  on  the  29th,  and  reported  to  Brig.-Gen.  Tuttle,  Sept.  3rd.  Moved  to  Fort  Henry, 
and  on  the  5th,  leaving  two  companies  at  Fort  Heiman  and  three  at  Fort  Henry,  was 
ordered  to  Fort  Done! son,  where  the  headquarters  remained  during  the  year,  Col. 
Low,  5th  Iowa  Cavalry,  commanding  brigade.  The  companies  remaining  behind 
afterwards  rejoined  the  regiment,  and  it  remained  at  Fort  Donelson  until  Sept.  20, 
1863,  when  the  right  wing  moved  to  Clarksville.  The  whole  country,  especially  the 
banks  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers,  was  infested  with  guerrillas;  the 
regiment  had  daily  skirmishes  with  the  enemy ;  some  of  them  were  quite  severe,  as 
at  Waverly,  Tenn.,  and  at  Garretsburg,  Ky.,  where  the  lamented  Gen.  Ransom,  then 
colonel  of  the  llth  Illinois,  had  command. 

On  the  3rd  of  February,  1863,  nine  companies  of  the  83rd,  with  Company  C.,  2nd 
Illinois  Light  Artillery,  successfully  resisted  the  attack  of  Forrest  and  Wheeler,  with 
8,000  men.  The  battle  lasted  from  half-past  1  o'clock  till  half-past  8,  P.  M.,  when 
the  enemy  was  compelled  to  retire,  with  a  loss  of  800  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss 
of  the  regiment  was  13  killed  and  51  wounded.  Col.  Harding  was  promoted  to 
brigadier-general  for  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion,  and  Lieut.-Col.  A.  A.  Smith,  to 
colonel. 

While  at  Clarksville  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  several  expeditions  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  L.  H.  Rosseau,  in  pursuit  of  Forrest  and  Wheeler,  who  were  attempting  the 
destruction  of  Gen.  Sherman's  communications. 

During  the  year  1804  the  regiment  had  some  200  miles  of  communication  to  guard, 
and  much  heavy  postal  duty.  During  the  winter  of  1864-5,  the  83rd  was  on  postal 
duty  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Of  the  men  furnished  by  Knox  county,  there  were  30  died  from  various  diseases, 
6  killed  and  3  wounded.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1865,  the  83rd  was  mustered  out  at 
Nashville,  and  moved  for  Chicago,  Brevet-Brig.-Gen.  Arthur  A.  Smith  commanding, 
where  it  received  pay  and  final  discharge. 


Colonel. 

Arthur  A.  Smith,  Galesbursr,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  pro. 
brig,  gen.,  m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 

Lieut.  Colonel. 

Elijah  C.  Brott,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  30,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

Quartermasters. 

John  B.  Colton,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug,  21,  1862,  pro. 
brig.  q.  m. 

Harmon  D.  Bissell.  Galesburg,  killed  at  Ft.  Don- 
elson. Feb.  3,  1863. 

Geo.  Snyder.  resigned  Feb,  7,  1864. 

Wm.  H.  Sexton,  m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 

Surgein. 

Esaias  S.  Cooper,  Henderson,  e.  Nov."  14,  1862,  m. 
o.  June  26,  1865. 

Second  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Richard  Morris,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  20,  1862,  pro. 
surgeon  103d  regiment. 

Sergeant  Major. 

Theodore  H.  Hurd,  Galesburg,  e.  1862,  disch.  Feb- 
3, 1863,  disability. 

Musician. 
Nathaniel  Coleman,  Victoria,  m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 


COMPANY  A. 

Ritchie,  Adam  C.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Jan.  18.  m.o. 
Sept.  8, 1865. 

COMPAWY  C. 

Stanley,  P.,  Rio,  e.  Jan.  31,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  8,  '65. 
Underwood,  Don  Pedro,  Rio,  e.  March  16, 1865,  m. 
o.  Sept.  8,  1865. 

COMPANY  D. 

Whitcomb,  L.  S.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 

Smith,  E.  F.,  Rio,  e.  Jan.  31,  '65,  m.  o.  Sept.  8,  '65. 
Thomson,  R.  J.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864. 

COMPANY  E. 

Captain. 

James  M.  Gilson,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  m.  < 
June  26,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Erastus  H.  Pierce,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862, 
o.  June  26,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
John  L.  Parsons,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862, 

signed  Feb.  18, 1863. 
Thomas  B.  Tate,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  0. 

June  26,  1865. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


343 


Sergeant?. 

David  P.  W.  West,  Knoxville,  e.  July  28,  1862,  m 

o.  June  26,  1865. 
William  S.  Lowther,  Knoxville,  e.  July  25    1862 

disch.  Jan.  12,  1863;  disability. 
Alexander  R.  Chillison,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862. 

m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 
John  P.  Anderson,  Knoxville.  e.   Aug.    2,    1862 

disch.  June  24  1863,  disability. 

Corporal?. 
Nathan  S.  Arnold,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862.  disch.  Jan. 

24, 1863,  disability, 
R.  R.  Huntington,  Rio,  e.  July  SI,  1862,  disch.  Jan. 

9,  1863,  wounds. 
Hugh  M.  Lindsey,  Knoxville,  e.Aug.  2,  1862,  disch. 

July  19,  1863,  disability. 
James  Henderson,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 


Green,  J.  D.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 

Glenn,  B.  C..  Center  Pt.,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  drown- 
ed April  20,  1865. 
Gordon,   T.   J.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.o. 

June  26.  1865. 
Hearn,  I.  R..   Chestnut,  e.  July  31,  1862,  disch 

June  3.  1864.  disability. 
Haptonstall,  Wm.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  2, 1862, disch. 

Feb.  16,  1865,  disability. 
Harmon.  Geo.,  Ontario,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  O.June 

26, 1865. 
Haynes,  Edward.  Orange,  e.  Ang.  5,  1865,  m    o 

June  26,  1865. 
Hunks.  Geo.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,   died 

at  Paducah,  Ky.,Nov.27,  1862. 
Heath.  S.  F.,  Center  Pt.,  e.   Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26.  1865. 
Huffmire.  Geo.  E.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26.1865. 


Asbton  Hall,  Copley,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  died  at  Ft.  Hulburt,  Lyman  B.,  Maquon  e.  Aug.  5,1862  in.o. 

Donelspn,  April  10,  1863.  Jurle  26,  1865. 

B.  Campbell,  Knoxville,  e.Aug.  6,  18  .2,  m.o.  Jnne.Hummell.  John,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug  5  1862  m  o 

2t>,  1865,  as  sergt.  June  26,  1865. 

Andrew  Lewis^  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  Hughes,  R.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  July  31,  1862,  m.o. 

June  26,  1865.  June  26i  1865 


James  Huffmire,  Knoxville,  e.  July  31, 1862,  disch. 


Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
Privates. 


Johnson,  J.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26,  1865. 
Jacoby,  J.  W.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Anderson,  A.,  Victoria,  e.  July  31,  1862,    m.   o.  Johnson,  Swen,  Knoxville,  e.  Ang.  5, 1662,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1862,  wounded.  June  26, 1865 

Buck,  Wm.  H.,  Knoxville,  July  25,  1862,  killed  at  Lopeman,  L.  S.,  Maquon,  e.   July  31,   1862.  m.  o. 


Ft.  Donelson  Feb.  3,  1864. 


June  26,  1865. 


Borrill,  Robert,  Abingdon,  e.  July  2S,  1862,  m.  o.  Lopeman,  M.  D.,  Maquon,  e.  July  31,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26.  1865, 
Bruce,  Wm.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  31, 1862,  disch. 
July  3,  1863,  disability. 


Barrett,  Moses,  Copley,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  June  Lockbaum,   Samuel,   Knoxville,  e.   Aug.    4,1862, 


26,  1805. 
Baird,  C.,  Ontario,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.o.  June  26. 

1865. 
Blair,  Anthony,   Persifer,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  26, 1863,  disability. 
Bratt,  Carlos,  Victoria,e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Bradford,  Wm.  H.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Ang.  11,  1862, 

m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 
Carroll,  Samuel,  Knoxville,  e.   July  25, 1862,  died 

at  Ft.  Donelson,  April  29, 1864. 
Chase,  W.  B.,  Orange,  e.  July  31,  1862,  died  at  Ft. 

Donelson,  June  17,  1863. 
Collison,  N.  A.,  Victoria,  e.  July  25,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Cheesman,  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  25,  1862,  disch. 

March  23.  1863,  disability. 
Cronnoble,  Geo.  W..  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862, 

m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 
Case,   Cortes,    Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Curry,  Geo.  A.,  Knoxco. 
Crump,  Seth,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.   6,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Coe,  C.  B.,  Center  Point,  e.  Aug.   7,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26,  18ti5,  as  corpl. 
Cover,  Wm.  M..  Knoxville,  e.  Aug 
June  26.  1865. 


11,  1862,  m.  o. 


Donelly.  Andrew.  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m. 
o.  June  26, 1865. 


4,  1865.  disability. 
Eason,  Andrew,  Ontario,  e.  July  31,   1862,  clisch. 
June  4,  1864. 


26,  1865. 
Fitch,  Amos  S.,Rio,  e.  Aug.  8.  1862,  disch.  March 

15,  1865,  disability. 
Gump,  N.  H.,  Gilson,  e.  Jv-lySl,  1862,  disch. Sept. 

18,  1863,  disability. 
Goodman,  A.,  Orange,  e   July  31,  m.  o.  June  26, 

1865,  as  corpl . 


June  26,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Gillis,  T.S.,Rio,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.   o.  June  26, 
1865,  as  corpl . 


June  ^6, 1865. 
Lander,  J.  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1852,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 


died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Oct.  12,  1862. 
Melton,  H.,  Ontario,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  disch.  Sept. 

18,  1863,  disability. 

Murray,  T.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 
Massey,  F.  M.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Mattison    Swen,   Knoxville,  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Moore,  Geo.  B.,  Center  Point,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  2<>,  1865. 
Mitchell,  R.  H.,  Copley,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Mcllwain,  Wm.  B.,  Persifer,  e.  Ang.  5, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Price,  James,  Knoxville,  e.  July  25,  1862,  disch. 

June  17,  1863,  disability. 
Penn,  Wm.,  Knoxville,  e.  July 24, 1862,  m.o.  June 

21,  1865. 
Peterson,  Peter,  Knoxville.  e.  July  31,  1862,  disch. 

JulyS,  1863,  disability. 
Peterson,  Peter,  Knoxville,  e.  July  26,  1862,  died 

at  Ft.  Donelson,  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Phillips,  Edwin,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Price,  Robert  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  2, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Pickrel,  J.  W.,  Gilson,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  killed  by 

guerrillas,  Sept.  18, 1863. 
Rynear,  H.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  June  26, 

1865. 


flyer,  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5.  1862,  disch.  June  Russell,  Warren,  Persifer,  e.  Ang.  2,  1862,  disch. 


Jan.  21, 1865,  disability. 
Richardson.  J.    M.,  Knoxville,   e.    Aug.    2,  1862, 
disch.  March  13,  1863,  disability. 


Flynn,  Wm.,  Persifer,  e.  July  31,1862,  m.  o.  June  Stogdell,  R.  A.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  2, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Sypherd,  J.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Scott,  J.  W.,  Knoxville.  e.  Aug^Jl,  1862,   died  at 

Paducah,  Ky.,  Oct.  6,  1862.    *! 
Shaw,  C.  G.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  24,    1862,   m.  o. 

June  26. 1865,  as  1st  sergt. 


Goodman.  John,  Ga'esburg,  e.  July  31,  1862,  m.  o  Strine,  S.  G.,  Haw  Creek,   e.  Aug.   6,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26,  18h5. 
Stevens,  C.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  31,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865,  as  sergt. 


314 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Stevenson.  Swen,  Kuoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,1862,  m.  o. 

June  21.1t-65. 
Stancliff,    Wm.    H.,  Center  Point,  e.  Aug.  7,  1802, 

disch.  Nov.  19,  1803,  disability. 
Villiar  O.,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June  26, 

1865. 
Vorge,  R.  A.,  Gilson,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Van  Orman,  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  disch. 

April  27,  1864,  disability. 
Webb,  Valentine  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  8,1862,  m. 

o.  June  26,  1865.  as  corpl. 
Wallace,  J.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Wallick,  James  O.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Wright,  Cyrus.  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  2,  1S62,  disch.  Feb. 

25, 1864,  disability. 
Wolf,  Alfred  P.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  5, 1863,  killed 

by  guerrillas,  Sept.  18,  1863. 

Wetmore,  C.   B.,  Outario,  e.   Aug.  5,   1862,  dis- 
charged April  13,  1863,  wounds. 
Woolsey,  Jamec,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

Jane  24,  1865. 
Wilt,  Henry,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1865. 

Recruits. 

Brown,  J.  F.,  e.  April  1,  1863,  m.  o.   Sept.  8,   1865. 
Burnett,  J.  E.,  Hendersou,  e.  Dec.  28,  1863,  m.   o. 

Sept.  8,  1865. 
Benson,  H.,  Persifer,  e.  Jan.  4,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

8,  1865. 


Rufus  Cleveland,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  dis- 
charged Sept.  26,  1863,  disability. 

William  Davis.  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

Corporal f. 

John  Williams,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  dis 
charged  Dec.  22,  1862,  disability. 

Joseph  D.  Woods,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  dis- 
charged Aug.  20,  1863,  disHbility. 

Anson  C.  Geer,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10,  1863,  m.  o.  June- 
26,  186.3,  sergeant. 

Charles  8.  Long,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

P.  Onderkirk,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,discharged 
Dec.  22.  1862,  disability. 

AustinjW.  Buffum,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

Wagoner. 
Samuel  W.  Crabill,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26,  1865. 


Privates. 


Aldricb,  I.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.7, 1862,  discharged 

Ang.  15,  1863,  uisability. 
Atwood,   C.  L.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10,  1863,  died  at 

Fort  Donelson,  Oct.  24, 1863. 
Bartlett,  David,  Maquon,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865,  sergeant. 
Beeson,  Wm.  II.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o. 


Benson,  H.   K.,  Persifer,  e.  Feb.  10,  1865,   m.  o.|        June  26,  1865,  sergeant. 


Sept.  8,  1865. 
Castle,  R.  A.  Ctdar,  e.  Dec.  28, 1863,  m.  o.  Sept. 

8,  1865. 
Dailey,  L.  A.,  Rio,  m.  o.  June  26,  1865. 


Bencher,  John,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26.  1865. 
Boden,  M    M.,  Salem,  e.  Ang.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 


Flynu,  Berij.,  Persifer,  e.  March  12,  1864,  killed  by  Brown,    Peter,  Maquon,  e.    Aug.    11,    1862,    dis 


guerrillas  at  White  Oak,  Tenn.,  April  1,  1865. 

Holcomb.  Ola  W..  Sparta,  e.  Dec.  23,  1863,  dis- 
charged May  28,  1865.  disability. 

Henry,  Wm.,  Sparta,  e.  Dec.  28,  1863,  m.  o.  Sept. 
8,  1865. 

Howe,  Wm.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Jan.  19,  1865,  m.  o. 
Sept.  8,  1865. 

Massie,  Eli  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  23,  186!,  m.  o. 
Sept.  8,  1865. 

Mitchell,  A.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  March  12, 1864,  m. 
o.  Sept.  8,  1865. 

Mattson,  O.  P.,  Abingdon,  e.  Jan.  5,  1864,  m.  o. 
Sept.8,  1895. 

Mattson,  C.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Jan.  4,  1864,  dis- 
charged June  4,  1863,  disability. 

Parkins,  Levan  A.,  Persifer,  e.  March  16,  1862, 
discharged  March  21,1865. 

Ramp,  David,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  25, 1864,  m.  o, 
Sept.  8,  1865. 

Wilcox,  N.  G.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  30, 1863,  m.  o. 
Sept.  8,  1865,  corporal. 

Zimmerman.  N.,  Persifer,  e.  Feb.  10,  1865,  pro. 
quarter-master  sergeant. 

COMPANY  G. 

Captain. 
John  G.  Hammick,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m. 


o.  June  26,   1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Horace  Jones,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  resigned 

Nov.  11,  1863. 
John  Jones,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862. 


Second  Lieutenants. 


19, 1864. 


Clark  B.  Hughes,  Maquon,  e.  Ang.  6,  1862,  m.  o 


June  26,  1865. 


Sergeants. 


William  Jones,   Knox  Co.,  e.   Aug.    9,  1862,  pro 
in  16th  U.  S.  C.  troops. 


charged  Dec.  22,  1862,  disability. 
Buckley,  N.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  11,  1863,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Buckman,  C.  P.,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  9,1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  corporal. 
Bnffman,  J.  W.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 
Bissell,  H.  D. 
rowman,  H.   W.,   Salem,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  sergeant. 
Cox,  I.  L.,  Salem,  e.   Aug.   15,  1862,   discharged 

June  4,  1864,  disability,  corporal, 
'aeler,  Edward,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
ollins,  H.  A.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  Ifc65. 
lonlon,  Owen,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Cowman,   D.   F..  Salem,   e.  Aug.  10,  1863,  m.  o. 

June  2li,   1865,  as  corporal. 
Cox,  H.  S.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Collimane.  M.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1865,  corporal. 
Dalton,  S.,  Maquon,   e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26  1S65. 
Dorn,  Jacob,  Salem,  e.  Au='.  11,  1862,  m.o.  June 

Pinney,  Thomas  T.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  dis- 


charged Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
Grim.  Jonathan,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862.  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Gabriel,  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  Ang.  10, 1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Golllday,  Geo.  W.,  Salem,  e.  Ang.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Gray    J.  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  discharged 

Dec.  20,  1864,  disability. 
John  Morton,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  died  June  Grigsby,  T.  S.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o.  Jun 


Gnnsanlis,  J.  B.,  Salem,  e.  Ang.  10,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  26.  1865. 
Hehir,  James,  Salem,  e.  Aug.   9,  1862,  m.  o.  Jan 

nolloway,JJ.  E.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  9,1862,  m.o.  June 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


345 


Horton,  F.  S.,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  11,1862,  m.o.  June  Recruits. 

Hunter,  Benj.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  discharged  Bec^amP-a^SkH''  Ma1°on'  e'  Dec"  *'  1863,  m.  o. 

Jan  4   1863  disability  Sept.  8, 1865,  corporal. 

Ingham'.  Z.  W.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.o.  June  Ban3ba^?r'  Peter>  Salem'  Feb-  3' 1865'  m-  °-  ^P1' 

526  1865  *   lobo. 

Jobes',  W/W.,    Salem,  e.  Aug  11, 1862,  absent,  ^g61]^''  Salem'  e'  Peb'  3'  1865'  m'  °-  Sept' 

Jones!  L^,'Maqu1>n%n  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.o.  June  Cow0man' ,/•<  Silem,  e.  Feb.  3,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

26  1865  °i  1865. 

Jones]  W.  O.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o.  June  Oom0bs' J-  T->  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  17, 1865,  m.o.  Sept. 

26  1865  8,  i865'  corporal. 

Leland,  James,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.o.  June  i  Dar£e"&j?eo-'  Ma(luon' e-  Dec-  ^  1863,'.m.o.  Sept. 

Lewis', ]W.5'A..  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.DarnelK  James  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  17, 1865,  trans,  to 

June  26  1865  Co-  G,  61st  Inf. 

McCoy,  Allen,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June  Dalton,  Wm.,  Elba,  e.  Jan.  18,  1863,  m.  o.  Sept. 

26  1865  '  1865. 

McCoy    R.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  Dalton,  Lewis,  Elba,  e.  Jan.  18, 1863,  m.  o.  Sept. 

26  1865  8'  1865. 

Milam.  James.  Maquon,  e.  Aug,  8,  1862,  drowned  George,  Wm.  A.,  Kuoxville    e.  Nov.  9, 1863,  m.  o. 

Oct   19  1864  Sept.  8, 1865,  as  corporal. 

Mitchell,  W.   F.',  Salem,  e.  Aug.   10,  1862,  m.  o.  H111iK*JSL'  G''  Salem'  e-  Jan-  19'  1865<  m-  °-  ^P4- 

June  26   1865  8,  1865. 

Moore,  H.  H.,  Maquon,  Aug.  9,   1862,  m.  o.  June  Hilligraes.  Wm.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  21, 1865,  m.o.  Sept. 

26  1865  8,  1865. 

Morehead,  D.  B.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  Holloway' J-'  Salem,  e.   Feb.  3, 1865,  m.  o.   Sept. 

June  26, 1865.  .  .8,1865. 


Murphy,  Michael,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

Morse,  N.  B.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 
2t>,  1865, 1st  sergeant. 

McMannan,  G.  B.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  dis- 
charged May  29,  1865,  disability. 

McCullock,  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

O'Neal,  Cornelius,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  dis- 
charged May  15, 1864,  disability. 

Reibstock,  James,  IIawCreek,e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  pro. 
in  8th  U.  S.  C.  H.  artillery. 

Richmond,  Seth,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26.  1865,  corporal. 

Rooth,  R.  M.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.  June 
26, 1865. 


Haines.  John,  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  6, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

8.  1865. 
lamilton,  L. 
Moore,  St.  Claire,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  28, 1863,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8,  1865. 
Morse,  J.  C.,  Maquon,  e.  March   15,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8,  1865. 
Morehead.  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8, 1865. 
Ouderkirk,  W.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8, 1865. 
Pickenpaugh,  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  17, 1865,  m. 

o.  Sept.  8,  1865. 

Roath,  B.  M.,  Salem,  m.  o.  June  26, 1865. 
Stephenson,  A.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13,  1865,  m. 

o.  Sept.  8.  1865. 


26,  1865. 
Roberts,  J.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  discharged 

Jan.  24. 1863,  disability. 
Rbzer,  Peter,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Runniou,  Isaac,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 
Runnion,  W.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  9, -'1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Scott,  Wm.  B.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865,  corporal 
Shafer,  J.  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.   June 

26, 1865. 

Simkins,  Wm.  W.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  7    1862. 
Spalding,  J.  T.,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Stargell,  J.  H..  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1855. 
Stanton,  John,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Sutton,  John,  Salem,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  discharged 

June  10, 1863,  disability. 
!  Simkins,  G.   W.,   Maquon.  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o 

June  26,  1865. 

Simkins,  J.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862. 
Taylor,  F.,  Salem,  e.   Aug.   11,   1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Thurman,  G.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,   1862,  m.  o 

June  26, 1865. 
Thurman,  Jas.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10,   1862,  m.    o 

June,  26, 1865. 
Thurman,  P.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  June 


Roberts,  A.'.  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Thurman,  J.  H..  Maquon  e.  Dec.  28,  1863,  died  at 

Louisville,  Ky.,  Sept.  26, 1864. 

COMPANY  I. 

Captain. 

Joseph  B.  Dawley.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  m. 
.  June  26, 1865. 

First  L/ieutenants. 

Daniel  D.  Shoop,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  re- 
signed Feb.  14, 1863. 

Wm.  G.  Latime,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Wm.  W.  Shrader.  Abingdon,  e.  March  20,  1863,  m. 


o.  June  26,  1865. 

Sergeants. 

James  M.  Mann,  Abingdon,  e.  July  16, 1862,  pro. 

Lieut.  3d  Mo.  Inf. 
Andrew  J.  Gillett.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m. 

o.  June  26,  1865,  1st  sergt. 
Robert  T.  Gwinn,  Abingdou,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  pro. 

Lieut.  3d  Mo.  Inf. 
Henry  McCord,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  26,  1865. 


26,  1865. 
Timmons,  D.  W., 


charged  Jan.  24.  1863,  disability. 


em,  e.  Aug.   11,  1862,  dis- 


Albert  Evans,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  detached 

as  Lieut.  116th  U.  S.  C.  troops. 
James   H.    Freeman,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862 

died  at  Fort  Donelson,  Nov.  28. 1862. 


Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 


July  19, 1863,  disability. 


26, 1865. 

20 


Corporals. 


Welker,  J.,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  discharged  James  W.  Russell,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   11,1862, 


commissioned  in  vol.  ser. 


Westfleld,  C.  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  discharged  Wm.  M.  Veatch.  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  24. 1865,  as  sergt. 


White,  A.  J.,  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.o.  June  Wm.  Hearst,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o  .June 


26,  1865,  as  sergt. 


346 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Joseph  M.  Downes.   Abingdon,  e.    Aug.  7, 1862, 

disch.  Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
John  A.   Coleinan,    Abingdon,    e.    Aug.  7,  1862, 

disch.  Feb.  3,  1864,  wounds. 
J.  J.  Cochran.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   11,  1862,  m.   o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  sergt. 

Musicians. 

Wm.  J.  Flecker.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Christopher  Walkup,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862, 

died  at  Fort  Donelson,  Oct.  4, 1862. 

Wagoner. 

James  Garver,   Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  disch. 
Jan.  9, 1863,  disability. 

Privates. 

Adkins,  Vinton,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o. 

'    June  26,  1865. 
Adkins,    M.    C.,  Hermon,    e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Adkins,    C.  J.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Blair,  Wm.  W..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,1862,  m.  o. 

June  26.  1865. 
Baldwin,  T.  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  disch 

Dec.  19. 1862,  disability. 
Brunson.  Esty,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Beers,  Frederick  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862, 

disch.  Jan.  3, 1863,  disability. 


Burton.  A.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug. 
26,  1865. 


McNamer,  C.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m. 

June  26, 1865. 
McCarty,  J,.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  disci 

March  13,1864,  disability. 
Maxwell,  W.  P..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Miller,  Doctor  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865,  disability. 
Morris.  Miles.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Nichols.  C..  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.  8, 1862,  died  at 

Clarksville,Tenn.,  Jan.  21, 1865. 
Pointer,  Wm.  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Russell,  B.  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  20,  1862.  disch. 

to  accept  com.'in  vol.  service. 
Reeves,  E.  J..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  died  at 

Clarksville,Tenn.  Nov.  16,  1862. 
Shoop,  W.  H..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26. 1865. 
Strain,  D.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Smith,  F.   M..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Smith,  P.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  disch.  June 

11,  1863,  disability. 
Smith,  S.  A.  C.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  26,  1865. 
Underwood,  E.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862, 

o.  June  26,  1865. 
Vandell,  Joseph  D.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Vandel,  C.  W.,  Hermon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  disch.  Jan. 

24,  1863,  disability. 


Brawn,  D.  F..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,  m.  o 

June  26,  1865 
Clark,  J.  C..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  disch.  Dec. 

5, 1863,  disability. 
Collison,    J.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Canen,  Allen,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862.  m.  o 

June  26,  1865. 
Crawford,  J.  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o 

June  26, 1865,  as  corporal. 
Chapman,  D.  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Camp,  J.  M.,  Abingdon,   e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  m.  o 

June  26, 1865. 
Oochran,  Asbury,  Abingdon,  e.    Aug.  8,  1862,  m 

o.  June  26,  1865. 
Cochran,  Milton,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Chaff ee,  T.  L.  D..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  disch. 

March  15,  1863,  disability. 
Oambridge,  John,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  26, 1865. 
Diefenderfer,  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o 

June  26,  1865. 
Diven,    Geo.    W.,    Abingdon,   e.    Aug.    8,    1862 

drowned  Aug.  20,  1863. 
Edmonson,  J.  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  killed 

at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  3. 1863. 
Graham,  D.  N.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15, 1362,  m.  o 

June  26. 1865,  as  corporal. 
Hewitt,  David,  Abingdon. 
Herriott,  A.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862. 
Hawkins,  Benj.  F.    Abingdon,   e.  Aug.  11, 1862, 

disch.  Dec.  13, 1862,  disability. 
Hale.  J.  R  ,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,1865. 
Hibbs,  K.  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
Hood,  U.   H..   Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Jones,  Elliott,  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.  11,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Latimer,  J.  A.,  Abingdon.  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 


1S62,  m.  o.  June  Vannander,  J.  W..  "Hermon.    e.    Arg.    11,  1862, 
disch.  June  2, 1865,  disability. 


Woods,  Peter.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,    m.  o 

June  26,  1865. 
Warren,  I..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.  June 


26, 1865. 


Recruits. 


June  26, 1865,  as  corporal. 
Myers.  A.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Myers,  I.  F.,  Abingd  n  ,e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Wm 

26,  1865. 
Miller,  Eli,  Abingdon,  Aug.  9,  1862,  m. 

26,  1865. 


Brown,  Wm.  W.,  Abingdon,  died  at  Clarksville, 

Tenn.,  June  26. 1863. 
Fauble,  Geo.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26. 1865. 
Graves,  A.  D..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21.  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Kerns.  Milton,  Maquon. 
Russell,  J.  R.,  Abingdon,  e,  Dec.   14,   1863,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8, 1865. 

COMPANY  K.. 

Captain. 

Geo.  W.  Reynolds,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m.  i 
June  26, 1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Richard  D.  Russell,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  21, 18 
m.  o.  June  26,1365. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

John  S.  Garrett.  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  21,  1862,  m. 
June  26, 1865. 

1st  Sergeant. 

A.  O.  Wilmarth,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  died 
Ft.  Donelson,  March  1,  1863. 

Sergeants. 

Wm.  C.  Montgomery,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862, 

disch.  Dec.  1, 1862,  disability. 
Noah  Swickerd,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  1st  sergt. 
Geo.  H.  Champlin,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  die 

at  Ft.  Donelson,  Jan.  13,  1863. 
J.  H.  Hedstrom,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  1.  1862,  pro.  la 

Lieut.  8th  U.  S.  C.  artillery. 


Corporate. 

W.   W.    Biggert,   Knox,  co.  e.  Aug.  1,  1862 
pro.  1st  Lieut.  8th  U.  S.  C.  artillery. 
June  James  W.  Temple.  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862, 
Capt.  101st  U.  S.  C.  troops. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


347 


Lambert  S.  Lucien,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 18(i2,  pro. 

Capt.  8th  U.  S.  C.  artillery. 
Geo.  VV.  House,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1802,   disch. 

Jan.  8, 1864,  disability. 
J.  T.  Suydam,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862;  died  at 

Ft.  Donelson,  Jan.  6. 


Wm.  II.  Perkins,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  died  at  Ives,  N,  B.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  June 


Ft.  Donelson,  Aug.  26, 1864. 
Thomas  G.  Stewart,  Knox   co.,  e.  Aug.  1,   1862, 

disch.  June  17.  1863,  disability. 
Northrop  Coon,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  disch 

May  25,  1864,  disability. 

Wagoner. 

John  M.  Young,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  died  at 
Mound  City,  March  31, 1863. 

Privates. 

Anstrom,  J.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Anderson,  Win.  P.,  Knox  co..e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Arie.  Anthony,  Knox  co.,   e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Brown,  Wm.,  Knoxco.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Barthwell.  A..  Knox  co.,  e.   Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Barringer,  H.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

June  2,  1865,  disability. 
Bornar,  Henry  J  ,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  disch. 

Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
Cook,  J.  H.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Coon,  G.  J.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,1862,  disch.  Dec. 

27, 1862,  disability. 
Cain.  S.  D.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26, 1865. 
Cadwell,  E.  J.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 

Colman,  N  ,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  pro.  princi- 
pal musician. 
Collins,  J.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  died  at  Ft. 

Donelson,  Feb.  25, 1863. 
Curry,  Andrew  A.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  18R5. 
Cherrington,  M.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  18t>2,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Dawson,  J.  C.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Day,  David,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aue.  1,    1862,    died  at 

Paducah,  Ky.,  Feb.  26, 18637 
Darr.  Thomas  M.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

Feb.  6,  1863,  disability. 
Everett,  Elmer,  Knox  CO.,  Aug.  1.  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  18ti5,  as  corpl. 
Ensign,  Nathan  R.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m. 

o.  June  26, 1865. 
Force,  Joseph,  Knox  co.,  e.   Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

March  1,  1865,  diability. 
Force,  Isaac,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  discharged 

Dec.  13,  1862,  disability. 
Frederick,  Geo.  W.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  died 

at  Fort  Henry,  Tenn.,  Sept.  30,  1862. 
Freed,  John,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Gifford,  T.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  died  at  Fort 

Donelson.  March  6,  1863 


Horton,  Alex.,  Knox  CO.,  e    Aug.   6,  1862,   m.   o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Harrison,  C.  W.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865,  sergeant. 
Irving,  J.  A.,    Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 


26, 1865. 


Clarksville,  Tenn.,  April  8.  1865. 
Grayham,  Ira  G.,  Knox  co.  e.  Aug.  1,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Goff.  J.  E.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Gaines,  Geo.  H.,  Knox  co.,   e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1S«5,  sergeant. 
Hnbbell,  T.J.,Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,1862,  discharged 

Jan.  11,  1S65,  disability 


May  6.  18(53,  disability. 


.R.  C. 


26. 1865,  sergeant. 
Johnson,  Jonas,  Knox  CO..   e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Lynes,  C.  H.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,1862,  discharged 

May  6, 1863.  disability. 
Martin,  Leroy,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 

McCready,  Jesse,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  dis- 
charged June  11,  1864,  disability. 
Menard,  H.  E..  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
McGill.  Wm.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862.  discharged 

for  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  8th  TJ.  S.  C.  artillery. 
McClung,  Geo.  H.,  Knox   co.  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Norton,  Wm.  H.,  Knox  co..  e.  Aug.  1, 1865,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 

Parmentier.  H.  S.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  dis- 
charged Jan.  24,  1863,  disability. 
Pease,  G.  A.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  j,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,   1865. 
Pratt,  David  D.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  corporal. 

Robinson,  Parsons.  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  dis- 
charged, Dec.  1, 1862,  disability. 
Reed,  Geo.  H.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Slater,  J.  H.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Sornberger,  A.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.o.  June 

26,  1895-. 

Sornberger,  G.  M.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  dis- 
charged. July  17,  1863,  disability. 
Stockwell.  C.  A.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26, 1865. 
Shade,  Jacob,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Smith,    Phillip,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Sawdy,  Rufus,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug."  1,  1862.  died  at 

Ft.  Donelson  January  13, 1863. 
Sweeny,  George,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Stanley,   J.  L.,  Knox  co.,   e.  Aug.  1,  1862,' m.  o. 

June  26,  1865. 
Tapp,  J.  B.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

26,  1865. 
Tapp,  \incent,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

Aue.  21. 1864,  disability. 
Terry,  David,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  disch.  for 

pro.  to  2d  Lieut,  in  U.  S.  C.  troops. 
Whitehead,  A..  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  26,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Williamson,  J.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

March  13, 1863,  disability. 

Young,  Robert,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  12.  1862,  m.  o. 
June  26, 1865. 

Recrnits. 

Armstrong,  W.  H.,  Sparta,  e.  Dec.  28, 1863,  pro.  2d 
Lieut.  8th,U.  S.  C.  H.  art. 


Gray,  M.  F.,  Knox   co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.o.  June  Burgess,    F.  W.,  Copley,  e.  Jan.  95,  1865,  m.  o. 


Grayham,  C.  R.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  died  at  Collins,  H.'  C.,  Sparta,  e.  Nov.  30,  1863,  m.  o.'.Sept. 


8,  1865. 
Darr.  J.  B.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  10, 1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

8, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Dunhar,  Geo.,  Rio.  e.  Jan.  31,  1865,  corp'l,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8,  1865. 
Dunbar,  F.  M.,  Rio.  e.  Jan.  31,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  8, 

1865. 
Everett.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  10,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

8,  1865,  as  sergt. 


TI          IV.       AX      TlJ         ~~~1  mmmmf.  o<     1OUU,    »3     DClt^l/. 

larlbutt,  F.,  Knox  co..  e.  Aug.  1. 1862,  discharged  House,  W.  A..  Knox  CO.,  e.  Nov.  30,  1863,  m.  o. 


Sept.  8, 1865. 


,  L.  S,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  trans,  to  McCleery,  J.  T.,'Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  10,  1864,  m.o. 


Sept.  8, 1865. 


348 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Pease,  S.  A.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  1, 1864,  m.  o.  Sept.  8, 

1865. 
Pease.  A.  T.,  Copley,  e.  Jan.  18, 1865,  m.o.  Sept.  8, 

1865. 
Russell,  J.  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  Dec.  14,  1863,  m.  o. 

Sept.  8, 18b5. 


Heath,  M.  L.,  Sparta.  e.Dec.  28, 1863,died  at  camp 

Butler  Feb.  11,  1864. 
Miller,  John.  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  6,  1865. 
Ray,  J.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  3,  1864,  m.  o.  May 

21, 1865. 


86th  INFANTRY. 

Was  organized  at  Peoria,  111.,  in  1862.  Moved  for  Louisville.  Marched  from 
camp  Oct.  1,  and  on  the  8th  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Perryville;  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sept.  19,  20  and  21.  Moved  into  Lookout  Valley  Oct.  29. 
In  the  night  of  Nov.  23,  crossed  the  river  on  a  pontoon  and  camped  at  the  foot  of 
Missionary  Ridge.  Pursued  the  enemy  on  the  26th  to  Ringgold,  and  was  then 
ordered  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Marched  as  far  as  Little  Tennessee  River,  and  returned 
to  Chattanooga  Dec.  18,  after  a  most  severe  march.  Was  engaged  at  Buzzard's 
Roost,  May  9,  10  and  11 ;  Resaca,  May  14,  15 ;  Rome,  17th— 6  killed,  11  wounded ; 
Dallas,  from  May  27  to  June  5;  Kenesaw  Mountain,  from  June  11  to  27, — losing  110 
killed  and  wounded.  It  again  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  banks  of  the  Chattahoo- 
qhe  on  the  18th  of  July ;  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  on  the  19th,  and  near  Atlanta.  20th  and 
22nd.  Engaged  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  Commenced  the  "  march  to  the  sea"  Nov. 
16.  Arrived  at  Savannah  Dec.  21.  After  the  surrender  of  Johnson,  marched,  ma. 
Richmond,  to  Washington  City,  at  which  place  was  mustered  out  of  service,  June  6 
1865.  Died,  killed  and  wounded,  346.  Marched  3,500  miles;  by  rail,  2,000. 

The  86th  Regiment  contained  93  men  from  Knox  county ;  5  were  killed,  3  wounded, 
8  died,  and  3  were  taken  prisoners. 


COMPANY  F. 

Captain. 

James  L.  Burkhalter,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862,  m. 
o.  June  6, 1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Nelson  D.  Combs,   Maquon,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862,  re- 

sisnedJan.il,  1863. 
John  Hall,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Amos  P.  Loveland,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m.  o. 
June  6,  1865. 

Sergeants. 

John  W.  Mire,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  2, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
Timothy  D.  West,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862.  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  as  1st  sergt. 
John  A.  Freemold,  Maquon,  e.  July  23, 1862,  killed 

at  Keneeaw  Mountain,  June  27. 1864. 
Wm.  Swlgart,  Jr..  Maquon,  e.  July  26,  1862,  died 

at  Nashville  Nov.  18, 1862. 

Corporals. 

Barnett  E.  Haines,  Maquon,  e.  July  24, 1862,  eergt. 

died  at  Chattanooga  May,  1864. 
James  T.  Dudley,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  22, 1865,  serg't.  wounded. 
Samuel  B.  Onderkirk,  Maqnon,  Ang.  2, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 

William  Liewallen,  Maquon,  e.  July  29,  1862,  dis- 
charged Oct.  15, 1862,  disability.. 
Ethan  Allen,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  2, 1862. 
J.  W.  Smithson,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  died  at 

Danville,  Ky.,  Nov.  18,  1862. 
Benj.  F.  Scott,  Maquon  e.  July  31. 1852,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  as  serg't. 
Wm.  M.  Gardner,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  4, 1865,  as  serg't. 

Musicians. 

John  G-  Jones.  Maquon.  e.  July  31,  1862,  disch 

March  11. 1863,  disability. 
Wm.  M.  Smithson,  Maquon,  e.   Aug.  5,  1862,   dis 

charged  Feb.  2,  1863,  disability. 


Wagoner. 

John  Barbero,  Jr.,  Maqnon,  e.  July  31, 1862,  m.  o. 
June  6, 1865. 

Privates. 

Arie,  S.  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  on  furlough  at 

m.  o.  regiment. 
Atwood.  C.  B.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865 . 
oon,  Wm.  S..  Maquon,  e.  Ang.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1885. 
Coon,  David.  Maquon.  e.  Ouly  29, 1862,  disch.  Oct. 

21. 1862.  disability. 

ombs  Wilson  H..  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  dis- 
charged Feb.  11, 1863,  disability, 
oon,  Isaac,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
aulkins,  Wm.,  Maquon,  e.  July  81,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1865. 
Clark.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865.  as  corpl. 
lark,  N.  G.,  Maquon,  e.  July  31, 1862,  disch.  Feb. 

12,  1863.  disability, 
'onner.  J.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  July  23, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
Dunn,  D.  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 

Davis,  F.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  2,'62,  m.o.  June  6.'65. 
Dawdy,  L.  J.,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  1.  1862,  pro.  adju- 
tant, hon.  disch.  April  25,  1865. 
Darnell,  S.,  Maquon,  e.  July  29,  1862,  disch.  Feb. 

28. 1863,  disability. 

Dickson.  A.,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Darnell,  JoeJ.  Maquon.  e.  Aug.2, 1862,  disch.  March 

31, 1865,  disability. 
Davis,  C.  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Freemold,  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Jnly  29,  1862.  m.  o.  June 

6. 1865. 
Finch,  Bruce,  Maqnon,  e.  July  29, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Foreman,  E.,  Maquon,  e.  July  29,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

29,  1865. 
Grove,  Wm.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  July  26,  1862,  m.  P 

May  23, 1865. 

Grabill.  Ira,  Maquon,  e.  July  29, 1862,  m.  o.  June 
6,  1805. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


349 


Gibbs,  Harrison,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Grissom,  M..  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862.  disch.  Jan. 

16,  1863,  disability. 

George,  Riley,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862. 

Griffith.  M.  A.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Gabriel,  W.,  Maquon,  Aug.  2,  1862,  disch.  May  8, 

1863,  disability. 
Humphrey,  A.,  Maquon,  July  23,  1862,  disch.  Ap'l 

22,  1863,  dipability. 
Hughs,  John,  Maquon,  e.  July  29, 1862,  disch.  Jan. 

17,  1863,  disability. 

Holloway,  Wm.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  died 

at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  17, 1862. 
Honsh,  Thomas,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  disch. 

April  1,  1863,  disability. 
Housh,  Adam,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,1862,  disch.  Feb. 

24, 1863,  disability. 
Honsh,  J.  D.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6. 1865,  as  corpl. 
Housh,  Jacob,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 

Hall.  Henry,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  died  at  Gal- 
latin,  Tenn.,  Dec.  18, 1862. 
Humphry.  F.  C.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  as  corp'l. 
Jones,  Wm.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  31, 1862,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Kerns,  J.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
McCulloch,  W.  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug  3,  1862,  killed 

at  Rome.  Ga.,  May  17,  1864. 
McFarren,  J.  R.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  disch. 

Feb.  1«,  1863,  disability. 
McVay,  Franklin  L.,  e.  July  24, 1862,  transferred  to 

V.  R.  C. 
McKoon,  C.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  July  29,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Moon,  R.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  disch.  Mar. 

11,  1863,  disability. 
Moon,  J.  R,,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
McNanghton,  James,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862,  m. 

o.  June  6,  1865,  as  sergt.,  wounded. 
McGrew,  J.  A.  H.,  Maquon,  Aug.  4,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
McVay.  J.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Mowry.  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  corpl,  trans. 

toV.R.C. 


Mick,  R.  M..  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  disch.  Oct. 

22,  1862,  disability. 
Norris,  J..  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  died  at  Nash- 
ville. Tenn..  May  25,  1863. 
Norris,  Geo.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  war  prisoner. 
Ouderkirk,  Martin,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 

Perry,  Wm.  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862. 
Paterson,  Jesee,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  died  at 

Nashville.  Tenn.,  Dec.  16. 1864,  wounds. 
Pattee,  J.  F.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865.  as  corpl. 
Reeder,  Alfred,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  m.  o.  June  26,  '65, 

war  pris. 
Smith.  Silas,  Maquon,  e.  July  26,  1862.  killed  at 

Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Sept.  1,  1864. 
Smith,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  '62,  m.o.  June  6,  '65. 
Smith,  J.  M.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  disch. 

Oct.  29,  1864,  wounded. 
Smith,  John  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Smith,  T.  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch.  Oct. 

21,  1862,  disability. 

Snyder,  Alex.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6.  1865. 
Stodgell,  Wm.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Turntine,  Reece,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  died  at 

Nashville  Jan.  7,  1863. 
Thurman,  Wm.  T.,  Maquon,  e.  July  26, 1862,  trans. 

to  Miss.  Marine  Brig. 
Upp.  C.   W..  Maquon,  e.  July  29,  1862,  killed  at 

Kenesaw  Mountain  June  27,  1864. 
Vogler.  J..  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  killed  at  Rome, 

Ga..  May  17,  1864. 
Wells,  V.  G..  Maquon,  e.  July  31, 1862,  discharged 

Feb.  5,  1864,  disability. 
West,  John,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.   o.  July 

22,  1865.  war  prisoner. 

Walter,  B.  S.,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  2, 1862,  discharged 

Feb.  2,  1863,  disability. 
Waddle,  J.,  Maquon,  e.  July  24,  1862,  discharged 

Oct.  21, 1862,  disability. 
Wilson.  J.  F.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug. 4.  1862,  m.o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Walter,  U.  R.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865,  corporal. 
Way,  A.  J,  Maquon.  e.  Aug.  26,  1862,  discharged 

March  13.  1863,  disability. 
West,  T.  D.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  26, 1862. 


89th  INFANTRY. 

The  "Railroad  Regiment"  was  organized  by  the  railroad  companies  of  111.,  at 
Chicago,  in  August,  1862;  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  Sept.  4.  The  regiment,  on 
leaving  Louisville,  started  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Bragg,  and  after 
a  fruitless  and  wearisome  march  of  a  month,  reached  Bowling  Green.  Cliickamauga 
seemed  to  fix  the  seal  of  its  devotion.  There  fell  Lieut-Col.  Duncan  J.  Hall,  Capts. 
Rice,  Spink,  and  Whiting,  and  Lieut.  Ellis,  besides  the  scores  of  brave  men  who 
fought  with  noble  heroism,  and  who  dared  to  "do  and  die"  in  defense  of  the  "old 
flag."  At  Mission  Ridge  the  regiment  again  encountered  the  foe.  It  then  marched 
to  the  relief  of  Burnside,  besieged  at  Knoxville.  This  accomplished,  it  moved  on 
with  the  brigade,  in  the  marches  and  counter-marches  through  East  Tennessee. 

Early  in  April,  1864,  it  marched  with  the  command  to  South  Tennessee,  prepara- 
tory to  Gen.  Sherman's  glorious  campaign  through  West  Georgia,  for  the  occupation 
of  Atlanta.  With  the  brigade  it  participated  m  the  splendid  victories  of  Rocky 
Face,  Resaca,  Pickett's  Mills,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  the  flank 
movement  of  Atlanta,  and  pursued  the  routed  enemy  in  his  retreat  to  Jonesboro  and 
Lovejoy's  Station.  The  regiment  passed  winter  quarters  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1865,  and  on  the  1st  of  February  traveled  by  rail  to  Nashville.  About  the 
middle  of  March  the  command  embarked  on  the  cars  for  East  Tennesee  to  re-estab- 
lish communication  through  to  Virginia  and  prepare  to  repel  rebel  invasion.  On 
the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  further  movements  in  that  section  were  abandoned.  On 
June  10,  1865,  the  89th  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 

The  89th  Regiment  had  171  men  from  Knox  county;  17  were  killed,  6  wounded, 
28  disch.  and  15  were  taken  prisoners. 


350 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Sergeant-Major. 

Nelson  W.  Burneson,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June 
10, 1865. 

Commissary  Sergeant. 

Benj.  F.  Jeffries,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  die 
charged  Feb.  11, 1863,  disability. 

Principal  Musician. 

E.  B.  Howard,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  3,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  10, 1865. 

COMPANY  A. 

Sergeant. 

James  E.  Holt,  Galesburg,  Aug.   11,  1862,  m.   o 
June  10, 1865. 

Privates. 

Armstrong,  Robert,  Knoxville,  Aug.  13. 1862,  died 
at  Andersonville  prison,  Aug.  20, 1864,  No. 
grave  7,339. 

Butman,  A.,  Yates  City,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.o.  June 
10, 1865,  corporal. 

Egan,  J.  I. ,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  discharged 
July  23,  1863,  disability. 

Fuller,  Gardner,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  12.  1862,  died  Mack 
at  Andersonville  prison.  Sept.  21, 1864. 

Hadley,  J.D..  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.6, 1862.  discharged 
Sept.  1, 1864,  disability. 

Holt.  R.  M  ,  Galeshurg,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  discharged 
Feb.  16, 1863,  disability. 

Taylor,  W.  C.,  Knoxville.  e.   Aug.  11,   1861,  dis- 
charged June  13, 1863,  disability. 

Recruits. 


Ayres,  G.  P.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Dec.  5,  1863,  promoted 

sergeat-major. 
Cheeseman,  P.  J..  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  31, 1863,  mis 

sing  in  action  at  Pickett's  Mills,   Ga.,  May 

27,  1864. 
Edgar,  J.  A.,  Altona,  e.  Sept.  10, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8,  1865. 

COMPANY    B. 

,        Privates. 

Chesney,  A.  M..  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  12,  1863,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8,  1865. 
Fansett,  Geo.  W.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  9, 1863,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8, 1865. 
Miller,  A.  C.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  5. 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8,  1865. 
Miller,    M.,  Abingdqn,  e.  Oct.  1,  1863,  killd  at 

Kenesaw  mountain,  June  21,  1864. 
Rupell,  Win.,  Altona,  e.  Sept.  10, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8,  1863. 
Sweensy,  J.  H.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  31,1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8, 1865. 
Wagomen.  M.,  Altona,  e.  Dec.  21,  1863,  died  at 

Springfield,  Feb.  5,  1864. 

COMPANY  C. 

Privates. 


COMPANY  E. 

Musicians. 

A.  S.  Capron,  Galesburg,  e,  Aug.  1,  1862,  absent 
sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 

E.  B.  Howard,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  3,  1862,  pro- 
moted principal  musician. 

Privates. 

Abbe,  Louis,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1802,  m.  o. 

June  10,  1865. 
Bramble,  H.  G.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,  1£K%,  traus. 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Collins,   A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.    6.   1862,  disci 

March  11,  1863,  disability, 
dough,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  7.  1862,  m.  o.  Jnr 

10,  1865. 
Frank,  Alonzo,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o.  June  10, 

as  corpl. 
Hawley,  H.  F..  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m 

June  10,  1865. 
°r  Huse,  F.  V.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  7.  1862,  died 

Chattanooga,  Oct.  12.  1863,  wounils. 
Knox,  James,  Jr.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  disch 

Aug.  26,  1862,  disability. 
Lecompton,  F.   W..   Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,   186-2 

trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

R.  B.  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  died 

Chattanooga,  Oct.  22.  1863,  wounds. 
McCall,  J.   H..  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,   discli 

Sept.  10,  1863,  disability. 
Nichols.  James,  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  kills 

Stone  Kiver,  Dec,  31.  1862. 
Scudder,  O.  H.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug  7,  18B2,  abser 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Simmons,  W.  H.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  die 

at  Chattanooga,  Nov.  1, 1864. 
Weed,  Gill,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o.  Jur 

10, 1865. 
Welton,C.  W  ,  Galesbunr,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  . 

June  10.  1865,  as  corp'l. 
Wright,  Z.  R.,  Knoxville.  e.  Feb.  17,  1864,  died 

Nashville,  June  27,  1864. 


Blair,  John,  Altona,e.  Aug.  13, 1863,  died  at  Nash 

ville,  March  30, 1864. 

Bennell.  W.  A.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  8, 1863. 
Gould,  W.  A  ,  Knox  co.,  e.  Sept.  15, 1863,  m.  o 

Dec.  8, 1865. 
Hood,  Geo.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1863,  m.  o 

Dec.  8, 1865,  as  corp'l . 
Jones,  Geo,  W.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o 

June  10, 1865,  as  corpl. 
McFarlane,  Alva,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  5, 1863,  missing  N 

in  action.  Picket's  Mill,  Ga. 
Richardson,  Hiram,  Knox  co.,  e.  Sept.  28, 1863. 
Thompson,  Geo.  W.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Sept.  26,  1863 

died  at  New  Orleans,  June  29, 1865. 
Warren,  Geo.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.   15,  1863,  disch 

March  15. 1862,  disability. 
Whitehead,  J.,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  5, 1863,  m.  o.  Dee 

8,1865. 


COMPANY  «. 

Captains. 

Thomas  Whiting,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  25, 

killed  Sept.  20, 1863. 
Wm.  H.  Howell,  Walnut  Grove,  e,  Aug.  25,  IS 

m.  o.  Jane  10, 1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Isaac  Copley,  Copley,  e.  Aug.  25,  1862,  resigne 

May  8,  1863. 
Peter  Tail,    Copley,  e.  Aug.  25,   1862,  killed  ii 

action,  Dec.  16,  1864. 
J.  W.  Swickard,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  25,  186 

m.  o.  June  10.  1865. 

Sergeants. 

Richard  J.  Bnnson,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10 

1865, 1st.  sergt. 

John  B.  Smith,  Lynn,  trans.  V.  R.  C. 
H.  G.  O.  Wales.  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 18 


Corporals. 

Wm.  O.  Dayton,  Wa'nut  Grove,  disch.  Feb.  1 

1863,  disability. 
J.  B.  McLaugblin,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 

1865,  as  serg't. 
Orange  G.  Hayward,  Walnut  Grove  m.  o.  June  10, 

1865,  as  sergt. 

W.   Burneson,    Walnut    Grove,    pro.    sergt. 

major. 
A.M.  Ferguson,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  March  8, 

1862,  disability. 
Thomas  Berry,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  near  Dallas, 

Ga..  May  27.  1864. 
S.  D.    Allen,  Walnut  Grove,  sergt,  killed  near 

Dallas,  Ga.,  May  27,  1864. 
G.  W.   Wagoner, Walnut  Grove,   trans,  to  V.  R- C 


COUNTY  TREASURER. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


353 


Privates. 
Atherton,  S.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865, 


as  music  n. 


Buckhart,  J.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865. 
Buckharf,  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 
Bestor,  D.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  at  Stoue 

River,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Berry.  Geo.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Anderson- 

\ille,  prison,  Aug.  6, 1864,  No.  of  grave  4,855. 
Brown.  C.,  Walnut  Grove,  died  Marcn  1,  1864. 
Cole,  Hiram,  Walnut  Grove,  ditch.  April  1,  1863, 

disability. 

Cragan,  J..  Lynn,  trans.  V.  R.  C. 
Codding,  Jasper  C.,  Victoria,  died  at  Anderson- 

ville  prison,  Dec.  27,  1864,  no.  of  grave,  12,348. 
Campbell,  John,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 

1865. 
Collinson,  H.  G.,  Walnut  Grove,  absent  sick  at  m. 

o.  regt. 
Chimberg,  Nelson,  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Ander- 

sonville  prison,  Sept-.  28,  1864,  No.  of  grave 

9,935. 
Craig,  J.  P.,  Lynn,  killed  at  Rocky  Face,  Ga.,  May 

9,  1864. 

CoUineon,  C.,  Walnut  Grove,  trans.  V.  R.  C. 
Dillworth,  J.  H.,  Lynn,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865. 
Doyle,  M.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10.  1865. 
Elsworth,  A.  W.,  Lynn,  111.  o.  June  10,  1865. 
Fitch,  Wm.  S.,  Lynn,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865  as  sergt. 
Goddard,    Henry,    Lynn,   died   at    Andersonville 

prison.  Dec.  1,  1864,  No.  of  grave  10.307. 
Hall,  John  L.,  Lynn,  died  at  Andersonvile  prison, 

Dec,  4,  1864, 'No.  of  grave  12,223. 
Hicks,  Win.  B.,  Lynn,  trans.  Miss,  marine  brig. 
Hager  Levi,  Lynn,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865. 
Harris,  A.  D.  Victoria,  trans,  to  engineer  corps. 
Higgins,  C.  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  Feb.  10, 

1863.  disability. 
Hester,  Isaac.  Walnut  Grove,  killed  near  Dallas, 

Ga.,    May   27,  1864. 
Higgins,    W.  L.,    Lvnn,    died   at   Andersonville 

prison,  Nov.  11,  1864. 

Hulich,  J.  B.,  Copley,  died  June  16, 1863,  wounds. 
Kerr,  David,  Lynn,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Livingston,  J.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 
Lamb,  Peter,  Copley,  disch.  Feb.  10, 1865. 
Lyman.  R.  H.,  Lynn,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865,  as  sergt. 
Mitchell,  J.  R..  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Anderson- 
ville prison,  Oct.  28,  1863,  No.  of.grave  11,617. 
McLaughlin,  J.  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10. 

1865. 


Seagriff.  M.,  Walnut  Grove,  m  o.  June  10, 1865. 

Smiih,  R.  M.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865, 

Smith,  H.  P.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  Feb.  12,  1865, 
disability. 

Topper,  A,,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  near  Dallas,  Ga., 
May  17, 1864. 

Tait,  John,  Copley,  died  at  Chattanooga,  July  19, 
1864,  wounds. 

rait,  Wm.,  Copley,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 

Tait,  H.  P.,  Copley,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

Thompson,  D,,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865. 

Ulmbaugh,  J.,  Lynn,  disch.  March  25,  1865,  disa- 
bility. 

Well?,  Geo.,  Walnut  Grove. 

Ward,  W.  E.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  Jan.  4, 1865, 
disability. 

Wilson,  R.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 

Woolsey,  David,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  near  At- 
lanta, Ga.,  Aug.  3.  1864. 

Whitney,  T.  F.,  Knoxville.  died  at  Andersonville 
prison,  Aug.  17,  1864.  No.  of  grave  5,998. 

Whitney,  W.  fl.,  Knoxville,  m.  o.  June  19,  1865. 

BecruUs. 

Brainbridge,  C.V.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 

1865. 
Blair,  John,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  Aug.  13,  1863,  died 

at  Chattanooga,  Dec.  9,  1863. 
Bailey,  J.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  10, 1863,  died  at 

Nashville,  Jan.  11, 1865,  wounds. 
Bell.  Robert,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct  21,  1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Brown.  J.,  Oneida,  e.  Nov.  16, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec.  8, 

1865. 
olbnrne,H.E.,  Altona,  e.  Sept.  1,  1863,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Dec.  8, 1865. 
Davis,  Geo.  W.,  Altona. 
Dudley,  H.    E.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.   19,  18i>3,  m.  o. 


Depue.  T.  O.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  5, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8, 1865. 
Ford,  W.  E.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  17,  1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8, 1865. 
Goole,  L.  L.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  5. 1863,  m.  o.   Dec. 

8,  1865. 

Hubbell,  T.  C.,  Altona. 
Lantz,  H.  L.,  Lynn,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Mitchell,  C.  W.,  Altona,  e.  Sept.  12,  1863,  m.  o. 


Nelson,  W.  H.,  Altona,  e.  Oct.  5, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 
8,  1865,  as  corpl. 


Murray,  Geo.  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  at  Stone  Pemble,  J.  H.,  Knox  co.,  Aug.  12, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 


River.  Dec,  31.  1862. 
Murphy,  Benj,  F..  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Nashville 

March  17. 1863. 

Nesbitt,  W.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o,  June  10, 1865 
Newton,  W.  B.,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  at  Chicka 

mauga,  Sept.  19,  1863. 
Preston,  J.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  June  6,  1864 

disability. 

Rowe,  C.,  Henderson,  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 
Riner,  Benj.  J., Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865 
Rodgers,  N.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  Feb.  16,  1863 

disability. 

Roosa,  Isaac,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June,  10, 1865. 
Rosenleaf,  H    J.,  Copley,  killed  at  Chickamauga 

Sept.  19. 1863. 
Reynolds,  F.,  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Nashville 

Dec.  31,  1863. 
Reynolds,  A,  Victoria,  killed  near  Dallas,  Ga., 

May  27. 1864. 
Saddler,  D.  C.,  Walnut  Grove,  killed  at  Stone 

River,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Spohr,  Matern,  Lynn.  m.  o.  June  10, 1865. 
Stowell,  A.  G.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10,  1865. 
Stephins,  E.  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  m.  o.  June  10, 

1865,  as  corpl. 
Starr,  Geo.  B.,  Walnut  Grove,  disch.  May  16,  1865, 

disability. 
Strogan,  Wm.,  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

prison,  Nov.  2t,  1863. 
Scott,  Wm.,  Walnut  Grove,  died  at  Jeflersonville, 

Ind.,  Nov.  23,  1862. 


8,  1865. 
Piatt,  J.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  27,  1863,  disch.  March 

23, 1865,  disability. 

Ray,  A.  J.,  died  at  Chattanooga,  July  4. 1864,  wds. 
Ross.   W.    M.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  21,  1863,   absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 
Rogers,  N.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  19, 1863,  m.  o.  Dec.  8, 

1865. 
Shoop,  Geo.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  21, 1863,  m.  o. 

Dec.  8,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Smith,  Jasper  A.,  Altona,  e.  Oct.  11,  1863,  absent 

sick,  at  m.  o.  regiment,  wounds. 
Umbaugh,  E.,  Altona,  e.  Aug.  11,  1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8, 1865. 
Wright,  G.  O..  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  19,  1863,  disch. 

Dec.  13, 1864,  disability. 
Wagmen,  J.,  Altona,  e.  Sept.  16,  1863,  vet.,  killed 

at  Mission  Ridge,  Nov.  25,  1863. 

COMPANY  I. 

Privates. 
Anderson,  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  9, 1863,  prisoner, 

m.  o.  Dec.  8, 1865. 

Morey,  A.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  7,  1863. 
Rhyand,  J.  R  ,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.   31,   1863,  m.  o. 

May  18, 1865. 
Stropes.  J.,  Knoxville,  e.   Nov.  2,  1863,  m.  o.  Dec. 

8,  1865. 
Vincent,  W.  J.,  Knoxville,  e.   Oct.  29,  1863,  vet., 

absent  sick  at  m.  o.  regiment. 


354 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


COMPANY  K. 

Privates. 

Bolding,  W.  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  21,  1863,  m.  o 
Dec.  8,1865. 

Courtney,  J.  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  21,  1863,  m.  o 
Dec.  8,  1865. 

Harvey.  G.  W.,  Altona,  e.Dec.  17, 1863.  m.  o.  Dec 
8,  1865. 

Whitton,  Geo.  A..  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  17,  1864,  de- 
tached m.  o.  Dec.  8,  1865. 

Kay,  Jackson,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  15,  1863. 

Neil,  J.  W.,  Victoria. 

Pease-  S.  A.,  Victoria. 

Russell,  Win.,  Knoxco. 

Swan,  Peter.  Altona. 


90th    IXFANTBY. 

COMPANY  C. 

Privates. 
Doris,  S.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  died  at 

Memphis,  Oct.  3,  1863. 
Hart,  J.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Livers.  Thomas,  St.   Augustine,   e.  Aug.  7,  1862, 

died  Feb.  8,  1863,  wounds. 
O'Neil,  H.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  7,    1862,  m.  o. 

June  5,  1865. 
Thompson,  J.  S.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.   7,   1862, 

m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Robey,  T.  A.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  5,  1865,  as  eergt. 


102d 


The  102nd  Inf.  111.  Vols.  was  organized  at  Knoxville,  111.,  in  August,  1862,  by  Col- 
Wm.  McMurtry,  and  mustered  in  Sept.  1  and  2.  Knox  county  was  represented  in 
this  regiment  by  414  men,  in  9  different  companies. 

On  the  22nd  September  the  regiment  moved  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  Oct.  1,  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  was  assigned  to  Ward's  brigade,  Dumont's  division,  and  immediately 
moved  southward,  marching  via  Shelbyville,  Frankfort,  Bowling  Green,  and  Scotts- 
ville  to  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  arriving  Nov.  26. 

The  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Gallatin.  On  June  1,  1863,  moved  to 
Lavergne,  and  from  thence  marched  to  Stewart's  Creek,  where  the  regiment  was 
divided  and  stationed  to  guard  bridges.  On  the  9th  of  November,  1863,  moved  to 
Lebanon,  and  returned  on  the  llth.  Surgeon  Stanley  was  severely  wounded  by  guer- 
rillas. On  Feb.  25,  broke  winter  quarters  at  Lavergne,  and  marched,  ma  Tullahoma, 
Decherd,  Stevenson,  Ala.,  and  camped  in  Wauhatchie  Valley,  Tenn.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  20th  Army  Corps,  Gen.  Ward's  brigade.  While  at  Wauhatchie 
five  companies  of  the  regiment,  which  had  been  mounted,  gave  up  their  horses,  but 
retained  their  Spencer  rifles  during  the  Atlanta  campaign.  May  2,  commenced  the 
campaign.  May  14,  was  engaged  at  Reseca,  leaving  Skilled  and  19  wounded.  On 
the  15th  the  brigade  captured  a  battery  from  the  enemy  at  Camp  Creek ;  the  102nd 
lost  18  killed,  6  mortally  wounded,  and  70  wounded.  May  25,  encountered  the 
enemy  at  Burnt  Hickory,  and  was  engaged  four  days,  leaving  4  killed  and  14 
wounded.  June  1,  was  engaged  at  Big  Shanty.  June  15  and  16,  engaged,  losing  13 
wounded,  including  Col.  Smith  and  Capt.  McManus.  Engaged  July  20,  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  losing  2  killed  and  11  wounded.  Sept.  16,  moved  to  Atlanta.  Nov.  15, 
1864,  commenced  the  Savannah  March,  arriving  on  the  22nd,  at  Milledgeville ;  cross- 
ed the  Ogeechee  on  the  29th;  and  Dec.  11  established  lines  of  battle  at  Savannah,  and 
on  the  21st  entered  that  city.  Jan.  5.  1865,  moved  to  Hardesville,  and  on  the  30th  to 
Robertsville,  near  Sister's  Ferry.  Feb.  2,  marched  westward  to  Blackville  and  Wil- 
listown,  thence  northward,  to  Columbia,  arriving  Feb.  19.  March  11,  reached 
Fayetteville.  March  16,  was  engaged  at  Averysboro,  losing  2  killed  and  19  wounded, 
among  the  latter  were  Capts.  Merritt  and  Matteson,  and  Lieut.  ,Trego.  March  22, 
camped  at  Goldsboro.  April  10,  marched  toward  Raleigh  where  the  army  remained 
until  Johnson's  surrender.  On  the  30th,  marched  for  Washington,  arriving  May  19. 

Of  the  number  from  Knox  county  in  the  102nd,  37  died  from  disease  and  wounds 
received  during  the  war,  12  killed,  14  wounded,  and  3  prisoners.  On  May  24  the 
regiment  passed  review  with  our  army,  and  June  6,  1865,  was  mustered  out  of  service 
and  started  home,  arriving  in  Chicago,  111.,  on  the  9th.  June  14,  received  payment 
and  final  discharge. 


Colonels. 

Wm.  M.  McMurtry,  Henderson,  e.  Sept.  8.  1862, 

hon.  disch.,  Oct.  24,  1862. 
Franklin  C.  Smith,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  8.   1862.  pro. 

Brig.  Gen.,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 

Majors. 

Lemuel  D.  Shinn,  Truro,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862,  resigned 

Oct.  14, 1863. 
Charles  H.  Jackson,  Henderson,  resigned  July  9, 

1864. 
H.  H.  Clay,  Galesburg,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 


Adjutants. 

John    W.    Pitman,    Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  8,  1862, 

resigned  Jan.  7, 1863. 
Jacob  H.  Snyder,  Galesburg,  missing  May  16, 1865. 

Quartermasters. 

Francis  H.  Rugar,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.   16,  1862, 

resigned  for  pro.  Aug.  17,  1863. 
Hobert  Hamilton,  Galeaburg,  e.  Aug.,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


355 


Surgeons. 

William  Hamilton,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  25, 1862,  m.  o, 

June  6, 1865. 

Thomas  S.  Stanway,  resigned  Aug.  13. 1864. 
David  P.  Bigger,  Henderson,  trans,  to  9th  regt.,  inf 

Chaplain. 

Amos  K.  Tullis,  Henderson,  e.  Sept.  8,  1862,  re- 
signed Dec.  21,  1862. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant. 
Clarence  V.  Shove,  Oneida,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 

Commissary  Sergeant. 

Edward  C.  Courtney,  Oneida,  m.  o.  June  6,  1863. 
Hospital  Stewards. 

John  B.  Shaw,  Knoxville,  disch.  July  15, 1863. 
James  B.  Knapp,  Oneida,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 

Principal  Musician. 
A.  V.  B.  Taylor,  Galesburg,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 

COMPANY  A. 

Captains . 

Roderick  R.  Harding,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862, 

resigned  Jan.  7, 18H3. 
T.    H.  Andrews,  Galesburg,  e.  July  25. 1862,  m.  o. 


June  6,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Michael  Courtney,  resigned  Dec.  21, 1863 
Corporal*. 


Privates. 

Blake  H.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  died  at  Gallatin 

April  28,  1863,  wounded. 
Brown,  J.  H.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.o.  June 

6,  1865. 

Badger,  J.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6.  '65. 
Brown,  A.,Henderson,  e.  Aug.  15, 1865,  disch.  Feb. 

1, 1863,  disability. 
Burton,  H.  B.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  16, 1863,  disability. 
Coziah,  Geo.,  Kio.  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  trans,  to  Eng. 

corps. 
Duffey.  F.  M.,  Henderson,  e.  Sept.  2, 1862.  disch. 

Sept.  14, 1863,  disability. 
Davis,  Thomas,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  20, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Gregg,  John,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  22. 1862,  m.o.  July 

22,  1865,  prisoner. 
Hite,  Thomas   M.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862, 

disch.  Dec.  22,  1862. 
Miles  F.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  disch.  Feb. 

21,  1863,  disability. 

Maxwell,  Robert,  Henderson,  Aug.  e.  14, 1862,  ab- 
sent sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Maxey,  S.  J.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  killed  at 

Kenesaw  Mt.  July  21,  1864. 
Rogers,  Harvey,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  died 

at  Gallatin  Jan.  1, 1863. 
Reynolds,  Henry,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  22,1862,  died 

at  Gallatin  Dec.  13, 1862. 
Sohomun.  James,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  ab- 


Mill Creek,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Privates. 


,    . 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  Oct.  21,1862. 
Rogers,  Geo.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  13.  1862,  died 

at  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  10,  1864. 
Richardson,  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  18,  1862,  absent, 

wounded,  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Vanfleet,  O.   B.,  Sparta,  e.   Aug.  13,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Olson,  Swan  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 

COMPANY  B. 

First  Sergeant. 

John  B.  Gregg,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862,  disch. 
March  13,  1863,  disability. 

Sergeant. 

Henry  C.  Miles,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  disch. 
Feb.  5,  1863,'disability. 

Corporals. 
Morton  M.  Dnrand,  Henderson,"e.  Aug.  19,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  15,  1865. 
Michael  Daugherty.  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  6,  1865,  sergt. 
John  Rich,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  died  at  Gal- 

latin March  12,  1863. 

Musician. 

John  Hodges,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  6,  1865. 


sent  sick,  m.  o.  regt. 
Straw  L.  B.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862. killed  at 

Peach  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,  1864. 
Trout,  Manuel,  Henderson,  e.  Ang.  11, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Trout,  Lewis.  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch. 

.  Aug.  10, 1862,  died  at  Wooley,  R.'  B..  Rio,  e.  Aug.  11,  '62,  in.  o.  June  6.  '65. 
Webber,  Benj.,  Rio,  e.  Ang.  11,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 

Nelson  Newton,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 
Brittingham.  T.B.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  6.  1862,m. 

o.  June  6,  1865. 
Brittingham,  S . ,  Henderson,  e.  Aug  10. 1862,  disch. 

March  12.  1863,  disability. 
Eicher,  S.,  Henderson,  e.   Aug.   10,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Gilipur,  P.  H.,  Henderson,  e.  Ang.  20, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Offutt,  F..  Rio,e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  died  at  New  Albany, 

Ind.,  Nov.  10,  1862. 
Rogers,  C.  H..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  died  at 


COMPANY  C. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Alfred  H.  Trego,  Galesburg,  Aug.  12. 1862,  m.  o. 
June  6, 1865. 


COMPANY  D. 

Captains. 


Horace  H.Willsie,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  2, 1862,  re- 
signed April  19,  1863. 

0.  B.  Matteson,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o.  June 
6,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Irwin  L.  Clay,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  6, 1865. 

Sergeants, 

Franklin  G.  Daggett,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862, 
m.  o.  June  6,  1865. 

5f .  G.  Chesebro,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  3, 1862,  trans,  to 
Gen.  Brig. 

Corporals. 
James  White,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862,  sergt., 

died  at  Stewart's  creek.,  Au^.  9,  1863. 
Thomas  M.  Bell,  Galesburg,  e.  Ang  8, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Hiram  Boon,  Jr.,  Galesburg,  e.  Ang.  9, 1862,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
George    W.  Chamberlain,  Galesburg,  e.  Ang.  20, 

1862,  pro.  Lieut,  in  1st  Tenn.  H.  Art. 

Musician. 
Jesse  H.  Marble,  Galesburg.  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  died 

at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  Jan.  20, 1863. 

Wagoner. 
Benj.  F.  Hackett,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m. 

o.  June  6, 18C5. 


356 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


Privates. 


Area,  Silas,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Charles  S.  Epperson,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  7.  1862,  disch 

Feb.  22,  1863.  disability. 
Geo.  W.  Plummer,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  m 

o.  June  6, 1863,  as  1st  Sergt. 
Wm.  Timberlake,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  disch.  Feb. 
22, 1863,  disability. 

Corporals. 

John  W.  Heare,  Rio,  e.  Ang.  7,  1862,  disch.  March 

2, 1863.  disability. 
Stephen  Levalley,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  sergt. 
Thomas  Epperson,  Rio,e.  Aug.  7,1862,  disch.  Feb 

27,  1863,  dig. 
Martin  Robertson,  Rio,  e.  Ang.  11, 18G2,disch.Feb. 

11, 1863,  disability. 
Alfred  B.  Ferkins,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.o. 


6,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Anderson.  R.  B.,  Qalesburg,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Bell.  Wm.  A..(ialesburg,  e.  Aue.  4, 1862,  m.  o,  June 

6,  1865  as  P ergt. 
Babcock,  J.  D..  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  disch. 

Feb.  22,  1863.  dis.,  entered  navy  Aug.  30,  1864, 

m.  o.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Billings,  E  ,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  24. 

1865.  prisoner  of  war. 
Clark,  G.  P.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch. 

Nov.  30,  1863,  dis. 
Canfleld,  W.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  disch. 

March  10, 1865,  disability. 

Conley,  John,  Rio,  e.  Ang.  9.  '62,  m.  o.  June  6.  '65. 
Corkins,  E..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Ang.  4,  1864,  wounds. 
Castle.  C.  M.,  Knox,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865,  corpl. 
Charaplin,  K.  E.,  Oneida,  e.  Auz.  9,  1862,  corpl., 

killed  Resaca..  Ga.,May  15,  1864. 
Davison.  A.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  7,  1865. 
Dunlap.  Wm.,  Rio.  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865,  as  corp'. 
Qroscnp,  C.  L.,  Galesburg.  e,  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Hilton,  Frank.  Galesburg,  e.  July  19, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Johiison,  K.,  Gak-sburg,  e.Aug,  14, 1862,  absent  sick 

at  m.  o.  regt. 
Kite,  John,  Galesburg,  e.Aug.  22, 1862,  diech.  March 

13.  1863,  disability. 
Kite.  John,  Jr.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  22, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1865. 
Keller,  M.  J.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  ra.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 

Lavery.  Hugh,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  9. 1862. 
Manl,F.,Galesburg,  e.  Aug.8, 1862,absent  wounded, 

at  m.  o.  regt. 
Rounds,   H.,  Henderson,  e.  July  19,  1862,  disch. 

De\  4,  1862,  disability. 
Rhykert,  E.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Sherman.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

24.  1865,  corpl.,  prisoner  war. 
Spencer,  J.,  Sparta,  e.  Aug.  11,  '62,  m.  o.  June 6,  '65. 
Tompkins,   I.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch. 

March  6, 1863,  disability. 
Tribble,  Wm.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  disch. 


May  6,  1863,  disability. 
Castle,  H.  C.,  Knox,  co.,  e.  Dec.  24, : 
8,  1865. 


3,  m.o.  July 


Hunt,  W.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  diech. 
April  17,  1865,  disability. 


Sergeants. 


June  6,  1865. 


Wagoner. 


Randall,  D.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Dec.  24, 1863,  m.  o.  JnlyS  Green,  Caleb  I.,  Oneida,  e.   Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 


1865. 


8. 1865. 
Randall,  James  R.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  20, 1862,  disch. 

Nov.  12, 1863.  dis. 

Strain,  J.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  21.  '62,  m.  o.  June  6,  '65. 
Tupper,  Lewis,  Qalesburg,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  disch. 

May  5, 1863,  disability. 


i  COMPANY  F. 

Captain. 
Geo.  W.  Woo'ey,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  14, 1863,  m.  o 


Strand  Vonmeter,  Henderson,  e.  August.  1862, 
discharged  Jan.  19.,  1863,  disability. 

Privates. 

Amy,  Vandorn,  Henderson,  e  Aug.  13. 1862,  died 
at  Gallatin.  Tenn.,  Jan.  2-2,  1863. 

Briggs,  A.  C.,  Kio,  e.  Aug.  14,  '62.  m.o.  June  6,  '65. 

Brooks,  A.  B.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  ab- 
sent sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Burton,  Oliver,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  6,  1865. 

Bueschel,  J  A.,  Henderson.  Aug.  22,  1862,  dis- 
charged Jan.  21,  1863,  disability. 

Bennett,  E.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  20;  1862.  m.  o. 
June  6,  1865. 

Bair,  David,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  absent  wounded 
at  m.o.  of  regt. 

Cubbage,  James,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.o. 
June  6, 1865. 

!a«son,  Levi,  Herder=on,  e.  Au<r.  20,  1862,  dis- 
charged, Aug.  9, 1863,  disability. 

Champion,  J.  H..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  5, 18SS,  m. 
o.  June  6, 1865,  as  corpl. 

Dunham,  W.  O..  e.  Ang.  9, 1862. 

Jean,  Thomas,  Henderson,  e.  Sept.  3,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  6, 1865. 

)ean,  Dan'l,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  6,  1865. 

Epperson,  Win.,  Rio.  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  absent  sick 
at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Fulton,  J.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  19,  '62,  m.  o    June  6,  '65. 

Fuller,  H.,Knoxville. 

Fairbanks,  L.  W.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  disch. 
Jan  17, 1863,  disability. 

Gorman,  J.  B  ,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  cor- 
poral, died  at  Nashville  June  16,  1864. 


June  6,  1865. 


Randall,  D.  P.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Dec.  24, 1863,  m  o.  July  Green,  Caleb,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June 


June  6,  1865. 


First  Lieutenants. 

O.  J.  Sullivan,  Rio,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862,  resigned  Feb. 

26.  1863. 
R.  S.  Peebles,  Oneida,  e.  Oct.  14,  1863,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Ethan  A.  Cornwell,  Henderson,  e.  Sept.  2, 1862, 
resignedNov.  24, 1862. 


6, 1865. 

Hahn.  Paul,  Rio.  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  died  at  Nash- 
ville Jan.  9,  1863. 
Hardenbrook.  I.  A.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865,  as  sergt. 
Hall,  J.  S.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6,  186% 

as  corpl. 
Inick,  Joseph,  Henderson,  e.  Ang.  8, 1862,  m.o. 

June  24,  1865,  as  corpl,  prisoner  of  war. 
Kernel!,  J.  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  22,  18l>2. 
Key.  M.  V..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862.  m.  d. 

June  6,  1865. 

Linn,  Wm.,  Rio,  e    Aug.  11,  '62.  m.o.  June  6,  '65. 
Meadows,  Charles.  Rio,  e.   Aug.  11,   1862,  disch. 

March  2, 1863,  disability. 
Morse.  A.,   Henderson,  e.   Aug.  15,  1862,  disch. 

March  2,  1863,  disability. 
McDermott,  P.,  Kio,  e.  Ang  4,  1862,  disch.  Dec.  10, 

1862.  disability. 
Mason,  L.  L.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865,  as  corpl. 
Merrick,  Thomas,   Henderson,  e.   Aus;.   5,  1862, 

let  sergt,  died  of  wounds  Nov.  15,  1864. 
McDermott,  Thomas,  Rio,  e.  A.ug.  22, 1862,  died  i 

Gallatin,  Jan.  29, 1863. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


357 


Morse,  J.  M  ,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch. 
Feb.  27,  1863,  disability. 

Nation,  William,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  13.  1862. 

Nelson,  Myron,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862,  m.  o. 
June  O,  1S65,  as  sergt. 

O'Brien,  Matthew,  Knox  Co  ,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m. 
o.  June  6. 1865. 

Presson.  O.  P..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  (!,  1865,  as  corpl. 

Pool,  T.  II..  Rio,  e.  July  25,  '62,  m.o  June  6,  '65. 

Rusk,  Hiram,  Rio, e.  Aug.  10,  '62.  m.r.  June  6,  '65. 

Ktisk,  David,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862. 

Rusk,  John,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  diech  Dec.  20, 
1862,  disability. 

Rafterty,  Michael,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  2?,  1862, 
m.  o.  June  6,  1865. 

Roundtree,  W..D.,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862. 

Rose,  Andrew,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862,  died 
at  (iallatin  Feb.  3,  1863. 

Rnsk,  Enoch,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  11,  '62.  m.o.  June  6,'  65. 

Spence,  Geo.  A.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  dis- 
charged March  2, 1863,  disability. 

Smith,  Joseph,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  ab- 
sent sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 


Andrew  J.  Douglas.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12,  1883 

disch.  Jan.  15,  1863. 
Geo.  W.  Thomas,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 

Privates. 
Bak«»r,  J.  O.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.     9,   162,  diech 

May  9, 1865,  disability. 
Butcher,  S.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1865,  as  corpl. 
ameroD,  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   14,   1862,   m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Cameron,  Peter,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15, 1862.  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
ummins,  J.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Danner,  S.  H..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  15,  1863. 
Fox.  J.  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865,  as  corpl. 


Stcgall,  F.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  14,1863,  absent  Henr'y  Joan.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch. 

urnniirlon   or  m     r\     f\l n£.fr+  —  •* 


wounded  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 


Smith.  C  .  Henderson  e  Aug.  14,  1862,  discharged  Hanck,  J.  E.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.o.  June 
Oct.  25,  1852,  disability.  c   IOKK 


ty. 

Salts.  Laland.  Rio,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch.  Jan.  9, 

1868,  disibility. 

Waters,  S.  H..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  15.  1862. 
Wilson.  David,  Oi:eida,e.  Aug,  22, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Weir,  J.  K.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865,  as  sergt. 
Welch,  Thomas,  Henderson,  e  Aug.  20, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 

Warner,  Asa  H.,  Henderson,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862. 
Wes-terdale,  Wm..  Henderson,  e.  Aug.    6,  1862, 

m.  o.  June  fi.  1865. 
Young.  David,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  disch.  Mar.  27. 

1863.  disability, 
young,  Michael,  Rio,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 

Recruits. 
Bennett,  Geo.,  Henderson,  e.  March  22,  1864,   m. 

o.  July  8,  1865. 
Dredge,  J.  H.,  Henderson,  March  22, 1864.  m.   o. 

July  8,  1865. 

Durdan,  I  C  ,  Henderson,   m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 
Drnry,  Wm.,  Henderson,  died  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 

Oct.  23,  1862. 
Eddleman,  J..  Henderson,  e.  March  22,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  8, 1865. 
Errickson.  Swan,  Henderson,  e.  March  22,  1864, 

m.  o.  JulyS.  1865. 

Gulliher,  J.  G..  Knoxville,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 
Gokey.  Nelson,  Henderson,  e.  March  22, 1864,  died 

at  Mound  City  Oct.  12,  1864. 
Hurbert,  John,  Henderson,  e.  March  22,1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Holton,  Samuel,  Henderson,  e.  March  22, 1864,  m.o. 

July  8, 1865. 
Maxwell,  R.,  Henderson,  e.  March  31,  1864,  m.  o. 

JulyS,  1865. 
Maxwell,  J.  F.,  Henderson,  e.  March  14, 1864.  m.o. 

July  8,  1865. 
McGuire.  Peter,  Henderson,e.  Starch  22, 1864,  m.o. 

July  8,  1865. 

O'ram,  Benj.,  Henderson. 
Stond,  N.  B..  Henderson,  died  at  camp  Nelson 

June  19,  1864 
Shepherd,  \Vm.  H.,  Henderson,  e.  March '22,  1864, 

m.  o.  July  8,  1865. 
Spurry,  Geo.  G.,  Henderson,  e.  March 22, 1864,  m.o. 

July  8,  1865. 
Wiley,  H..  Henderson,    e.-  March   22,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  8,  1865. 

COMPANY 

Sergeants. 
Aaron  G.  Henry,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862,  pro. 


2d  Lieut. 


Robert  B.  Seaton,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug  15, 1862,  died 


Sept.  27,  1862. 


Corporals. 


Jan.  13. 1863. 


6,  1865. 
Hoy,  R.  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  died  Dec. 

24, 1862. 
Jay,  Alvah,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Tohns,  F.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  12,  1863. 
Murphy,  M.  R..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862.  m.  o. 

June  6. 1865. 
Pearson.  W.  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Stevens,  J.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Starns,  Samuel,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  16, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Seaton.  D.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  fans. 

to  Eng.  Corps. 
Wilkinson,  Lewie.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862, 

m.  o.  June  6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Winters,  Thomas,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.o. 

June  6, 1865. 

Brewer,  J.  B.,  Abingdon,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 
Vance,  J.  C-i  Abinsdon,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 
Webster,  J.  A  ,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  16, 1862,  disch. 

Jan.  26, 1865,  disability. 

COMPANY  H. 

Captain. 

Hiram  Elliott,  Persifer,  Oct.  24,  1862,  m.  o.  June 
6,1865. 

First   Lieutenant. 

John  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  24,  1862,  on  de- 
tached service  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Samuel  Tucker.  Truro,  e.  Oct.  24,  1862,  m.  o.  June 
6, 1865. 

Sergeants. 

Geo.  W.  Parker,  Truro,  e.  Aug.   20,  1862,  disch 

Feb.  24,  1863,  disability. 
S.  S.  Seward,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
Geo.  P.  Gumming,  Trnro,  e.  Aug.  13,  1802,  ac- 

cidentallv  killed  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Harmon  C.  Shinn,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  killed  at 

Peach  Tree  Creek  July  20, 1864. 

Corporals. 
Albert  Bullard,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.   14,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  sergt. 
Geo.  W.  German,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Joseph  Kasiah,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  discb. 

Jan.  15, 18fi3,  disability. 


358 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


Peter  F.  Dillon,  Persifer,  e  Aug.  14, 1862,  died  May  Miranda,  Geo..  Persifer,  e.  Aug.   6,  1862,  disch.. 


27,  1864,  of  wound  e. 

John  German,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  20, 1862,  m.  o.  June 
6,  1865,  as  sergt. 

Stephen  D.  Cole,  Galesburg,  e.  July  25,  1862,  dis- 
charged April  8,  1863. 

Andrew  J.  Bergquist,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862, 
transferred  to  Engineer  Corps. 

Musicians. 

T.  S.  Johnson,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,"  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Winslow  H.  Bradford,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  6,  1862, 

m.  o.  June  6,  1865. 

Wagoner. 

Daniel  J.  Foster,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862. 
Privates. 

Ackerson,  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Brobest,  Obed,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  disch.   Jan. 

15,  1863,  disability. 
Bullard,  Calvin,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 


Bullard,  E.,  Persifer.  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,   absent  sick  Smith,  C.  G.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  absent. 


at  m.  o.  regiment. 


Bryson,  Robert,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  June  Scott,  J.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  18, 1862,  pro.  lieut. 


6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Barlow.  Frank.  Elba,  Aug.  8,  1862,  disch.  Feb.  2, 

1863.  disability. 
Baird,  D.  H.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  corpl.,  killed  at 

Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864. 
Bankson,  Oloff,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Belcher,  Ira  B.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  18. 1862,  disch.  Feb. 

24, 1863.  disability. 
Catterton,  James,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  4, 1862,  trans,  to 

V  R.  C 


6,  1865. 

Cunningham,  R.  B.,Truro.  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  disch. 
Dec.  15,  1863,  disability. 


6, 1865. 


6, 1865. 
Daniel,   Wm.,  Persifer,  e.    Aug.  18,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Daniel,  Orange,  Elba,  e.  Aug.   13,  1862,  m.   o. 


June  6,  1865. 
Elliott,  Warren,  Persifer,  e. 
June  6, 1865,  as  corpl. 


Aug.   4,  1862,  m.  o. 


Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15, 1864. 
Foster,  W.  W.,  Elba. 
Farquar,  T.   B.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  8,  1862,  disch. 

March  7. 1863,  disability. 
Freeborn,  R.  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  m. 

o.  June  6,  1865. 
Gardner,  Alfred,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  6,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Gordon,  C.  H..  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

July  5,  1864,  disability. 
Gaston,  J.  W .,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.   15,  1862,  pro. 

ass' t  surgeon.  59th  regiment. 
Gearheart,    J.,    Oneida,  e.    Aug.    9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865,  as  corpl. 


6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Hogue,  Jonathan,  Elba,  e.  Aug.   6,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Hunt,  Oloff  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  20, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 

Hammond,  R.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  July  26, 1862. 
Johnson,  A.,  Galesburg,   e.   Aug.  1,    1862,  died 

March  28, 1863. 
Knight,  Samuel,  Haw  Creek,  e.   Aug.  6,  1862,  ac- 

Sidentally  killed,  July  19, 1864. 
Kimler,  Joseph,  Truro,  e.   Aug.   12,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Light,  J.  A.,  Elba. 
Lawrence,  L.  A.    Elba,  e.   Aug.  7,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865.  as  1st  sergt. 


Aug.  26,  1864,  disability.. 
Mire,  J.  F.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug. 6,  1862,  detailed hos- 


Mil 


ital  steward. 


pita 
len. 


Allen,    Truro,   e.    Aug.    13,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  6,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Matthews,  S.  H.,  Galesburg,  e. Aug.  1,  1862,  disch. 

May  16, 1865,  disability. 
Owens,  Harvey,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5. 1862,  disch.  Oct. 

7,  1863,  disability. 
Owens.  Geo.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5, 1862,   m.   o.  June 

6,1865. 
Patten,  D.  M.,  Elba, e.  Aug.  8,1862,  disch.  Oct. 

2,  1863,  disability. 

Powell,  C.,Elba,  e.  Aug.  8,  '62,m.  o.  June  6,  '65. 
Palmer, H.,  Truro,  e.Aug.  1,  '62,  m.o.  Juae  6,  '65. 
Pratt,  C.  R.,  Abingdon,  e,  Aug  19,  1862,  disch, 

Sept.  10,  1863,  disability. 
Parrish,E.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  21, 1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865,  as  corpl. 
Parrish,  I.  L.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.   o.  June   6, 

1865. 
Ralph,  Francis,  Knoxville.  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  died 

May  20, 1864,  wounds. 
Shinn,  J.  D.,   Knoxville,   e.  Aug.  20,  1862,   m.   o. 

June  6,  1865. 


disability,  at  m.  o.  of  regiment. 


in  the  16th  U.  S.  C.  troops. 
Snider,  S.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June,  6,  '65. 
Shaw,  Fitch,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Simpkins,  J.  B.,    Wataga,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Selstrom,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6. 1362,  m.o.  June 

6, 1865. 
Thomas,  J.  L.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  10,  died  at  Gallatin, 

Tenn.,  Dec.  30,  1862. 
Temple,  S.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  8,  '62,  m.o.  June  6, 1865. 


Collins,  J.  \V.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Tucker.  Thomas,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o.  June 


6,  1865. 

Truelson,  Nels,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  disch. 
MayS,  1865,  disability. 


Canny,  Thomas,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.o.  June  Van  Winkle,  P.  R.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  died  at 


Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Feb.  10,. 1863. 


Daniel,  James,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  8, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Volk,  Wm.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  died  at 


Bucyrus,  Ohio.  May  30, 1863. 
Walker,  Geo.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1865,  corpl. 
Wilhelm,  Isaac,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  disch. 

Jan.  12, 1863,  disability. 

ftecruits. 


Elliott,  James,  Persifer.  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  killed  at  Arie,  Thos.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Sept.  28,  1864,  m.  o. 


June  6,  1865. 
Arie,  Henry.  Haw  Creek,  e.  Sept.  28, 1864,  absent 

sickm.  o.  regiment. 

Balch,  E.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6,  '65. 
Coakley,  N.  B.,  Knoxville.  e.  Aug.  10, 1862. 
Dunlea,  Michael.  Knoxville. 
Lemmon.  Wm.,  Haw  Creek,  e.  Feb.  13.  1865,  m.  o. 

July  6,  1865. 
Mire,  R.  P..  Haw  Creek,  e.  June  22,  1863,  m.  o. 

JulyS,  1865. 
McClellan,  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Mott,  I.  E.  B.,  Truro,  e.  Aug.  18,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 


Hogue,  J.  W.,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  6, 1862,  m.   o.  June  Rowland,  Sidney,  Elba,e.  Aug.18, 1862,  m.  o.  June 


6,  1865. 
Sargeant.  W.  G.,  Persifer,  e.  Aug.  14,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Smith,  W.  H  ,  Elba,  e.  Aug.  10, 1862,  died  at  Scotts- 

ville,  Ky.,  Dec.  1,  1862. 
Snider,  Amos,  Saluda,  e.  Dec.  7,  1863,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Wolf,  Warren.  Truro.  e.  Aug.  28, 1863,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 

COMPANY  I. 

Captains. 

Geo.  H.  King,  Oneida,  e.   Sept.  2,  1862,  resigning 
Sept.  14,  1863. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


359 


Edwin  H.  Conger.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  14,  1863,  m. 
o.  June  6,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Daniel  W.  Shahan,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  14,  1863,  m.  o. 
June  6, 1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

John  L.  Bonnell,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  2, 1862,  resigned 
Feb.  4, 1864. 

Sergeants. 

Reuben  Beals,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865, 1st  seret. 
Geo.W.  Hall,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 


Kenney,  Wesley,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.   9,  1862,  m.   o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Knapp.  James,  Oneida,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862,  pro.  hospl. 

steward. 
oomis.  M.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  corpl. 
Loft,  Cornelius.   Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  corpl., 

killed  atAverysboro,  N.  C.,  March  16,  1865. 
eighton,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.   9,  1862,  disch. 


1865. 


Corporals. 


Wm.  H.  Brown,  Oneida,e.  Aug.9, 1862,  m.  o.  June, 

1865,  sergt. 
O.  E.  Blossom,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,'1862,  disch.  Feb. 

17,  1863,  disability. 
Peter  McCornack,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865,  sergt. 
Christopher  C.   Fulton,  Sparta,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862, 

disch.  Nov.  20,  1864. 
Theodore  M.  Rikert,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Geo.  Murray,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  (1862,   disch.  Oct. 

7, 1862.  disability. 
John  W.  Brinkerhoff,  Oneida,  e.  Apg.  9, 1862,  m. 

o.  June  6, 1865,  sergt. 

Musician. 
Rodney  M.  Willis,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m,  o. 


June  6, 1865. 


Privates. 


Aiken,  Harvey  L.,  Oneida.  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  died  at 

Stuarts  Creek,  June  22,  1863. 
Aiken,  Edward  A.,  Oneida,   e.  Aug.  9,  1862,   cor- 


Aug. 

Jan.  22,  186i,  disability,  corpl. 
,  Ezra, 
6.  1865. 


ee,  Ezra,  Center  Point,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 


rpl. 
.  9, 


ee,  Wm.  Oneida,  e.Aug.  9,  18fi2,  absent  wounded 

at  m.  o.  regt. 
dillen,  James,  Oneida,  e,  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865,  corpl. 
tfoore,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch. 

Feb.  18.  1863,  disability. 
Merriatt,  Wm.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
McConchie,  S..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  di&ch.  Feb. 

27,  1863.  disability. 
tfcKown,  James,  Altona,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
tfcCochie.  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug   9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6  1865. 
Mills,  Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
tfoore,  Rufns,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
McQuade,  Jesse,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  absent 

wounded  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Maine,  Wm.,  Wataga.  e.  Sept.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 

Olson,  L.,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  9,  '62,  m.  o.  June  6,1  65. 
Olson,  Nels,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch.  Oct. 

13,  1863,  disability. 
Olson,  Wm.,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  corpl.,  died 

March  26,  1865,  of  wounds. 
Ostrom,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Robertson,  Charles,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Reed.  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1362,  disch.  Jan. 


poral,  killed  at  Kasaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864. 
Bunnell,  James,  Oneida,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m.    o 

June  6,  1865. 
Bulkeley,    John,    Oneida,    e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o 

June  6,  1865,  corpl. 
Billington,  David,  Oneida,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o 

June  6,  1865. 
Brodine,  Andrew,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch 

Feb.  7,  1865,  disability. 
Brennan,  Wm.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Blakley,  Taylor,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  2.  1862,  m.  o 

June,  6.  1865. 
Calkins,  Edwin,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,1862,  m.   o 

June  6,  1865,  corpl. 
Chapman,  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o 

June  6,  1865. 
Davie,  James,   Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o 

June,  6,  1865. 
Fuller,  Wm.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  trans,  to  V. 

R.  C. 
Fuller.  John,  Oneida,  e,  Aug.  9.  1862,  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Finley,  Thomas,   Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6.  1865. 
Gallant,  Nathan,   Oneida,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Goodheart,  Jonn,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Howey,  Douglas,   Oneida.  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Hadley,Weymouth,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Humphrey.  Phillip.  Sparta,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch. 

June  22,  1863,  disability. 
Humphrey,  Emery,  Sparta,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6,  1865. 
Hanson,  Oloff,  Wataga,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  absent 

sick  m.  o.  regt. 

Kenney,  Wm.   Oneida,  e.  Aug. 
Gallatin,  Tenn.,  Feb.  22,  1863. 


22,  1863.  disability. 
Reynolds,  Wm..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  corpl., 

killed  at  Resaca,  Ga..  May  14,  1864. 
Reed.  Wm.,  Oneida.  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

24,  1863,  war  prisoner. 
Reynolds,  Amos,  Oneida,   e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Ralston,  James,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.o.  June 

6,  1865. 
Riley,  Albert,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Ralston,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  died  at 

Gallatin,  Tenn.,  May  23,  1863. 
Ricker,  Eli,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865,  as  corpl. 
Richards,  Alfred,  Knox  Co.,  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Swanson,  Herman,  Galesburs,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862, 

died  of  wounds  June  16, 1864. 
Stone,  Simon,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o.  June 

6, 1865. 
Sweet,  Alex.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  disch.  Feb. 

3. 1863,  disability. 

Walker,  Samuel,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  trans- 
ferred to  Ene.  Corps. 
Waldron,  M..  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  disch.  Feb. 

22, 1863,  disability. 
Watson,  Robert,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  died  at 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  Nov.  1,  1862. 
Watson,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862,  corpl.,  died 

of  wounds  May  24, 1864. 
Whannell,  John,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  9, 1862,  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865,  as  corpl. 


Recruits. 

Harmon,  R.  B.,  Oneida,  disch.  March  18, 1863,  dis- 
ability. 

Jones,  Wm.  O.,  e   May  21,  1863,  missing  May  16, 
9,  1862,  died  at        1865,  supposed  killed  or  captured. 

Milsam,  Thos.,  Oneida,  m.  o.  June  6, 1865. 


360 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


COMPANY    K. 

Clark,  Jamet>,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   7,  1862,  m.  o. 


June  6,  1865. 
Shields,  R.<  Abingdon,  e.  Auj 

June  6,  1865,  as  corpl. 
Nolton,  Henderson. 


14,  1862,  m.  o. 


lO3d  IWFAtfTRY. 

Principal   Musician. 

Klain  A.  Parvin,  Maqnon,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  m.  o. 
June  21, 1865. 

COMPANY  C. 

Adams,  Wm.  J.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26,1865,  m.  o.  June 

5, 1865. 

Chapin,  Ord,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26,  '65,  m.o.  July  24/65. 
Cordner,  T.  J.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m.  o.  July 

24,  1865. 
Mendenhall,  C.  C.,  Salein,  e.  Jan.  28, 1865,  m.  o. 

July  24, 1865. 
McLain,  John,  Truro,  e.  Jan.  16, 1865,  m.  o.  July 

24,  1865. 
Ralston,  Wm.  D.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m.  o. 

July  24,  1865. 
Ralston,  J.  C.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26, 1865,  m.  o.   July 

24,  1865. 
Whitaker,  J.  C.,  Elba,  e,  Jan.  26, 1865,  m.  o.  July 

24,  1865. 

Moorehead,  W.,  Maquon. 
Hull,  V.  O.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  Jan.  16, 1865. 

COMPANY  G. 

Captain. 

Charles  F.  Matteson,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.   4,  1863, 
m.  o.  June  21, 1865. 


108th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

Privates. 

Bruner.  S.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  5, 1862,  disch. 
March  24, 1863,  principal  musician. 

Musselman,  L.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862. 

Pippin,  Thomas,  e.  Sept.  5,  1862. 

Reeves,  Wm.  A..  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  18, 1862,  died 
at  Young's  Point,  March  6,  1863. 

Sloat,  C.  F.,  Lynn.  e.  Aug.  28,  '62.  m.o.  Aug.  5  '65. 

Williams,  G.  W.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Sept.  5,  1862,  dis- 
charged March  24, 1863,  drum  major. 

Brockley,  S.  R.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  21, 1865,  m.  o.  Jau 
21,  1866. 

McMasters,  James.  Haw  Creek,  e.  Jan.  20,1865, 
m.  o.  Jan.  21,  1866. 


112th  IXFANTRY. 

Surgeon. 

John  W.  Spalding,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  11,  1862, 
resigned  March  22, 1863. 

COMPANY    D. 

Privates. 

Baird.  J.  W.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865.  as  corpl 


Beicntel,  F.  M.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o.  June  Bailey.  T.  W.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 


20, 1865. 
Brown,  V.  W.,Lynn,  e.  Auer.  9, 1862,  died  at  Knox- 

ville,  Tenu.,  Aug.  11,  1864. 
Buckley,  F.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  11,  1868,  m.  o.  June  20, 

1865,  as  corpl. 


Flamsbure,  J.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  22,  1862.  m.  o.  June 

20,  1865. 
Gustafson.  A.  M.,  Lynn,   e.   Aug.   8,   1862,  m,  o. 

June  20,  1862,  as  corpl. 
Mallory,  D.  E.,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  11,1865  disch.  Nov. 

18,  1863,  wounds. 
Ridenour,  David,  Lynn,   e.  Aug.  9,   1862,  m.  o. 

June  20, 1865,  as  corpl. 
Walton,  James,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

20,  1865. 
Hammond,  Martin,  Wataga,  e.  Feb.  5,  1864. 

COMPANY  «. 

Corlett,  Thomas,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  died  at 

Milledgeville,  Ky.,  April  17.  1863. 
McCoy,  C.  E.,  Thomas,  Lynn,  e.  Aug.  13,  1862, 

disch.  April  10,  1863,  disability. 

COMPANY  I. 

Richards,  H.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  3,  1862,  trans. 
to  V.  R.  C. 


IWFAKTRY. 

COMPANY  B. 

Elliott,  I.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  May  10,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 


17,  1864. 


COMPANY  D. 


Ayers,  R..  Yates  City,  e.  May  6, 1864,  m.  o.   Oct. 
17,  1864. 

COMPANY  F. 

Dunnivan,  Patrick,  Yates  City,  e.  May  10,  1864,  m. 
o.  Oct.  17, 1864. 

COMPANY  G. 

First  Sergeant. 

Wm.  P.  Barnes,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,   1864, 
m.  o.  Oct.  17, 18S4. 

Sergeants. 

C.  C.  Tyler,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Benj.  F.  Brooks,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29, 1864, 

m.  o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
A.  M.  Copp,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April 29,  1864,  m  o 

Oct.  17,  1864. 

Corporals. 

H.  C.  Colburn,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864  m 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
W.  H.  Godair.  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Dan  Colbnrn,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
N.  E.  Tinkler,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
N.  H.  Lonry,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
J.  A.  Stone,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 

Wagoner. 

D.  A.  Scott,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 

Privates. 

Allen,  R.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.   April  29,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  17,  1864. 


o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Baker,  R.   R.,  Oneida,  e.  May  1,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

17,  1864. 
Bryant.  D.  S.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  186-1,  m. 

o.;Oct.  17,  1864. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


361 


Conant,  II.  II.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29, 1864,  m 

o.  Oct.  17,  18(54. 
Calkins,  A.  B.,  Oneida,  e.  May  1,  1864,  m.  o.   Oct 

17,1864. 
Carrigan.  M.,  Oueida,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m.  o.   Oct 

17,1861. 
Fitteld,  J.  L..  Victoria,  e.  May  6,  1864,  m.   o.  Oct 

17.  1864. 
Gould,  John,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  26, 1864,  ra.o 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Higginc,  H.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  3,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17.  1864. 
Johneon,  C.  E..   Walnut   Grove,  e.   May  12,   1864 

in.  o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Keyes,  W.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  6,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Leubeck,  J..  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o, 

Oct.  17, 1864. 
McConnolly.  I.  I.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  8,  1864, 

m.  o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Newton,  B.  A.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  12,  1861,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Nirnp,  A.  G.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1861,  m.o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Nims,  N.  L..  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Osborn.  A.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1861. 
Purdy,  H.  H  .  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1861,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17, 1864. 
Powell,   L..  Oneida,  e.   April    29,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

17,  1864. 
Reeves.  L.  C.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Riner,  H.  R..  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  1, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 
Ruhl,  P.  A.,  Oneida,  e.  May  13.  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

17. 1864. 
Scott,  W.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  17,  1874. 
Smith,  Jnliun,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29, 1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Van  Scoyk,  Wm.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  April  29,  1864, 

m.  o.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Walls,  H.  H.,  Walnut  Grove,  e.  May  7,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  17,  1864. 

COMPANYH. 

Inburg,  Geo.,  Victoria,  e.  May  21,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

17,  1864. 
Olson,  Nile,  Galesburg,  e.  May  25, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

17,  1864. 

COMPANY  K. 

Hogan,  Martin,  Galesburg,  e.  May  5,  1861,  m.  o. 
Oct.  17, 1864. 


137th  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  C. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Oliver  H.  Pitcher,  Galesburg,  e.  June  5,  1864,  m.o. 
Sept.  24,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Wm.  Craig,  Galesburg,  e.  June  5, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 
24, 1864. 

Serqeants. 

Job  A.  Cooper.  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
H..  C.  Fish,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864.  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
J.   F.    Latimer,  Abingdon,  e.   May  20,  1864,  pro. 

2d  lieut.,  Co.  G.,  m.  o.  Sept.  24,  1864. 

Corpora  Is. 

E.  H.  Bowman,  Galesburg.  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.  o. 
Sept.  24,  1864. 


F.  M.  Burton,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864.  m.   o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
C.  H.  Lawrence.  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24, 1864. 
J.  B.  White,  Galesburg,  e.  May  2.  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

24,  1864,  sergeant. 

Musician. 

Frank  Barrett.  Galesburg,  e.  May  4,  1864.  m.  o. 
Sept.  24, 1864. 

Privates. 

Allen,  J.  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  19,  1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24, 1864. 
Anderson,  E.  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24, 1864. 
Barrett,  E.  N..  Galesburg,  e.  May  2, 1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24, 1864. 
Black,  Wm.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16, 1864,m.o.  Sept. 

24.  1864. 
ook.  C.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  20, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Darr,  G.  H.,  Galesburg,  e,  May  12, 1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

24.  1864. 
llift,  T.  W.,  Galesburg,  e,  May  13,1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
ihesney,  J.  H..  Abingdon,  e.  May  20, 1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
'oyzad,  B..  Galesburg,  e.  May  17,  1864,  m.  o. 

May  23,  1865.  pris.  war. 
Dehnert,  Fred.  Galesburg.  e.  May  17,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Duffleld,  H.  P.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Fish,  Charles,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Farquhar,  D..  Galesburg,  e.  May  19,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  18C4. 
Heath,  H.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  18,1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Hartford,  J.  W..  Galesburg,  e.  May  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Haney,  J.  P.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20,1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Howard,  William  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864, 

m.  o.  Sept.  24,  1864,  corpl. 
Johnson,  S.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept  24.1864. 
Jones,  N.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

24, 1864. 

Johnson,  Wm.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  4.  1864. 
Kopp,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Lawson,  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
McMillen,  John,  Galesburg,e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
McCord.  J.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o. 

May  24, 1865,  pris.  war. 
Mott,  C.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  18,  1864.  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
McMenesC.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Mishler,  Samuel,  Galesburg,  e.  May  19,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Morey,  A.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
'ierce,  Geo.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
'oling.  James,  Galesburg.  e.  May  12.  1864,  killed 

at  Memphis  Aug.  21,  1864. 
'oling,  T.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  2,1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864,  corpl. 
Rogers,  David  N.,  Galesburg,  e.May  16, 1864,killed 

at  Memphis  Aug.  21, 1864. 
Simmons,  David,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  24,  1864. 
Spencer,  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
trong,  S.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Sutton,  J.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12, 1864,  m.o.Sept. 

24,1864. 
Strain,  J.E.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  20, 1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24, 1864. 


362 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Smith,  C.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  13,  1864,m.o.  Sept. .Williamson,  Geo.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m. 

24,  1864.  o.  Sept.  24,  1864. 

Titus,  Eli,  Galeeburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept.lWorth,  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

24,  18«4. 
West,  P.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

24,  1864. 
Williams.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  17, 1864,  m.o.  May 

23, 1865,  pris.  war.  [Brookings.  E.  S.,  Galesburg,  pris.  war  at  m.  o. 

Williams,  M..  Galesburg,  e.  May  21,  1864,  m,  o.         regiment. 

Sept.  24, 1864. 


24,  1864,  sergeant. 

Recruits. 


138th  INFANTRY. 


The  One  Hrndred  and  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry  Volunteers  was  organized 
at  Camp  Wood,  Quincy,  111.,  by  Col.  John  W.  Goodwin,  and  mustered  in  June  21, 
1864,  for  one  hundred  days.  On  July  26  the  regiment  moved  to  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kan.,  and  was  assigned  to  garrison  duty,  Col.  Goodwin  commanding  post.  Major 
Tunison  with  Go's  C  and  F,  occupied  the  post  of  Weston,  Mo.,  from  July  7  to  August 
3.  Brig.  Gen.  Thomas  A.  Davis,  commanding  District  of  Northern  Kansas,  and  Maj. 
Gen.  Curtis,  commanding  Department  of  Kansas.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service  of  the  United  States  at  Springfield,  111.,  Oct.  14,  1864.  The  138th  regi- 
ment had  100  day  men  to  the  number  of  122  from  Knox  county. 


Surgeon. 

David  P.  Bigger,  Wataga,  e.  June  21,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

Chaplain. 

B.  F.  Haekins,  Victoria,  June  21,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct 
14,  1864. 

Principal  Musician. 

8.   M.  Bruner,  Abingdon,  e.  May  17,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

COMPANY  B. 

Captain. 

Luther  B.  Hunt,  Wataga,  e.  June  21,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Homer  Gaines,  Wataga,  e.  June  21, 1864,  m.  o.Oct. 
14, 1874. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Henry  C.  Driees,  Wataga,  e.  June  21, 1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

First  Sergeant. 

J.  L.  Olmstead,  Victoria,  e.  May  18, 1864,  absent 
sickm.  o.  regt. 

Sergeants. 

Wai.  T.  Collins,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
J.  Ineram,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.o.  Oct.  14, 

1864. 
F.  F.  Denton,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 

Corporals. 

Wm.  H.  Hubbell,  Victoria,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Thomas  Brown,  Victoria,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
A.  R.  Miller,  Wataga,  c.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14. 1864. 
Geo.  W.  Nead,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864.  m.o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
H.  Sornberger,  Copley,  e,  May  18, 1864,  m.o.  Oct. 

14  1864. 
J.  Packard,  Wataga,  e.   May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
M.  Rhodes,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14, 1864. 


Wm.  C.  Farnham,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

Musicians. 

Geo.  M.  Moodley,  Oneida,  e.  May  13,  1864.  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 

E.  R.  Faulkner,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14, 1864. 

Privates. 

Andrews,  L.  V.,  Victoria,  e.   May  18,  186      m  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Adams.  P.  R.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Adams,  F.  A.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct, 

14,  1864. 
Anderson.  C.  F.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Alldridge,  B.  D.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,1864. 
Barrer,  Henry,  Wataga,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Brown,  F.  M.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 

Burns.  J.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18.  '64.  m.o.  Oct.  14,'64. 
Boyd,  R.,  Wataga,  e.  May  28,  '64.  m.  o.  Oct.  14,  '66. 
Brott,  E.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  '64,  m.  o.  Oct.  14,  '64. 
Ccon,  B.  F.,  m.  o.  Oct.  14, 1864. 
Coon,  John,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Chipping,  T.  W.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,   1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Davis,  Randall,  Wataga,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14. 1864. 
Davis,  J.  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1804,  m.  o.  Oct.  14, 

1864. 
Daniels,  J.  R.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Denton,  J.  F.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Driggs,  Wm.  M.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,   1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Ekstrand,  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Let. 

14,  1864. 
Ebright,  C.  C.,  Wataga,  e.  May  17, 1864,  m  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Erickson,  E.,  Copley,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Fosmire.  F.  S.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Fulmer,  J.  W.,  Wataga,  e.  May  26,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 

Freed.  E.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  '64.  m.o.  Oct.  14,' 64. 
Fisher,  James,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Grees,  H.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  '64,  m.  o.  Oct.  14,'64. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


305 


Hill,  Wm.   C.,  Henderson,  May  13,  1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o  of  regt. 
Hanson,  Wm.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Hanson,  Peter,  Wataga,  e.  May  35,  died  at  Fort 

Leavenworth,  Aug.  18,  1864. 

Holm,  J.  Watasra,  e.  May  28,  '64,  m.  o.  Oct.  14,  '64. 
King,  A.  L,.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18. 1864,  m.  o.  Oct.  14. 

1864. 
Larson,  A.  L.,  Victoria,  e.  May  26,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Marshall,  W.  A.,  Wataga,  e.  May- 13.  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
More.  Kenj.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,   m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Norell,  L.  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Osborn,  A.  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,   m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
Olmstead.  J.  L.,  Copley,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.o.  Oct 

14,  1864. 
Osborn,  W.  E.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14,  1864. 
Olson,  Geo.,  Wataga,  e.   May  13, 1864,  m.  o.   Oct 

14, 1864. 
Parkins,  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.   Oct 

14,  1864. 

Fryer,  G.  H.,  Rio,  e.  May  25,  '64,  m.  o.  Oct.  14,  '64 
Paddock,  Wm.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14,  1864. 
Russell,  J.  F.,  Wataga,  e.  May  30,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14, 1864. 

Strain,  J.  E.,  Rio.  e.  May  25,  '64,  m.o.  Oct.  14,  '64 
Sweeney,  E.  M.,  Victoria,  e.   May  18,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Sanderson,  H.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Tiffany,  P.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct.  14 

1864. 
Tiffany,  N.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18.  1864,  m.  o.,  Oct 

14,  1884. 
Thomas,  J.  E.,  Knox  Co.,  e.  May  18,   1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Woolsey,  T.  N.,  Victoria,  e.  May  18, 1864,  absen 

sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Wilks,  J.,  Wataga,  e.  May  13,  '64.  m.  o.  Oct.  14,  '64 

Yancy,  M.  A.,  Wataga,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct 

14, 1864. 


COMPANY  C. 

Corporal. 

Joseph  W.  Lntz,  Abingdon,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o 
Oct.  14,  1864. 

Musicians. 

T.  R.  Owen,  Abingdon,  e.  May  10,  1864,  m.  o.  Oc 

14,  1864. 
J.  S.  Bell,  Abingdon,  e.  May  21,   1864,  m.  o.  Oc 

14, 1864. 

Privates. 

Bassett,  C.  W..  Abingdon,  e.  May  10,  1864,  m. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Cannon,  J.  H.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  10,  1864,  absen 

sick  at  m.o.  of  regt. 
Carpenter,  Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  21,  1864,  m. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Goole,  R..  Abingdon,  e.  May  21,   1884,  m.  o.  Oc 

14,  1864. 
Lewton,  N.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  21, 1864,  m.  o.  Oc 

14,  1864. 
Nicols,  H..  Abingdon,  e.  May  17,  1864,  m.  o.  Oc 

14,  1864. 
Richey,  J.  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  16, 1864,  m.o.  Oc 

14.  1864. 
Roe,  W.  O.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  21,  1864,  m.  o.  Oc 

14,  1864. 
Sheaffer,  Levi,  Abingdon.  e.  May  13,  18G4,  m. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Virtue,  John.  Abingdon.   e.   May  21,  1864,  m. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 

21 


COMPANY  E. 

First  Lieutenant. 

eo.  F.  Smith,  Knoxville,  e.  Jane  21,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14,  1864. 

First  Sergeant. 

• 

F.  Holcomb,  Knoxville.  e.  May  6,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  14,  1864. 

Sergeants. 

m.  West,  Knoxville,  e.  May  3.  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
.  J.  Way,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 

Corporals. 

.  E.  Wahlgren,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
enry  C.  Bailey,  Knoxville,  e.  April  30,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 

A.  Johnson,  Knoxville,  e,  May  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
.  C.  Field,  Knoxville,  e.  April  30,  1864,  m.o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
'.  W.  McGill,  Knoxville,  e.  May  4,  1864,  m.o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
.  A.  Snell,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 

Privates. 

Ukins,  Alvin,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
5rown,  T.  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
Jonnor,  C.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
ramer,  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  3,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14, 1864. 
iker,  Wm.  N.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Got.  14,  1864. 
Franklin,  L.  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  May.  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
ield,  S.  E.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
'ravell,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  7,  1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
,awther,  W.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2, 1864.  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
;ochbaum,  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14. 1864. 
McGrew,  W.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Milam,  M.  V.,Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o.  Oct. 

14,  1864, 
McFarland,  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Maxwell,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  6,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

14,  1864. 
McCracken,  J.  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Moats,  W.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Middleton,  J.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14. 1864. 
Mann,  A.  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

McCray,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864, 
McCracken,  R.  H.,  Knoxville.  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  14,  Ib64. 
McGrew.  J.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  3,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 
Perry,  Wm.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  4, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

Rogers,  J.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1S64,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14.  1864. 
Schwartz,  W.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Schwartz.  D.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Stevenson,  T.  Z.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  3,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  14, 1864. 


366 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


istonesipber,   W.  H..   Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864 

m.  o.  Oct.  14,  1864. 
Sweet,  <i.  W.,  Knoxville.  e.  May3,  1864,  m.  o   Oct 

14, 1864. 
Wilcox,  Benj.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  2,  1864,  m.o 

Oct.  14,  1864. 
Woods,  J.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14, 1864. 

West.  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  14,'6 1,  m.o.  Oct.  14, '64 
Wilcox,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  It,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  14, 1864. 


139th  INFANTRY. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel. 

Horace  H.  Willsie,  Galesburg,  e.  June  7,1864,  m 
o.  Oct.  23,1661. 

COMPANY  D. 

Captain. 

Wm.  H.  Marble,  Galesburg,  e,  June  7,  1864.  m.  o 
Oct.  28,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Samuel  Reynolds,  Galesburg,  e.  June  1, 1864,  m.o 
Oct.  28, 1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Frank  A.  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  June  1, 1864,  m.o 
Oct.  23, 18B4. 

Sergeants. 

Wm.  L.   Fleharty,  Galesburg,  e.  April  27,  1864, 

m.  O.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Frank  Summer,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
W    A.  Smith,   Galesburg,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
R.  R.  Huntington,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 

Corporals. 

Lake  W.  Sanborn,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  28,  1864,  sergt. 
M.  R.  Landon,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  15, 1864,  to  re-enlist. 
J.  O'Connor,    Galesburg,  e   May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
N.  A.  Turpening,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  15,  1864,  to  re-enlist. 
Laland  Suits,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
E  M    Spai ding,  Galesburg,  e.  April  30, 1864,  m.  o 

Oct.  28,1861. 
M.  Mangom,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
T.  A.  Armstrong,  Galesburg,  e.  May  15,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 

Musicians. 

R.  R.  Marble,  Galesburg,  e.  April  27,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
James  W.  Carson,  Galesburg,  e.  May  13, 1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 

Wagoner. 

R  St.  George,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 
Oct.  15,  1864,  to  re-enlist. 

Privates. 

Allen,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Armstrong,  Geo..  Galesburg,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  15,  1864,  to  re-fnlist. 
Brown,  11.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 


15,  1864,  to  re-enlist. 
Baird,  S.,  Galesburjr.  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

15, 1864,  to  re-enlist. 
Bundy,  F.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o 

Oct  28,  1864,  corpl. 
Cooke  'F.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  27,  1864,  m.o 

Oct.  27,  1864. 
Carpenter,  Samuel,  Galesburg,  e.  May  3,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Carson.  J.  H..  Galesburg,  e.  May  4,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Cramer,  J.  W.,   Galesburg,  e.  May  10, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1864. 
Curtis,  J.  H..   Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Cook,  James.  Galesburg,  e.  May  14.  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1864. 
Clark,  A.  B.,  Jr.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1861. 
De  Voss.  F.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Darnell.  Isaac,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Dailey,  S.,  Galesburg,  e.    May  19, 1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Farr,  L.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  30  1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Fuller,  Geo.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Goddard,  S.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  11, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Geer,  J.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.    April  11,  1864,  absent 

sick  m.  o.  regt. 
Goss,  A.  L.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  14, 1864,  m.  o   Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Gray,  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  18,  1861,  m.   o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Hicks,  M.  M..  Galesburg,  e.  April  2, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct  28,  1861. 
Harper,  C.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  April   10,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Herring,  S.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  11,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Hatfleld,  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Huff,  Geo.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  12, 1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

15,  1864,  re-enlist. 
Haynes,  C.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Humes,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct  28,  1864. 
Holmes,  S.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  16, 1864.  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Ingersol,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Johnson,  J  ,   Galesburg,   e.  April  14,   1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  15,  1864,  re-enlist. 
Knowles,  H.,   Galesburg,  e.  April  28,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Kern,  G.   W.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Kellogg,  F.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1864. 
Linstrum.  John,  Galesburg,  e.  May  21,  1864,  m.  o- 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Linguist,  C.  I.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  18, 1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Larson,  Jonas,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1864.  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
McWhirt,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  27,1864.  m. 

o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Morse,  G.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Marshal,  A.  L.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  May  10,  1864,  m. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
McCabe,  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Miles,  J.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  21, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Newman,  P.  V.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
O'Connor,  T..  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 

Ostrom,   A.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 
28,  1864. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


367 


Patterson,  S.  W.,  Galesburg.  e.  May  11,  1804,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Pen-sou,  S.  G.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  2,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Pavden,  D.  W..  Galesburg.  e.  May  19,  1864.  m.  o. 

"  Oct.  28.  1864. 
Philips,  F.  L..   Galeeburg,  e.   May  12,   1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Peterson,  Olof.   Galesburg,   e.  May  14,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  15,  1864,  to  re-enlist. 
Rogers,  H.  M.,  Galeeburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Rogers,  W.  A.,  Galesbnrg.  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

"  Oct.  28.  1861.  re-enlist. 
Rtinhart.  G.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  15,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Randall,  P.  M.,  Galesbnrg,  e.    May  14,  1864,   died 

at  Cairo,  July  26,  1864. 
Randall,  T.  I.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  14,  1861,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Runkle.  Geo..  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1864. 
Shimbur,  N.  P..  Galesburg,  e.  May  13,  1864,  m,  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Sullivan,  P.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  12.  1861,  m.  o. 


Corpora  Is. 

Peter  A.  Baker,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5, 1865. 
W.  W.  Hir>bard,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5.  1865. 
C.  Hinsey,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 


5,  1865. 


Privates. 


Sperry,  M.  F.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  May  6, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Smith,  Albert.   Galesburg,   e.  May  11,   1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  15,  1864,  vet. 
Stancliff,  D.  R..  Galesburg,  e.  May  17,  1864.  m.  o. 

Oct.  15.  1864,  vet. 
Sherwood,  M.  C.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  May  12,  1864.  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Tiiden,  J.   H..  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Thompson.  J..  Galesburg,  e.  May  12,  1864,  m.  o. 


Vanvleet.  H..  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Wilsie,  M.  J.,  Galesburg,  e.   May  21,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Wirth,  John.  Galesburg,  e.  May    12,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28.  1864. 
Webster,  F.  C..   Galesburg,   e.  May  11,  1864,  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Wilkins.  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 
Woods,  J.  W  ,  Galesburg,  e.  May  11,  1864,  m.o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 


148th  INFANTRY. 

Colonel.  • 

Horace  H.  Willsie,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  21,  1865,  m 
o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 

COMPANY  E. 

Aldrich.  D.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  3,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept 

5,  1865,  corpl. 
Anderson,   C.  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  7,  1865,  m.  o 

Sept.  5,  1865. 
Nelson,  Peter.   Henderson,  e.  Feb.  7,  1865,  m.  o 

Sept.  5,  1865. 

COMPANY    F. 

Captain. 

Frank  A.  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  16, 1865,  m.  o 
Sept.  5,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Mason  M.  Hicks.  Galesburg,  e.  April  20, 1865,  m.  o 
Sept.  5,  1865. 

Sergeants. 

Wm.  A.  Smith,   Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o 

Sept.  5,  1865,  1st  sergt. 
Samuel  Gray.  Galesburg,  e.   Feb.  11,   18IJ5,  m.  o 

Sept.  5,  1865. 


Buckley,  Wm.  A..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m. 

o.  Sept.  5,  1865. 
Brown.  E.  H..  Galesburg,   e.  Feb.   11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865. 
ennel,   R.  M.,   Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865. 
Bennel,  A.  J.,   Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865.  m.  o. 

Aug.  21,  1865. 
Bancron,  G.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb:  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5.  1865. 
Bunting,  J.,    Galesburg,   e.  Feb.    11,   1865    m.  o. 

July  22,  1865. 

arson,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,    1865,  de- 
tached at  m.  o.  regt. 
Dandee,  C.  W.,  Galesburg.   e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  died 

at  Tullahoma.  Tenn.,  July  20, 1865. 
Dietrich.  G.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Aug.  30,  1865. 
Farnesworth,  C.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865, 

m.  o.  Sept.  5,  1865. 
Jreenwood,  L,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  7,  1865. 
Herring,  S.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.   11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865,  corpl. 
Hitchcock,  J.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  14, 1865,  killed 

by  guerrillas,  near  Franklin,  Ky.,  Feb.  28, 1865. 
O'Connor,  T.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb    11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865. 
Olson,  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11, 1865,  m.  o.    Sept. 

5,  1865. 
Pryne,  A.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865, 
Pentacost.  W . ,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  11,  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  5,  1865. 
Jage,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  14.  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 


5,  1865 


COMPANY  I. 


Butt,  D.  W.,  Knoxville,  Feb.   10, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

5,  1865,  musician. 
Wade,   H.  M.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.    9, 1865,  m.  o. 

May  :>4,  1865. 


1st  CAVAtRY. 

Battalion  Adjutant. 

Harry  S.  Smith,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  1,  1862,  ui.  o. 
June  16. 1862. 

COMPANY  ». 

Captain. 
J.  B.  Smith,  Knoxville,  e,  July  1,  1861,  m.  o.  July 


14,  1862. 


first  -Lieutenant. 


Leonard  Hollenberg,  Knoxville,  e.  July  1, 1861,  m. 
June  20,  1862. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Wm.  A.  Murray,  Knoxville,  e.  July  1,  1861,  m.  o. 
July  14,  1862. 

First  Sergeant. 

Gardner  B.  Stearnes.  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861, 
disch.  Feb.  22,  1862,  wounds. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Geo.   W.   Brainbridge,  Lynn,  e.    April  23.   1861, 
disch.  Feb.  18,  1862,  wounds. 


368 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Sergeants. 

Harry  S.  Smith,  Kuoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9.  1801. 
John  T.  Lyile.  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  diech. 

Oct.  9.  18(51. 
Peter  Renstrom,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 18(51,  disch. 

Peh.  19,  1863   wound-. 
Wm.  H.  Holcomb.   Knoxville,  e.  April23,   1831, 

disch.  Oct.  9,  1801. 

Corporals. 

G.  Frank  Clark,  Knoxville,  e.  April  33,  1861,  m.  o. 

-July  14.  1862. 
Stephen  Waterburs.  Knoxville    e.  April  23,  1861, 

disch.  Oct.  9,  1881. 
Geo.  O.  Wright,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Hiram  V.  Burneson,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861, 

died  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo. 
James  M.  Smiley.  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  23,  1861,  m. 

o.  July  14,  1862. 
Samuel  Byers,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23.  1881,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
John  V.  Morris,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Bradford  S.  Bassett,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861, 

pro.  lieut.  2d  Kan.  cav. 

Buglers. 

LeanderRiggs,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
J.  H.  Sanboru,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 

Saddler. 

William  Craig,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 
Oct.  9,  1861. 

Blacksmith. 

Thompson  M.  McCarnish,  Knoxville,  e.  April  21, 
1861,  disch.  Oct.  9,  1861. 

Farrier. 

Henry  Foltz,  Knoxville,  e.  April  28,  1861,  m.  o. 
July  14,  187*. 

Wagoner. 

Emery  J.  Price,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 
Oct.  9,  1861. 

Color  Bearer. 

J.  A.  Burdett,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 
July  14, 1862. 

Privates. 
Abbott,  B.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Abbott,  N.  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Anderson,  J.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Anderson.   G.   W.,  Knoxville,   e.  April  23,   1861, 

disch.  Feb.  18,  1862,  wounds. 
Anderson,  W.   O.,   Knoxville,   e.  April  23,   1861, 

discb.  Oct.  9, 1881. 
Anderson,  J.F  .,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Andrews,  J.  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Andrews.  J.  H  ,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Baldwin,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 

Barnard,  J.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 
Barton,  E.  G.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  diech. 

Oct.  9,1861. 
Bays,  W.  M.,  Knoxville,   e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  11,  1862. 
Bryant,  James,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Burt,  J.  S.,  Knoxville.  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch.  Oct. 

9, 1861. 
Burt,  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 


14,  1862. 
Campbell,  J.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1881,  disch. 

Oct.  9.  1861. 
Calkins.  F.  P.,  Oneida,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14.  1862. 
Coe.  P.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861.  disch.  Oct 

9.  1861. 
Cone,  G.  W..  Knoxville.  e.  April  23,  1881,  disch. 

Oct.  (.t.  1861. 
Crosson.  W.  H,.  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14. 1862. 
Courtney.  E.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o. 

July  14, 1862. 
Culver,  Hiram   A.,   Knoxville,  e.   April  23,  1861, 

disch  April  1,  1862. 
Davis.  G.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  killed  at 

Lexington,  Mo. 
Deuuig.  D.  H..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  died 

April  30,  1863,  wounds. 
Dunham,  W.  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Fillmore.  J.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch. 

Oct,  9,  1861. 
Finley,  J.  A.,  Oneida,  e.  April  23, 1861,  sick  at  m.  o. 

regt. 
Gaston,  H.  O..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Gibbs,  J.,  Lynn,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Goddard.  A.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1863. 
Harding,   A..   Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Higley,  E.  D..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23.  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Hines,  L.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Hoasr,  L  D.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Holmes,  David,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Hotchkiss,  M.  V.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,   1861, 

disch.  Feb.  10, 1862,  wounds. 
Kingsley,  J.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861.  diech. 

Oct.  9, 1861. 
Kirk,  R..  Knoxville,  e.  April  22,  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Krotter,  J.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Laweon,  L.,  Knoxville,  e.   April  23,  1861,   discb. 

Oct.  9, 1881. 
Mastin,  C.  S..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Matteson,  S.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
McBride,  Wm.,  Lynn,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
McConu,  A.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9.  1861. 
McDonald,   W.  H.,   Knoxville,  e.   April  23,  1861. 

killed  at  Lexington,  Mo..  Sept.  20,  1861. 
Meadows,  J.  H.,  Kuoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,1861. 
Miller,  M.,  Knoxville.  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch.  Oct. 

9,  1861. 
Morris,  N.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Mosier,  G.  S..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Newkirk,  J.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.o. 

July  14, 1863. 
Parkhouse,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23.  1861.  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Patterson,  Geo.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  pro. 

com.  sergt. 
Peabody,  Wm.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Potter  J.  M.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,1861. 
Rench.  F.  O.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14, 1861. 
Roe,  T.  H  ,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m.  o.  July 

14.  1862. 
Roe,  D.  M.,  Knoxville.  e.  April  23.  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


369 


Samuels,  C..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.9,  1861. 
S'chuebley,  J.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  m. 

o.July  14,  1862. 
fJperry,  G.  G.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch, 

Oct,  9. 1861. 
Stevens,  R.  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,   1861,  disch. 


Stewart,  Yates,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861.  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861 . 
Strain.  D.  W.,  Knoxville.  e.  April  23,  1861,  m    o. 

July  14, 1862. 
Townsend,  J.  W.,   Knoxville,  e.  April  23,   1861, 

disch.  Oct.  9,  1861. 
Waterberry.  D.  H..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861, 

disch.  Oct.9.  1861. 
"VVemple,  C.  H.,  Kuoxville,  e.  April  23, 1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Wetmore,  W.   M.,   Knoxville,  e.    April  23,  1861, 

drowned. 
Whitney,  M.  W..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m. 

o.  July  14.  1862. 
Woolgey,  E.  W..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m. 

0.  July  14,  1862. 
Young,  J.  P.,  Kuoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  9,  1861. 
Young,  R..  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o.  July 


Jones,.!.  U.,  Knoxville,  e.   Nov.    15.  1861,  m.  o 

July  14,1862. 
Kinney,  W.  8..  Knoxville,  e.  April  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Lander,  P.  O..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,   m.  o. 

July  14. 1862. 
Lewis,  Peter.  Knoxville,   e.   Nov.   15,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Lafferty,  E.,   Kuoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14, 1862. 
Lewis,  S.    K..   Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  16,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Manchester,  A.  A.  G..  Knoxville,   e.  Nov  15,  1861. 

m.  o.  July  14.  1862. 
McGivin,  R.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
McCaslin,  J..   Knoxville,  e.   Nov.   1,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Miller,  M.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Jan.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

14.  1862. 
Moak.  N.,  Knoxville,  e.  Jan.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  July  14. 

1862. 
Morris,  M.,  Kuoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  July 


14,  1863. 


Recruits. 


Annie,  J.  K.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,  m.   o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Anderson,  Philip,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Berger.  Harry  O..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,  m. 

o.  July  14,  1862. 
Benston,  Olif.  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

July.  14, 1862. 
Butts,  G.  v\  ..  Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  15,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862 
Butler,  Cyrus,  Knoxville,  e.   Feb.  1,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Butler,  Win.  C..  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  15,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Cr..thers,  M.  L..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  186.J. 
•Coleon.  Henry.  Knoxville,  e.   May  1,  1867,  m.  o. 

July  14, 1862. 
Coakley,  N.  B.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  5    1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Dudley.  Geo.  A..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov    15,  1831.  m.o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Downes,  A.  J.,   Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1.  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Fowler,  W.  P.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  16,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Ootrich,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861,  m.  o.  July 


Grant.  E.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1, 1862,  m.  o.  July  14, 

1862. 
Gibbs,  C.  G.,   Knoxville,  e.    Nov.  15,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
•Goddard,  Henry,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14, 1862. 
Gilbord,  J.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  20,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  1-1,  1862. 


McCaffrey,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1862.  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Merriit,  W.  H..  Knoxville,  e.   April  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Mallory,  L.,  Kuoxville,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861,  m.  o.  July 

14, 1862. 

McRussell,  T.,  Knoxville,e.  Dec.  15,  1862.deserted. 
Norris,  L.  H..  Knoxville,   e.   Nov.   1,  1861,   m.   o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Nelson.  J.  8  ,   Knoxville,  e.  Jan.   1,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Neale,  J.  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  23,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Nelson,  M.  W.,  Knoxville.  e.  July  7,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Nims,  H  A.,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

14, 1862. 
Olson.  S.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861,  m.  o.  July  14, 

1862. 
Ostrauder,  J  W.,  Knoxville,  e.  April  5,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Robinson.  C.  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
Robinson.  R..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,   1861,  m.  o. 

July  14,  186i. 
Rondz,  J.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15.  1861,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Rose,  J.  H..  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

14. 1862. 
Rhodes,  F.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861,  m";  o.  July 

14,  186i. 
Shaw,  F.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  May  20,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Short,  B  L.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,  m.o.  July 

14,  1862. 
Schwabby.  J.,  Knoxville,   e.   Feb.   10,   1862,  m.  o. 

July  14.  1862. 
SMnn,  F.   B..  Knoxville,  e.   April  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Thompson.  J..  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  14,  1862. 
Tibo.  Thomas,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  1,  1861, deserted. 


14,  1862. 
Hicks,  Thomas.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861,  m.  o. 


July  14,  1862. 


Henry,  M..  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1851,  m.  o.  July  Walgren,  C.  E.,  Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861,  m.  o. 


14,  186J. 

7th  CAVALRY. 


July  14,  1862. 
Wolsey,  E.,  Knoxville,  e.  July  1,  1861,  m.  o.  July 


Seventh  Cavalry  was  organized  by  Col.  Wm.  Pitt  Kellogg,  then  of  Canton,  in  1861. 
In  this  regiment  were  212  men  from  this  county;  two  of  whom  were  killed,  28  died, 
•">  were  wounded,  and  8  were  taken  prisoners. 

COMPAXY  B.  Levi  Hodge,  Knox  co.,  e.  Jan.  8,   1862,  resigned, 

Porter,  J.,  Ontario,  e.  Jan.  19,  '65,  m.o.  Nov.  4,  '65.  Wm  H   Reynolds,  Orange,  e.  June  1,  1863,  term 
10MPAXYD.  expired  Oct.  15, 1864. 

Captains.  First  Lieuttnant. 

Wright  Woolsey.  Orange,  e.  Aug.  12.  1861.  resign-  Franklin  Mount.  Cedar,  e.  Oct.  12.  1864.  vet.  m.  o. 
ed.  Jan.  8.  )862.  Nov.  4,  ItrOo. 


370 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Second  Lieutenants. 

Wm.  O.  Yargan,  Orange,  e.  Jan.  8,  1862,   resigned 

May  23, 1862. 
James  8.  McCool,  Sparta,   e.    June  1,   18G2,   term 

expired  Oct.  15,  1864. 

First  Sergeant. 

S.  E.  Olmsted,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  at 
Victoria,  III.,  Dec.  9,  1861. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

C.  W.  Olmsted.  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 
Sergeants. 

Thomas  D.  Smith.  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  at 

New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  13,  1862. 
C.  N.  Morris,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 


Nov.  4,  1865. 


Corporals. 


Davis  Vulgimore,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet., 
pro.  capt.  Co.  G.,  m.  o.  Nov.  4, 1865. 

F.  T.  Garrison,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 
July  9.  1863,  disability. 

J.  B.  Hendricks,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 
Oct.  13,  1862,  disability. 

Allen  M.  Davis,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 
Dec.  5. 1862,  wounds. 

J.  Potts,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  died  at  Savan- 
nah, Tenn.,  June  8, 1862. 

Bugler. 

James  Lawrence,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet. 
m.  o.  Nov.  4,  1865,  sergt. 

Farrier. 

Daniel  McCray,  Knox  co.,  Aug.  10,  1831,  disch. 
May  30,  1862,  disability. 

Blacksmith. 

John  Wilson.  Galesburar.  e.  Aug.  10,  1861.  disch. 
April  1,  1863,.  disability. 

Saddler. 

John  Roscum,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet.,  m. 
o.  Nov.  4,  1865. 

Wagoner. 
Eli  Caover,  Knox  co.,e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  disch.March 


Denean.  D..  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861,  disch.  July  9 

1862,  disability. 
Earl,  Geo.,  Sparta,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861,  vet.,  m.o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Elwell,  J.  E.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865,  sergt. 
Bastes.  J.  A..  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10.  1861.  disch.  Sept. 

2,  1862,  disability. 
Errick,  Charles,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861.  disch. 

April  16.  lr-62.  disability. 
Errickson.   M.,   Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.r 

pro.  chief  bugler,  m.  o  Nov.  4,  1865. 
Edrington,  G.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10,   1861,  m. 

o.  Oct.  15,  1864.  corpl. 
Fields.  F.  P..  Knox  co..  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,   disch. 

Aug.  26,  1862.  disability. 
Gibbfl.  F.  A.,   Knox  co..   e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 

July  3,  1862.  disability. 
Garrett,  J.  H.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

15,  1864. 
Hubbard,  Uri,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Nov.  4.  1865. 
Humeston,  C.  J.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 

Sept.  16, 1862,  disability. 
Henderson,  G.  H..  Maquon,e.  Aug.  10,  1861,   vet., 

m.  o.  Nov.  4,  1865. 
Jonec,   Safl'ord,   Cedar,   e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  at 

Memphis,  July  30,  1863. 
Jones,  J.  L.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861.  disch. 

April  13,  1863,  disability. 
Jones.  C.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o.  Nov. 

4, 1865,  corpl. 
Lawrenre,  G.  F.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861.  vet.  m.o. 

Nov.  4,  1865,  corpl. 
Mather,  J.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  died  at  Birds' 


3,  1863,  disability. 

Privates. 


ther,  J.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  1 
Point,  Mo..  Jan.  27,  1862. 


Mohallan,  A.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. 

March  14,  1863,  disability. 
Mullis,  S.,  Indian  Pr.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,disch.  June 

13,  1862.  disability. 
Massey,  I.  J.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,   vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Milam,   Wm.,   Maquon,  e.    Aug.  10,  1861,    m.    o. 

April  24,  1866,  prisoner  of  war. 
Mott,  S.  C.,  Victoria,  e.  Aug.  10,   1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Marsh,  A.   B.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.    10,  1861,    died    at 

Mound  City,  111.,  Jan.  16,  1862. 
Morey,  J.  K.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,   1861.  disch.  Oct. 

19,  1862,  disability. 
Messenger,  L.  G.,   Victoria,   e.  Aug.  10.  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Nov   4.  1805. 
Morrison,  G.  G.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,m.  o. 


Nov.  4. 1865,  sergt. 
More,  E.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  killed 

near  Okolona,  Miss.,  Feb.  22,  1864. 
Ackley,  D.  C..  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch.  June'Newgent,  Thomas,  Knox  co.,  e.    Aug.    10,   1861, 

13,  1862,  disability.  drowned,  April  3,  1862. 

Allen,  J.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861.  lO'Grady,  D.,  Knox  CO.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  pro.  hospl. 


Barthleman,  G.   C.,  Chestnut,  e.    Aug.  10,  1861. 

disch.  April  16,  1862,  disability. 
Baldwin,  E.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m.o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Betterton,  J.,   Chestnut,  e.   Aug.   10,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  13,  1862,  disability. 
Betterton,   Geo.,   Chestnut,   e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Nov.  4,1865. 
Barnett.  Alex.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Bloom,  J.  M.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet.  m.  o. 

Nov.  4.  1865.    ' 
Belden,  Geo..  Knox  co.,  e.   Aug.  10,  1861,  m.  o. 

July  8,  1865,  prisoner  of  war. 
Craver,  C.   P.,   Indian  Pt,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet., 

killed  at  Nashville,  Tenu.,  Dec.  15,  1864. 
Crary,   E.  J.,   Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4  1865,  corpl. 
Cunningham,  J.,  Cedar,   e.   Aug.   10,  1861,  disch. 

Jan.  15,  1863,  disability. 
Coe,   J.  W.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861.  vet.,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865.  sergt. 


steward. 
Potts.  Noah.  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  m.o.  Sept. 

24, 1865,  prisoner  of  war. 
Peters,  Jacob,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  disch.  Oct. 

24,  1862.  disability. 
Raines,  P.  R.,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

15.  1864,  farrier. 
Rutledge,   I.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.   10,   1>'61,  miss- 

ing'in  action  near  Somerville. 
Short,  H.  T.,  Indian  Pt.,e    Aug.  10,  1861,  vet.  m  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865,  1st  sergt. 
Shumaker.  J.  H.,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861. disch. 

June  13.  1862,  disability. 
Stephens,  Robert,  Cedar,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,   died  at 

Corhuh,  Sept.  15,  1862,  wounds. 
Terry,  I.  C.,  Ontario,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861,  vet. 
Vulgimore.  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Aug.  10,   Is61,  trans,  to 

invalid  corps. 
Whipp,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Ang  10,  1861,   vet.  m.  o. 

Nov.  4, 1865,  sergt. 
Woods,  N.  C.,  Galesburg,   e.   Aug.  10,  1861.  m.  o. 

Oct.  15.  1865,  1st  sergt. 


Dennis,  W.  H.,  Orange,  e.   Ang.   10,  1861,  died  at  Wallick,  M.  L.,  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861,  vet.  corpl. 

Jacinto,  Mies.,  July  18,  186.-.  died  Aug.  10.  186.%  at  Decatur.  Ala. 

Davis.  Geo.  W.,  Maqnon,  e.   Aug.  10,  1861,  disch. !Way,  S.,  Chestnut,  e.  Aug.   10,  1861,  vet.,  pro.  24 

June  13,  1862,  disability.  lieut.  Co.  G. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


371 


m.  o.  Nov. 


Yargaii,  Wm.  O..  Orange,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861. 


Recruits. 

Booton.  T.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  18(52,  m.  o. 

July  12, 1865,  corpl. 
Bonham,  B.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  1,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  8,  1865,  prisoner  of  war. 
Butts.  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  m.  o.  July  12, 

1862,  wounds. 
Brown,  Leander.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  July  25, 1862,  m. 

o.  July  12, 1862. 
Bellwood,  L..  Abingdon,  e.   July  25,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  i2, 1862. 
Booton,  Wm.,  Abingdon,   e.  Aug.  30,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12. 1862. 
Byram,  C.  E.,  Orange,  e.  Dec.  30,  1863,  m.  o.  June 

22,  1865 


ept23v'65. 
Ree?e,  W.  W.,  Abingdon.  e.  A'ig.  11,  1862,  disch. 

March  16, 1?63,  disability. 
Ruble.  Peter.   Knox  co  ,    e.   Jan.  20,  1865,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4, 1865. 
Stiles,  J.  R.,  Abingdon,  e.  Au?.  4,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

12, 1865. 
Stiles,  M.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  m.  o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Shay.  J..  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.   9,  1862,  m.   o.   July 

12,  1865. 

Snay,  D.,  Abingdon,  Feb.  15,  '64,  m.  o.'Nov.  4,  '65. 
Smith,  Lewis,   Hermon,   e.   Feb.  15,   1864,  m.   o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Smith,  I.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

12,  1864. 
Tnde,  James,  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.    7,   1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Thompson.  F.  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  16,  1864,  m. 

o.  Oct.  6, 1865 


Bellwood,  Levi  Abingdon   e.  July  25,  1862,  died  Thom        ;   jj .,  chestnut,  e.  Jan    26,   1865,   m.  o. 


at  Corinth,  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Brulin.  C.,  Rio,  e.  March  9,  1865,  m.o.  Nov.  4,  1865 


Nov.  4,  1865. 
.  J.,  Hermon.  e.  Feb.  15,  '64,  m.  o.  Nov.  4,  '65. 


Crosson,  S.    Abingdon.  e.   Aug    7,  1862,  died    at!Wooigey,  G.  W.,  Orange,'  e.'  Nov.  '9/1863,'  m.  o'. 

T?^of  r\r\wt      Ifltaa         Arhi.ll    1  ^     1  M^*i  ._       **.  B     ' 


Eastport,  Miss.,  April  15, 1865 
Christopher,  Win..  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.  9,  1862,  m. 
o.  June  30,  1865. 


Nov.  4,  1865. 

Woolsey,  W.  H.,  Orange,  e.   Dec.  17,   1863,  m.  o. 
Nov.  4,  1865. 


Cornson,  D..  Abingdon,  e   Ang.  11,  1862,  died,  at  wilcox  ,'J.'H  .,  Knoxville ,  e.  Dec.    17,  1863,  m.o. 

Lagrange,  Tenu..  April  14,  1863.  Nov  4  1865 

Christopher,  Geo  ,  Abingdon  e.  Feb.  15, 1864,  died,  Westerfi'eld,  J.  R  ,  Abingdon,  e.  May  16, 1804,  died 

at  Memphis,  June  14,  1864.         __     _   |        at  Memphis,  Oct.  18,  1864. 


Calhoun.  J.'C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15,  1862,  disch. 

Sept.  10.  18d3,  disability. 
Cox.  E.  V.,  Indian  Pt.,  e.  Jan.  20, 1865,  m.  o.  Nov. 

4,  1865.  • 

Cannon,  J.  H.,  Knox,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865,  m.  o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 


Wiues,  John,  Abingclon,  e.  Ang.   4,1862,   died  at 

L  iGrange,  Tenn..  Ma  ch  27,  1863. 
Wilkinson,  R..  Salem,  e.   March  9,  1865,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1864. 
Warring,  H..  Knoxco.,  e.    Jan.    20,   1865,   m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 


Elwell,  W.  E    Knoxville,  e.  Nov.  9,   1863,  m.  o.  yom)?    j ',,      Abingdon,  July  28,   1862,   m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  180o,  as  bugler.  Ju]y  12   1865 

Elwell,  E  B.   Knoxville,  e.  Dec.  30,   1863,  m.  o.  Beam  g  ,  Cedar;  e    Feb    21   1865  died  at  Hunts- 


vine,  Ala.,  Sept.  16,  1865. 

C'OJIPAXY  K. 

Recruits. 


Nov.  4.  1865. 
Fairchild.  Levi.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  8,{lS62,';[m.  o. 

July  12.  1865. 
Fairchild,  Geo..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  15,  186J,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865.  as  corpl. 
Fenton,  F..  Abingdon,  e.  Feb.  20,  1865,  sick  at  m. 

o.  of  regt. 
Garrison,  Wm..  Abingdon.  e.  May  16,  1864,  m.  o.  Babbitt,  John,  Abingdon,  e,  Aug    24,  1862,  died 

Nov.  4,  1865.  ai  Andersonville  prison.  July  23,  1864. 

Hiram,  Enke,   Abingdon,    e.   Aug.  9,  1862,    vet. 'Benson.  Geo.  C  ,  Chestnut,  e.  Dec.  17,  1853,  m.  o. 

m.  o.  July  12,  1865,  as  corpl.  Nov.  4.  1865. 

Hanley,  J.,  Orange,  e.  Dec.  30,  1863,  m.  o.  Nov.  4,  Benson,  Wm.  L.,  Chestnut,  e  Dec.   17,  1863,  m.  o. 


1865. 


Harvey,  Joseph,  Abinadon,  e.  Aug.  5,   1862,  died 

Memphis,  Auir.  5,  1863. 
Herndon,  J.  W.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Jan.  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Lawrence.  J.  K.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11, 1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Lawrence,  J.  M.,  Orange,  e.  Dec.  30,  186?,  m.o. 

Sept.  23.1865. 
Lomnx,  C.  P.,  Abingdon,  July  25, 1862,  m.  o.  July 

12,  1862. 

Lenquist,  J.,Rio,  e.  March  9,  '65,  m.  o.'Nov.  4,  '65. 
Moore,  Geo.,  Abingdou,  e.  July  25,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

12, 1865. 
Maxson,  D.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

12.  1865. 
Murdock,  J.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  died  in 

Knox  Co.,  III.,  March  14,  1863. 
Mullis.  S.,  Abingdon,  e.   Aug.   9,  1862,   died  at 


Matt 


Memphis,  March  31,  1864. 


eson,  M.  D.,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  1.  1863,  m.  o. 

^     ,  nr          !          1U11- 


Morris,  Geo..   Knoxville  e.  Aug.   12,  1864,   m.  o. 


Nov.  4,  1865. 
Morris.  N.,  Knoxville.  e.  Feb.  10,  186 

4, 18G5,  assergt. 
Morris,  M.,  Knoxville.  June  24, 1863. 


!,  m.  o.  Nov. 


Nov.  4,  18B5 


Harvey,  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  m.  o.  July  Bivins,  W.  A.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  3CT,  1882,  m.  o. 

12.1865.  Aug.  12,  1865. 

Hyde.  J.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  May  4,  1864,  m.  o.  May  Brown,  Austin  J.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  23,  1882.  m.o. 
1r~  1cm~  July  12,  18H5. 

Bliss,  A.  B.,  Abing  Ion,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  missing 

iu  action  since  Feb.  20,  18H4. 
Bowman.  J.  M..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12.1865. 
Bomgardner,  F.  M..  Chestnut,  e.  Dec.  17,  1863,  m. 

o.  Nov.  4,  1865,  bugler. 
Burnangh,  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Bnrnaugh,  A..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1852,  m.o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Burnaugh,  Joseph,  Orange,  e.  Dec.  17,  1863,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4, 1865. 
Burnaugh,  Ben  j..  Orange,  e.  Dec.   17,  1863,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865,  prisoner  of  war. 
Cramer,  Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12.  1865. 

Cole,  Geo.  V.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,   1862,  trans- 
ferred to  Invalid  Corps. 
Clabaugh,  J.  S.  A.,  Chestnut,  e.  Feb.  23,  1865,  m. 

o.  Nov.  4,  1865. 
Eggers,  Matthew,  Chestnut,  e.  Jan.  26.  1865,  m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Eggers,  James,  Chestnut,  e.  Feb.  23,  1865,  m.  o. 

"Nov.  4,  1865. 

Free/e,  J.  M..  e.  Aug.  30,  1S62,  m.  o.  July  12,  1855. 
Freeze,  H.,  Orange,  e.  July  13,  '65,  m.o.  Nov.  4,  '65. 


372 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Hall.  Samuel,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.    5,  18G2,  m.   o. 


July  12,  1885,  ascorpl. 
Hale,  M.  D.,  Chestnut,  e.   Dec.  1< 
Nov.  4,  1865. 


1863,  m.  o. 


Nov.  4,  1865. 
Massie,  Thomas,  Chestnut,  e.  Dec.  17, 1863,  m.  o. 

Sept.  27,  1865. 
McKini;ie,  R.,  Abingdon,  e,  Aug.  20,   1862.  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Morris,  J.  P.,  Indian  Ft.   e.  Dec.   17,  1863,   m.  o. 

Nov.  4,  1865. 
Moon,  R.  A.,  Chestnut,  e.  Jan.  26, 1865,  m.o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Neff,  Christian.  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Nelson,  J.  S.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  7,  1862,  drowned 

at  Eastport,  Miss.,  March  3,  1865. 
Parks,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  18,  1863,  m.  o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Potter,  Wm.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  30, 1862,  m.o.  July 

12,  1865. 
Putnam,  F.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  m.o.  July 

12, 1865. 
Randall.  G.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.   o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Russell,  B.C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1832,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Routh,  C.  E.,  Chestnut,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m.o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Routh,  T.  J.,  Chestnut,  e.  Jan.  26,  1865,  m.o.  Nov. 

4,  1865. 
Sloan,  A.  F.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  m.o.  July 

12,  1865. 
Steach,  G.  C.,  Abingdou,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  disch. 

May  8,  1863,  disability. 
Smith,  W.  H.,  Hermon,  e.  Feb.  15,  1864,  m.o.  Nov. 

4,  1865,  corporal 
Tyler,  A.  C.,  Galesburg,  vet.,  m.o.  Nov.  4,1865,  Co. 

com.  sergeant. 
Turner,  Horace,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20.  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1$65,  sergeant 
Tif  t,  E.  W.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20, 1862,  m.   o.  July 

12,  18o5,  corporal. 
Virtue,  T.  K..  Hermon,  e.  Feb.  15, 1864,  vet,  m.  o 

Nov.  4,  1835,  corporal. 

COMPANY  JL. 

Adkins,  James,  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  16, 1862. 
Brown,  Wm.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  23,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1865. 
Burnett,  D.  D.,  Abingdon.  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  disch. 

Aprils.  1863,  disability. 
Butler,  J.  E..  Knox  co.,   e.  Jan.   16,  1865,  died  at 

New  Albany.Ind.,  March  6,  1865. 
Epperson.  J.  L.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  10,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  20. 1865. 
Johnson,  N.  L..  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  4,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  12, 1865. 
Mitchell,  L.  Abingdon,  e.  Sept.  2,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

12,  1865, 
Mathewson,  J.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  24,  1862,  m 

O.July  12   1865. 
Miller,  A.  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  24,  1862,  m.o.  July 

12,  1865,  corporal. 
Park.  W.  B.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.   11,  1862,  died  at 

Baton  Rouge,  July  14,  18li<. 
Pyle,  Beuj.  F.,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1862,  died  at 

Lagrange,  Tenn.,  Feb.  15,  1863. 
Rine,  Michael,  Abingdon,  e.  Aug.  20,  1S62,  m.  o. 

July  12,  1862. 
Reed,  Isom,  Indian  Point,  e  Jan.  20,   1862,   nV.  o. 

Sept.  23,  1865. 
Thompson,  H.,  Abingdon,  Aug.  4.   1862,  died  at 

Memphis,  May  5,  1864. 
West.  H.,  Knox  co..  e.  Aug.  29,  1862,  discharged 

May  13,  1865,  wounds. 
West,  J.,  Indian  Point,  e.  Feb.  15,  1861,  m.  o.  Nov. 


4,  1865. 
White,  E..  Abingdon,  e.  Auj 


Jiarly  Grove,  Miss.,  Jan.  25,  1863. 


29,  1862,   killed    at 


West,  W.,  Indian  Point,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865.  m.o.  Nov. 


4,   1865. 


Unassigned  Recruits. 


1865. 
1864. 


9th  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  C 

Davison,  J.  L.,  Knox  co.,  e.  Oct.  20,  1864,  m.  o. 
May  31,  1865. 

COMPANY    H. 

Robinson,  R.,  Knoxville,  e.  Jan.  25,  1864,  disch. 
Aug.  4, 1864,  wounds. 

COMPANY   I. 

Hadley,  J.  D.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Oct.  17,  1861. 

Wills,  P.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  19,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 
31, 1865, 

Gray,  Wm.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  1, 1864,  died  at  East- 
port,  Miss.,  Feb.  10, 1865. 

COMPANY  It. 

Sergeant. 

Geo.  C.  Stanley,  Copley,  e.  Oct.  2,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 
31,  1864,  1st  sergeant. 

Corporal. 

Peter  Hallenback,  Copley,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  disch. 
June  1,  1862,  sergeant. 

Privates. 

Bennett,  Isaac,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19,1861,   died  at 

Patterson,  Mo.,  May  11,  1862. 
Bennett,  Alex.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  disch. 

June  1,  1862. 

Brott,  Willis,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  2,  1861,  vet.,  trans- 
ferred to  2d  U.  S.  C.  artillery. 
Belcher,  W.  R.,  Truro,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

31,  1864. 
Boggs,  William.  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  disch. 

June  1.  1862. 

Boggs,  David,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  21,  1861. 
Foster,  E.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  12, 1861,  vet.,  died  in 

hands  of  the  enemy. 
Hubbell,  Wm.  H.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  19,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  28,  1862. 
Jarvis.  S.  G.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  6,  1861. 
Kimbler,  Caleb.  Truro,  e.  Oct.  8,  1861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Oct.  31.  1865. 
Moak,  P.,  Victoria,  e.  Oct.  13, 1861,  vet.,  m.o.  Oct. 

31,  1865.  corporal. 
Olmstead.  W.  B.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.   19,   1861,   died 

at  St.  Louis,  Nov.  3, 1862. 
Olmstead,  J.  R.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.   19,  1861.  disch. 

June  1, 1862. 

Osgood.  W.,  Truro,  e.  Oct.  8,  '61,  m.  o.  Oct.  31,  '64. 
Stanley,  J.  M.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  vet.,  m.o. 

Oct.  31, 1865,  sergeant. 

Strong,  W.  F..  Truro.,  e.  Sept.  19, 1861,  died  at  Pat- 
terson, Mo.,  April  9,  1862. 
Sager,  8.  S.,  Truio,  e.   Sept,l  19,   1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

31,  1864. 
Stafford.  S.,  Rio,  e.  Sept.  18,  1861,  vet.  m.  o.  Oct. 

31,  1865. 
Wayman,  J.,  Victoria,  e.  Sept.  19,  1861,  disch. 

Nov.  24,  1862. 
Wilmot,  B.  A.,  Sparta,  e.  Sept.  20,  1862,  vet.  m.  O. 

Oct.  31,  1885.  sergeant. 
Wilder,  J.  K.,  Truro,  e.   Oct.   18,   1861,  m.  o.  Oct. 

31,  1864. 
Foster,  T.  A.,  Wataga,  e.  Oct.  17,  1861,vet..m.o.  Oct. 

31,  1865,  sergeant. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


373 


Recruits. 
Blackwood,  L.  D.  Altona,  e.   Jan.  23,  1804,  m.  o. 

Oct.  31,  1805. 

Lynes,  C.,  Victoria,  e.  Nov.  25, 1861. 
Neil.  J.  W..  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  1,  1804,  m.  o.  Oct.  31, 


COMPANY  L,. 

Privates. 
Gay,  Frank,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  1,  1881,  vet.  m.  o. 


1865,  corporal.  Oct.  31,  1865. 

Smith,  A.  H.,  Altona,  e.  Nov.  25,  1861,  disch.  July  Green,  John,  Elba.  e.  Jan.  3,  '65,  m.o.  Oct.  31,  '65. 
22,  1862.  IHuntington,  A.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  3, 1865,  m.  o. 


Strong,  H.  P.,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  19,  1862. 


22  1805. 
Brnner,  Isaac,  Eio,  e.  'April  24,  m.  o.  Oct.  31,  1865. 


Oct.  31,  1865,  corporal. 


Shannon,  S.  L.,  Victoria,  e.  Feb.  1, 1864,  m.o.  June  Fox,  Samuel.  Knox  CO.,  e.   Sept.  20,   1861,  Co.  E, 


10th  cavalry. 


llth  CAVALRY. 

The  Eleventh  Cavalry  was  organized  by  Col.  Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  of  Peoria.  This 
county  had  men  in  companies  B,  C,  E,  H,  K,  and  M— 108  in  all,  two  of  whom  were 
killed ;  8  died. 


Adjutant. 

Benjamin  Oram.  Galesburg,  e.  April  20, 1865,  re- 
signed June  23, 1865. 

Surgeon. 

Robert  F.  Stratton,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  23,  1862,  m.  o. 
Sept.  30,  1865. 

COMPANY  B. 

Bane,  A.,  J.,  Yates  City,  e.  Sept,  31, 1861.vet.,  died 

at  Yatee  City,  111,  May  3,  1864. 
Clark,  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861. 

Recruits. 

Awl,  C.  S.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  21, 1865. 

Awl.  W.  M..  Truro,  e.  Jan.  18.  1865. 

Sevens,  J.  E.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  23.  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30. 1865. 
Bishop,  I.  A.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  26.  1865,  m.  o.   Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Sevens,  Geo.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  23,  1865,  m.  o.    May 

i:(,  1862. 
Crouse,  E.  H.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  20, 1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Carroll,  C.  C.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  18, 1865,  m.o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Jones,  A.  H. , Salem,  e.  Feb.  3,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
McKeighan,  S.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.    23,  1865,    m.    o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Nichols,  J.  H.  H.,  Truro,  e,    Jan.  18,  1865,  m.  o. 

Aug.  5,  1865. 

Orton,  M.,  Salem,  e.Feb.  3.  '65,  m.  o.  Sept.  30,  '65. 
Eeamy,  E.,  Salem,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865,  absent  sick  at 

m.  o.  regt. 

COMPANY  C. 

Captain. 

Geo.   W.  Freeman,  Galesburg,   e,  Dec.  20.  1861, 
resigned  March  20,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Jacob,  D.  Brown,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Dec.  19, 1864,  vet., 
m.o.  Sept.  30,  1865. 

Second   Lieutenant. 

Geo.  W.  Doll,  Galesburg,  e.  March  38,  1865,  vet. 
m.  o.  Sept.  30,1865. 

Sergeant. 

Delos  Thomas,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  1,  18B1,  died  at 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  Jan.  2,  1863. 

Corporals. 

James  J.  Patch,  Galesburg,  e,  Oct.  26,  1861. 
P.  Sloey,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  14,  1861. 


Farrier . 

W.  N.  Brown,  Galesburg.  e.  Oct.  17,  1861,  vet.,  m. 
e.  Sept.  30, 1865. 

Privates. 

Allen,  H.  A..  Galesburg.  e.  Oct.   15,  1861,  vet.  m. 

o.  Sept.  30,1865,  sergt. 
Anderson,  W..  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  10,  1861,  disch. 

Oct.  3, 1864. 
Barrett,  M.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  26,  1861,  c.isch. 

July  1,  1862,  disability. 
Dunham,  W.,  Henderson,  e.  Nov.  14.  1861. 
Eakins,  J.  C.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Oct.  7,  1861,  vet.  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865,  corpl 
Fletcher,  A.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  1,  1861,  vet.,m. 

o.  Sept.  30,  1865. 
Freaks,  P.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861,  vet.,  m.   o. 

Sept.  30,  1865,  corpl. 
Griffith,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  21,  1861,  vet.  m. 

o.  Sept.  30,  1865.  1st  sergr. 
Geary,  John,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  19, 1861. 
Gray,  W.  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  1,  18S1,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Sept.  30, 1865,  corpl. 
Hickey,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  16,  1861. 
Mahony,  M.,  Galesburg.  e.  Oct.  16,  1861. 
McPherson,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  19,  1861,  vet., 

m.  o.  Sept.  30,  1865. 

Morrisy,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  14,  1861. 
McMakin,  8.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  7,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  Sept.  30,  1865,  sergt. 

Newell,  H.  S.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  21,  1861,  vet. 
Rose,  J.  D.,  Galesburg,  e    Oct.  12,  1861. 
Rusk,  David,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  12,  Ib61,  disch. 

Nov.  15, 1862,  disability. 
Raymond,  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.    19,   disch.  Dec. 

10,  1862,  disability. 
Winters,  Curtis,  Galesbuvg,  e.  Oct.  16, 1861,  died 

at  Galesburg  Feb.  25,  1862. 

Recruits. 

Anderson,  W.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  7, 1865,  m.o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Doll,  S.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  March  22,   186t,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30.  1865. 
Dunham,  W.  O.,  Henderson,  e.  Dec.  20,  1863,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,1865. 
Gormley,  C.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.   Jan.   2,   1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Hogan,    Geo..    Galestnirg,  e.  Feb.   3,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 

Hoggatt,  G.  W.,  Henderson,  e.  Feb.  17,  1864. 
Jones,  W.  A.,  Galesburg,  e.  March  27,  1864,  m.  o.' 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Leary,  J..  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  3.  1864,  m.    o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Miller,  H.   C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  6,  1864,    m.    o. 

Sept.  30, 1665. 
Mile-.  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  5,  1864,  m.o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Morcn,  James,  Henderson,  e.  March  23,  1S65,  died 

in  Illinois,  Aug.  29,  1865. 
Perkins,  A.  L.,  Galesburg,  e.  March  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 


374 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Kaymond,  B.,  Galesburg.  e.  Jan.  4,  1862. 
Raymond,  Bingham,  Galesburg.  e.    Feb.  15,  1864, 

died  at  Memphis,  March  25, 1885. 
Sloan,   Wm..  Oalesburg,  e.  March  20,  1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Sheeley,  8.  V.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.   4,  1864,  m.    o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Sperry,  Peter.  Galesburg,    e.  Dec.    31,  1861,  disch. 

Sept.  7,  1862.  disability 
Spencer,  J.  A.,  Galeshnrg,  e.    Feb.  13,   1862,  vet., 

m.  o.,  Sept.  30,  1865. 
Wimmer,  H.,  Galesburg,'e.  Feb.  5, 1864. 

COMPANY  JE. 

Privates. 
Ford.  J.  C.,  Truro,  e.  Feb.  22,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  30. 

1865,  corpl. 
King,  James,  Elba,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  30. 

1865,  corpl. 
Lucas,  I).,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  20,  1855,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,1865. 
McCoy,  W  ,  Elba,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865,  in.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Nelson,  J.,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  30,   1865,  m.  o    Sept, 

30, 1865. 
Oberholtzer,  John,  Truro,  e.  Jan.   20,  1S65,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  18H5. 

Parrish,  J.  W.,  Lynn,  e.  Jan.  18,  1«65. 
Shaffer,  T.   J.,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.   20,1865,   m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Wilson,  J.   K.  P.,  Elba,  e.  Jan.   20, 1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 

COMPANY   H. 

Privates. 

Hale,  W.  H.,  Knoxville.  e.  March  9,   1864,  killed 

near  Memphis,  March  8. 1865. 
Brown,  W.  F.,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  9,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
BurdicU,  L.  R..  Truro,  e.    Feb.   22,   1865,  died  at 

Memphis,  May  5,  1865. 
Hoadley,  R.,  Copley,  Feb.  9, 1865,  absent  sick  at 

m.  o.  of  regt. 
Jones,  J.  N. ,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  9,  1865,  m.  o.   Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Thompson,  W.  C.,  Altona,  e.  Feb.  17, 1864,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 

COMPANY    I. 

McParland,  Peter,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  17, 18151,  vet. 

m.  o.  Sept.  30,  1805,  sergt. 
Swain,  M.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  17, 5861,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865, corpl. 

COMPANY  K. 

Captain. 

H.  C.  Woods,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  20,  1861,  term  ex. 
Dec.  19, 1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Frederick  Duckett,  Maquon,  e.  March  23, 1865,  m. 
o.  Sept.  30,  1865. 

Corporal. 

James,  Lindsey.  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861,  disch. 
Dec.  5,  1862,  disability. 

Privates. 

Achors,  M.  V..  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  IS,  1861.  vet.,  m.o. 
Sept.  30,  1865. 


Bricker,  Geo.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861,  vet.,  m  o 
Sept.  30,  1865. 

Barton,  Milton,  Maquon.  e.  Nov.  6,1861. 

Dalton,  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6, 1861.  killed  at  Jack- 
son, Tenn.,  Dec.  6,  1862,  by  a  citizen. 

Jones,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861,  disch.  Dec. 
19,  1864. 

Laughlin,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861,  died  at 
Girard,  111.,  March  11,  1862. 

McGhovin,  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861,  died  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  June  1,  1862. 

Recruits. 
Allison,  E.  R.  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  6,  1862,  vet.,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Benton,  N.,  Maquon,  e.  March  31,  1864,  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Dyer,  J.  M.,  Maquon,   e.   March  26,  1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Duckett,  F.  Maqnon.  June.  18,1862. 
Dobyns,  S.  C..  Maquon,  Feb.  11,  1862,  vet.,  m.  o., 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Huntley,  W.  A..   Galesburg,  April  26,  1864,  m.   o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 
Lewallen,  Wm.,  Maquon,  March  28,   1864,  absent 

sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 

Mitchell.  J.  A.,  Maquon,  Feb.  1.-1862.  vet. 
Moore,  V.  A.,  Maquon,  Dec.  28.  1861. 
Waffle,  C.  H.,  Maquon,  March  31,  1861,  m.o.  Sept. 

30,  1865. 
Page,  R.  F.,  Ontario,  Feb.  16,  1865,  m.  o.  Sept.  30, 

1865. 
Reddingbon,  A.  W.,  Ontario,  Feb.   16.  1865,  m.  o. 

Sept.  30,  1865. 


COMPAXY  M. 

Roach,  E..  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  21,  1865,   m.  o.  Sept 

30,  1865. 

Irwin,  James.  Truro,  e.  Jan.  18,  1865. 
Hall.  James,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  4, 1863. 
McChesney.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  4,  1863. 
Piper,  Allen,  Victoria,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865. 


12th  CAVALRY. 


COMPANY    I. 

Privates. 

Babbitt,  W.  C.,  St.  Augustine.e.  Dec.  21, 1863.m.  o. 

May  29,  1866. 
Collifon,  R.  J..  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec    21.  1863 
Cox.  J.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  21,  1863,   trans,   to 

V  R.  C. 
Darnell,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  15,  1863,  m.  o.  May 

29,  1866. 

Jones,  W.  W.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  21.  1863. 
Granger,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  8,  1862,  Co.  D,  12th 

cav. 
Terry,  C.  W.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  May  24,  1862, Co.  D, 

12th  cav.,  term  ex. 
Butterfield,  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  24, 1861, Co.  G, 

12th  cav. 
Martinson,    Wm.,    Galesburg,    e.    Dec.  24,   1861. 

paroled  prisoner  war. 
Cooper,  L.,  St.  Augustine,  e.  Dec.  21, 1863. 
Levens,  C.,  Galesbnrg. 
Munson,  A.,  Galesburg,  April  28,  1863,disch.  May 

20,  1865.  disability. 
Hester,  G.  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec  .  1,  1861,  p-o.  2d. 

lieut.,  Co.  A,  13th  cav.,  m.  o.  Dec.  31,  1864. 


14th  CAVALRY.. 

Company  A  of  the  Fourteenth  Cavalry  was  from  Knox  county,  and  numbered 
seventy-two  men.  They  were  under  command  of  Captains  Marvin  S.  Carr  and  John 
S.  Henderson. 


/ 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COINTY. 


577 


COMPANY  A. 

Captains. 
Carr,    Galesburg,  e.   Jan. 


Marvin  S 

signed  Feb.  10,  1864. 


1863,  re- 


John  S.  Henderson,  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  10,  1864,  re- 
signed June  27,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Richard  S.  Stevenson.  Maquon,  e.  July  14, 1865. m. 
o.  July  31,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Henry  Seymour,  Galesburg,  e.  July  14,  1865,  m.  o. 
July  31, 1865. 

Hospital  Stewards. 
Samuel  A.  Dow.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  pro. 

surgeon.  17th  cav, 
Frederick  W.  Livingston.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  13, 

1862,  m.  o.  July  31.  1865. 

Commissary  Sergeant. 

Corry  T.  Thurnian,  Maqnon,  e.fept,ll3, 1862,  miss- 
ing in  action  since  Aug.  31,  1864. 

.  Sergeants . 

James  B.    Morgan,  Galesburg,  e.   Sept.    13,  1862, 

disch.  April  17,  1865,  disability. 
Wm.  W.  Wilson.  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  11,  1862,  disch. 

July  2,  1865,  disability. 
Henry  Seymour,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct[15,''1862,5pro. 

2d  lieut. 
Walter  Baldwin,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13, 1862,  m.  o'. 


Julyl,  1865. 


Corporals. 


Samuel    Freemale.  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  m.o. 

June  16,  1864.  prisoner  war. 
Henry  S.  Johnson,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  15,  1862,  m. 

O.  July  31. 1865. 
Wm.  Allen,  Maquon,  e,  Sept.  13,  1862,  disch.  Dec. 

28,  1864,   disability. 
Fred.  Babcock.  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  m.  o. 

July  31,  1865, 1st  pergt. 
N.  T.  Austin,  Maquon,  e.   Sept.  11,  1862,  m.    o. 

July  31,  1865. 
Jonas  Marquess,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,J1862,  m.o. 


Howard,  F.  A..  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  2,  1862,  died  at 

Jeffersonville,  Ind..  April  3,  1863. 
Jones,  C.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.12, '62,m.o.  July  31,  '<>5. 
Jones,  O..  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  7,  '62,  m.o.  July  31,  '65. 
Kinses,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  22,  1862,  disch.  in 

1864.  disability. 
Lewis,  Peter,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  m.  o. 

Aug.  10, 1865. 
Lindsey,  C.  M.  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  15,  1862,  missing 

in  action  since  Aug    13.  1864. 
McHenry.  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Oct.  10, 1862,  discb.May 

8,  1863,  disability. 
McCallach,  Z.,  Maquon,  eSept.  13,  1862,  m.o.  July 

30.  1865.  corpl. 

McWilliams.  D.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  11,  1862,  disch. 

July8.  1865.  disability. 
Miller,  John,  Galesburg.  e.  Sept.  13. 1862. 
Nevitt,  H.  C.,  Maquon.  e.Oct.  2,'62,  ru.o.  Aug.  3.'65. 
Oleson,  Swan,  Knoxville,  e.  Oct.  15,  18H2,  died  in 

prison,  Andereonville,  Ga. 
Peterson,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Oct.  15,  1862,  died  at 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  9,  1865. 
Peterson,  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  9,  1862. 
Robinson.  P..  Galesburg.  e.  Nov.  2, 1862,  miesing 

in  action  Aug.  3,  1864. 
Stanton,  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  disch.  May 

18,  1863.  disability. 

Simpkins,  N.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862. 
Sornberger.  J.,  Maquon.  e.  Sept.  13,  1862.  died  at 

Peoria,Ill.,  April  7,  1863. 
Squires.  A.  H..  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862. 
Smith,  L.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Nov.  2,  186i,  m.o.  July 

31,  1865. 

Scott,  C.,  Maquon.  e.  Sept.  10.  1862. 
Spring,  J.,  Knoxville.  e.  Sept.  12,  1862. 
VanArsdale,  P.,  Henderson,  e.  Oct.  15, 1362,  m.o. 

July  .31,  1865,  Sergt. 
West,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  12, 1862,  pro.  Q.M. 

sergt. 
Wimsftt.  D.,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13, 1872,  m.o.  July 


July  31,  1865. 


Teamster. 


John  McHenry,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,S1862,~'dlsch. 
May  8,  1863,  disability. 

Farrier. 

J.  W.  Slaughter.  Maquon.  e.  Sept.  13, 1862,  died  in 
prison  in  Richmond,  Va. 

Wagoner. 

W.  I.  Jobes,  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,1862,  disch,Jnne 
21,  1865,  disability. 

Saddler. 

Milton  Barton.  Maqnon,  e.   Sept,  13,  1862,  disch. 
May  21, 1865,  disability. 

Privates. 

Allen,  E.,  Maqnon,  e.  Oct.  25,1862,  m.  o.,  July  31, 

1865,  sen>t. 
Carr,  G.  H..  Galesburg,e.  Sept.  8. 1862,  disch.  Jan. 

8, 1864,'disability. 

Curley,  B.,  Galesburg,  e.  Oct.  25,  1864. 
Comstock,  H..  Jr.,    Galesburg.    e.  Sept.  15,    1862, 

dii-ch.  June  4, 1865,  disability. 
Capron.  O.  T.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sepr.  13,  di«ch.  July 

2,  1865,  disability. 
Errick.  Charles,  Knoxville,  e.  Sept.  12,  1362,  trans. 

to  V.  R.  0. 

Edward,  Frank,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  14,  1862,  de- 
tat  ched  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Guff,  C.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  22,  1862,  m.  o.  July 

8,  1865. 

Gabriel.  M.,  Maquon, e.  Oct.  23/62,  m.o.  July  31, '65. 
Gleason,  T .  W.,  Galesburg,  e.  Nov.  2, 1862,  missing 

in  action  since  Nov.  25,  1864. 


Waffle,  Geo..  Maquon,  e.  Sept.  13,  1862,  m.o.  Aug. 

11,  1865. 
Walker.  H.  L.,  Galesburg,  Oct.  1,  1862,  pro.  chief 


bugler. 


Recruits. 


Buell,  M.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  25, 1863,  mo.  July  12,'65. 
Dopp,  H..  Salem,  e.  April  3.  1865,  m.o.  July  31,  '65, 
Gabriel,  W.,  Maqnon,  e.  Dec.  25, 1863,  m.o.  July 

8,  1865. 

House.  A.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  25,'63,  m.o.  July31,'65. 
Henderson,  J.  R..  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  20, 1864,  m.o. 

on  July  31,  1865,  wounded. 
Jones,  G.  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  25,  1863,  missing  in 

action  since  Nov.  25,  1864. 

Moore,  J.,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  2,  '64,  m.o.  July  31, '65. 
Malone,  Thoma*,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  18,  1864,  m.o. 

July  8,  1865. 
Norris.  II.,  Maquon,  e.  Dec.  25, 1863,  m.o.  July  31, 

1865,  corpl . 

Pickrel,  H.,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  18,'64.  m.o.  July31.'65. 
Price,  Wm.,  Maquon, e.  Jan.  25.  '54.m.o.  July31,'65. 
Stodaell.  G.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Jan.  21, 1864,  killed  in 

Ga.  July  31, 1864. 
White,  Thomas,  Maquon.  e.  Dec.  20,  1863,  missing 

in  action  since  Aug.  3. 1864. 
Young,  W.  J.,  Abingdon,e.  Feb.  20, 1864,m.o  July 

31, 1865. 

16th  CAV  ALKY. 

COMPANY  It. 

Hobbs,  R.  C.,  Altona,  e.  May  25,  1863,  m.  o.  Aug. 

19, 1865. 
Koontze,  J.H.,  Oneida,  e.   May  25,  1863,  died  at 

Richmond,  Va.,  March  5,  1864.  pris.  war. 
Topper,  E.,  Oneida,  e.  March  25,  1863,  m.  o.  Aug. 

19, 1865,  pris.  war. 

COMPANY  L,. 

Emmerson,  John.   Galesburg,  died  in  Anderson- 
ville,  June  12,  1864,  No.  grave  4,979. 


378 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


COMPANY  M. 

Butterfleld,  W.   H.,  Galesbnrg.   e.   March  2,1863, 

pris.  war.  m.  o.  June  16,  1865. 
Fogerty,  E.,  Galesburg. 
Holland,  N.,  Galesbnrg. 
Maranda,  C.,  Galesburg. 


Finch,    Oscar,   Walnut    Grove,  e.   Bat.  E.,  Sept 

25,1861. 
Vanfleet,    Dubois,  Altona,  e.  in    Bat.  E.,  Sept, 

25,  1861. 


1st  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

BATTERY  E. 

Atwood,  A.  A.,    Elba,  e.  Aug.  29,  1862,  died  at 
Mound  City,  111.,  Aug.  23,  1863. 

BATTERY  H. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Lewis  Larson,  Knoxville,  e.  June  12.  1865,  m.  o, 
June  14,  1865. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  Peter,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Jan.  15,  1862,  died 

Pittsburg  Landing,  May  9, 186-2. 
Erickson,  Swen,  Knoxville.  e.  Feb.  26,  1862,  died 

at  Memphis,  Sept.  19,  18G2. 
Larson,    Peter,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  27,  1862,  vet., 

m.  o.  June  4, 186.i,  corporal. 
Landstrom,  John,  Knoxville. 
Mannson,  Peter,  Knoxville,  e.  Feb.  19,  1862 

drowned  at  sea  by  burning  of  steamer  Gen. 

Lyon,  March  31,  1865. 
Nelson,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  Feb.  25,  1862,  vet.,  m.  o. 

June  14.  1865. 
Wyman,  P.  S..   Galesburg,  e.    Feb.  26,  1862,  vet.. 

sergt.,  killed  in  battle  July  22, 1864. 
Johnson,  S.  J.,  Galesburg. 

BATTERY"  M. 

Proctor,  J.,  Yates  City,  e.  Jan.  1,  1852,  m.  o.  July 
24,  1865. 


Lewis,  J.   T.,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.   2,   1864,  m.  o. 

July  29,  1865. 
Mitchell, O.  E..  Galesburg,   e.  Dec.   1,  1861,   vet., 

m.  o.  July  29,  1865.  sergt. 
Harbison,  J..  Henderson,   e.  Jan.  21,  1864,  m.  o. 

July  29,  1865. 
Morse,  J.  A..  Henderson,  e.  Jan.    2,   1864,  disch. 

July  22, 1864,  disability. 
Stevens,  James,  Henderson. 
Morse,  E.  N.,  Henderson,  e.  March  31.  1864,  m.  o. 

July  29,  1865. 
Kelly,  P..  Galesburg,  e.  April  6,  1865,  m.  o.  June 

3,  1865. 

Miller,  J.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  April  7,  1865. 
Needham,  J.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  7,  1865. 
O'Brien,  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  6,  1865. 
White,  E.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  6. 1863. 
Wood,  T.,  Galesburg,  April  6,  1865. 


»lh  U.  S.  COL'D  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  F. 

Bryan.  Lloyd.  Maquon,  e.    March   31,    1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  6,  1865. 
Cruthers,  H.,    Abingdon,  e.    Nov.   10,  1864,  m.  o. 

Nov.  6,  1865. 

COMPANY  CJ. 

Johnson,  F.,    Ontario,  e.   Jan.   19,    1865,   absent 

sick  m.  o.  regiment. 
Smith,  Geo.,  Ontario,  e.  Feb.  6,  1865. 
Taylor,  J.,  Ontario,  e.  Jan.  18,  1865. 
Williams,  J.,  Ontario,  e.  Jan.  19, 1865. 
Dennis,  Fletcher,  Galesburg,  e.  April  8, 1865-. 


2d  LIliHT  ARTILLERY. 

BATTERY  A. 

Rodecker,  W.  B.,  Knoxville,  disch.  for  disability. 
BATTERY  «. 

Matbiason,  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  6,   18H1,  vet., 
died  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  July^W,  1865. 

BATTERY'  H. 


Andrew  Stenbeck,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  31,  1861,  re- 
signed May  25,  1863. 

Privates. 

Burton.  J.  W.,  Galesbure,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861,  vet.,  m. 

o.  July  29,  18b5,  sergt. 
Black,  James,    Henderson,  e.   Jan.  2.  1864,  m.o. 

July  29,  1865. 
Coomb,  J..  Galesburg,  c.  Jan.  1.  1801,  in.  o.  July 

29,  1862. 
Davis.  Geo.  W.,  Galesburg.  e.   Jan.  21,  1864,  m.  o. 

.inly  29,  1865,  sergt. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Dwyer,  Michael,  Galesburg,  e.  Jan.  1,  1864,  in  Co. 

G.,  9th  inf.,  m.  o.  July  9,  1865. 
Henderson,  James,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861,  in  Co. 

K.,  12th  inf. 
Hite,  John  C.,  Abingdon,  e.  Oct.  27,  '64,  in  Co.  B., 

20th  inf.,  m.  o  July  16,  1865. 
Dew,  Geo.,  Galesburg  e.  June  20,  1861,  in  Co.  F., 

20th,  inf.,  disch.  Dec.  9,  1861,  di-ability. 
Woodward,  H    B.,  Galesburg,  P.  Jan.  15,  1862,  in 

C<-.  A.,  22d  inf., disch.  June  27,  1862,dicability. 
Martin,  C.,  Galesburg,  corpl.,  e.  March  18,  1864, 

in  Co.  C.,  23d  inf.,  w'd,  in  hospl.Jat  m.  o. 
Lyons,  Daniel,  Galesburg,  e.  March  20, 1862,  in  Co. 

C.,  23d  inf. 
Mann,  A.  H.,  Knoxville,  surgeon,  e.  Jan.  1,   1864, 

in  Co.  I.,  2ttth  inf.,  m.  o.  July  20,  1865. 
Null,  Geo.  W.,  Yates  City,  e.  Alls?.  12,  1861,  in  Co. 

E.,  27th  inf.,  vet.,  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May 

14,  1864. 
Massie,  A.  L.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  20,  1864,  in  Co. 

B.,  29th  inf.,  m.  o.  Nov.  6,  1865. 
Orcutt,  A.  H.,  Galesbnrg,  e.  Aug.  17,  1861,  in  Co. 

G.,  29th  inf.,  vet. 
Nichols,  Orson,  Galesburg,  e.  in  Co.  K.,  31st  inf., 

trans,  to  N.  C.  S. 
Cawsen,  G.  W.,  Copley,  e.  Feb.  14,  1865,  in  Co.  I., 

32d  inf.  m.  o.  Sept.  16,  1865. 
Culler.    Wm.,   Copley,  e.  Feb.  14,  1865.   in  Co.  I., 

32dinf.,  m.o.  Sej.t.  16.  1865. 
Connor,  Nathaniel,  Maquon,  o.   Sept.  6,  1861,  in 

Co.  K.,  34th  inf. 
DeWitt,  Odver,  KnoxviHe,  e.  Sept.  6,  1861,  in  Co. 

K.,  34th  inf.,  m.  o.  Oct.  18,  1864. 
Gaddes,  T.   J.,   Kuoxville,  e.  Sept.  6,  1861,  in  Co. 

K.,  34th  inf.,  m.  o.  July  12.  1865. 
Wilson,  J.  H.,  Galesburg,  e.  July  1,  1861,in  Co.C., 

44th  inf..  m.  o.  Sept.  25,  1865. 
Murray.  Truman,  Galesbtirg,  musician,  e.  Sept.  1, 

1861,  in  48th  inf. 
Conger.  E.  D  ,  Galesburg.  1st  sergt.,   e.  Sept.  25. 

1861,  in  Co.  G.,  32d  inf. 

Prentis,  J.  B.   Ga.e*burg,  musician,  c.   Sept.  25, 
•  1861,  in  Co.  G.  52d  inf. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  379 


Green,  C.  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept. ;  25, 1861,  in  Co. 

G.,  52d  inf. 
Green,  A.  P.,  Galesburg,  e.    Sept.  25,  1861,  in  Co. 

G.,  52d  inf.,  vet.,  pro.  1st  lieut. 
MeDougal,  M.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  25,  1861.  in  Co. 

G.,  52d  inf. 
Firkinp,  John,   Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  16,  1861,  in  Co. 

D.,  53d  inf..  vet.,  m.o.  July  23,  1865. 
Thompson,  G.  W.,  Ontario,  e.  Jan.  20,  1865,  in  Co. 

E.,  70th  inf.,  sick  at  m.  o.  regt. 
Hartford,  Geo.,  Abingdon,  e.  June  18,  1862,  in  Co. 

C.,84th  inf.,  corpl.  died  at  Nashville,  Jan.  15, 

1863. 
Bond,  E.  F.,  Galesburg,  e.  Aug.  8, 1802,  in  Co.  K., 

84tb  inf.,  m.o.  June  8,  1865. 
Smith,  Harvey  S.,  Galesburg,  lieut.  col.,  e.  Sept.  9, 


Thomas.  Thomas,  Wataga,  e.  Aug.  9,  1862,  in  Co. 

C,  124th  inf.,  died  at  Qnincy.  June  11,  1864. 
Halse,  H.  W.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,   in  Co.  D, 

124th  inf.,  m.o.  Aug.  15,  1805,  serge. 
Aikeu.  D.  B.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.   6,  1862,   in  Co.  D, 

124th  inf.,  m.o.  Aug.  15.  1865. 
Hogabanm,  R.  A.,  Oneida,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862,  in  Co. 

D,  124th  inf.,  disch.  for  pro.  Jan  ,  1864. 
Kenyon,  Geo.  (J.,  Knoxvil/e,  e.  July26,  1865,  capt. 

Co.  B,  130th  inf..  m.o.  Aug.  15.  1865. 
McMallen,  E.  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  May  3,  1864,  in  Co. 

G,  140th  inf.,  m.o.  Oct.  29, 1864,  sergt. 
Williams,  W.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Sept.  24, 1864,  died 

at  Alton,  Feb.  8,  1865. 
Plummer,  J.  N.,  Kuoxville,  e.  Feb.  1,  1865,  in  Co. 

G,  150th  inf.,  m.o.  Jan.  16,  1866. 


'62,  in  91st  inf., resigned  Oct.  20,  '6,4, since  died. 'Law,  D.  W.,  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  6,  '65,  in  Co.  A,  151st 
Phillips,  Edgar  L.,  Knoxville.  surgeon,  e.  Nov.  18.)        inf.,  m.o.  Jan.  24,  1866.  • 

1862,  in  91st  inf.,  resigned  Sept.  14,  1863.  Low.  S.,  Maquon,  e.  Feb.  13,1865,   in  Co.  A,  151st 

VanUilder,  E.,  Knoxville,  e.   Aug.   14, 1862,  in  Co.         inf.,  m.o.  Jan.  24,  1866. 

H.,  93d  inf.,  died  Dec.  13,  '64  of  wounds,  sersrt.  Lidrick,  M.  R.,  Abingdon. 
VanGilder,  M.  C.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.   14,  1862,  in  hawser,  J.  C.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  6,  1865,  inU.  S. 

Co.  H.,  93d  inf..  died  May  15, 1863.  vet.  vol. 

VanGilder,  W.  H.,  Knoxville,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862,  in  Callhonr,  J.,  Galesburg,  e.  April  6,  1865,  U.S. 

Co.  H,  93d  inf.,  m.o.  June  23,  1863,  corpl.  vet.  vol. 

Walters,  Albert,  Oneida,  e.   Aug.  14,  1862,  in  Co.  Penkenpaugh,  L.  E.,Hendesron,  e.  in  Co.  E,  5  cav. 

H,  93d  inf.,  died  at  Memphis,  e. March  23, 186  {.(Moore,  Levi,  Henderson,  e.  Keb.  13,  1861,  in  Co.F., 


Candee,  M.  G.,  Galesburg.  Aug.  11,  18(5-2,  in  Co.  F, 
114th  inf.,  detached  at  m.o.  of  reg'r. 

Hill,  J.  R,,  Yatas  City.  e.  Sept,  14,  1862,  in  Co.  F, 
116th  inf.,  m.o.  Juue  7, 1865. 

Parkins.  J.  D.,  Galesburg,  e.  Dec.  17.  1863,  in  Co. 
F.,  119th  inf  ,  detached  at  m.o.  of  reg't. 


6  cav.,  m.o.  Oct.  27,1865. 
Warren,  H.,  Ontario,  e.  Jan.  18, 1865,  in  Co.  I..  6th 

cav.,  m.  o.  Nov.  5,  1865. 
Freeman,  Fred  E.,  e.  in  106th  N.  Y.  inf.,  hospl. 

steward,  m.  o.  July  3,  1865. 


THE  4th  KEGIMENT,  L  N.  G. 

The  4th  Eegiment  Illinois  National  Guards  was  first  organized  at 
Peoria,  February  2,  1876.  Capt.  John  Huff,  commanding  the 
National  Blues,  was  elected  Colonel;  Capt.  W.  Whiting,  command 
ing  the  Altona  Rifle  Company,  was  elected  Lieut.-Colonel,  and 
Capt.  A.  T.  Johnson  elected  Major.  The  Adjutant-General  noti- 
fied Lieut.-Colonel  Whiting  that  he  was  in  full  command  of  the 
regiment,  owing  to  the  refusal  of  the  Legislature  to  confirm  Col. 
Huff.  During  the  same  winter  the  State  Legislature  passed  a  very 
imperfect  code,  to  organize  and  govern  the  militia  of  the  State.  The 
new  code  went  in  force  July  1,  1877.  As  commanding  officer  of  the 
regiment,  Col.  Whiting  ordered  an  election  at  Galva,  on  the  29th 
day  of  June,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  Colonel  to  command  until 
February  2,  1878,  as  that  was  the  time  agreed  upon  to  hold  the  first 
election.  There  was  some  question  about  the  time  designated  for  the 
election,  some  commands  claiming  February  2,  others  February  12, 
and  others  February  22.  On  February  1,  Gen.  Jasper  N.  Reese, 
commanding  this  Brigade,  whose  duty  it  was  under  the  new  code  to 
order  elections,  issued  special  order  No.  3,  ordering  an  election  to  be 
held  at  Altona,  February  12.  The  order  was  promulgated  by  Col. 
Whiting.  On  the  7th  he  received  a  telegram  from  Gen.  Reese, 
revoking  order  No.  3,  without  any  explanation.  On  the  12th  there 
was  a  meeting  of  the  field  and  line  officers  at  Oneida.  Col.  Whit- 
ing, with  .the  expectation  of  receiving  a  reprimand  for  something 


380  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

he  had  or  had  not  done,  was  called  into  an  adjoining  room,  when  he 
was  notified  why  order  No.  3  was  revoked,  and  handed  a  petition, 
signed  bj  the  field  and  line  officers,  with  the  information  that  they 
would  not  submit  to  an  election,  arid  insisted  that  he  was  duly  elected 
for  five  years  under  the  new  code;  Col.  Whiting  refused  to  com- 
ply with  the  request,  and  issued  an  order  calling  the  field  and  line 
officers  to  meet  at  Kewanee  for  consultation.  At  said  meeting  it  was 
moved  and  carried  unanimously  that  there  should  be  an  election  or- 
dered for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  Lieut. -Colonel  and  Major,  but  no 
election  for  Colonel.  Col.  Whiting  requested  Gen.  Reese  to  issue  an 
order  to  elect  a  Colonel,  Lieut.-Colonel  and  Major,  or  accept  his 
resignation.  March  22  he  received  Gen.  Reese's  order  No.  7,  order- 
ing an  election  at  Galva  April  4.  at  which  time  Gen.  Reese  was  pres- 
ent. Col.  Whiting  received  the  entire  vote  for  Colonel,  Major  Wm. 
Jackson  was  elected  Lieut.-Colonel,  and  Capt.  O.  L.  Higgins,  Major. 
The  forepart  of  July,  1877,  it  was  thought  best  to  re-district  the  State 
under  the  new  law.  Peoria,  with  three  companies,  was  detached  from 
the  4th,  and  with  several  companies  in  that  district  formed  the  7th 
Regiment.  Two  companies  from  Moline  were  detached  from  the  8th 
and  assigned  to  the  4th,  and  a  company  was  formed  at  Princeton  and 
assigned  to  the  4th.  Another  company  formed  at  Moline  and  one  at 
Rock  Island  when  the  companies  were  detached  from  the  4th,  and  the 
four  companies  at  Rock  Island  and  Moline  were  formed  into  the  4th 
Battery.  Owing  to  the  re-organization  it  became  necessary  for  the 
members  of  the  4th  Regiment  to  re-enlist;  but  it  being  in  the  busy 
season,  it  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  muster  the  men  in  until  cooler 
weather.  On  the  23d  of  July,  when  the  great  "  strike"  assumed  such 
formidable  proportions  that  it  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  commerce  and 
manufactories  of  the  country,  threatening  not  only  to  block  the  wheels 
of  the  nation's  industries,  but  the  life  of  the  nation  itself,  the  com- 
panies were  all  notified  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  marching 
orders  at  any  moment.  History  furnishes  few  instances  where  men 
responded  with  such  alacrity.  Twenty  minutes  after  Capt.  C.  A. 
Smith,  commanding  Co.  C  at  Altona,  had  received  his  orders,  he  had 
twenty  men  in  uniform  at  the  armory;  and  where  a  few  moments 
before  all  was  quiet,  and  no  thought  of  trouble,  now  could  be  seen  and 
heard  the  tramp  of  the  military  and  the  commands  of  officers.  In 
lour  hours  all  the  companies  of  the  4th  Regiment  reported  their  men 
ready  for  duty.  On  Friday,  July  27,  Col.  Whiting  received  orders 
from  Gen.  E.  N.  Bates,  then  in  command  of  the  2d  Brigade,  to  which 
the  4th  Regiment  belonged,  to  take  any  train  and  proceed  to  Alton 
Junction  as  fast  as  possible.  Col.  Whiting  received  the  order  at  5 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY.  381 

P.  M.,  and  promulgated  it,  and  at  12  P.  M.  the  same  night  Cos.  A,  C 
and  H  were  at  Galva.     Soon  after  midnight  Co.  G.,  of  Toulon,  came 
to  Galva  in  wagons;  a  train  from  the  east  soon  brought  Co.  F,  from 
Kewanee.     At  8  A.  M.  they  took  the  cars  for  Peoria,  by  the  P.  &  R. 
I.  R.  R.     At  Wyoming  Co.  I  joined  them,  and  they  all  continued 
their  journey  toward  East  St.  Louis,  arriving  there  early  on  Sunday 
morning.     iThey  went  immediately  on  duty,  and  continued  so  until 
Tuesday  morning,  when  they  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  Galesburg. 
This  being  the  point  of  intersection  of  four  of  the  branch  lines  of  the 
C.,  B.  &  Q.,  and  the  residence  of  a  large  number  of  the  striking  em- 
ployes of  the  company,  it  was  feared  serious  trouble  might  ensue;  and 
the  fears  were  founded  upon  the  fact  that  the  strikers  congregated 
about  the  depots,  held  consultations,  and,  by  persuasion  or  intimida- 
tion, prevented  the  running  of  nearly  all  the  trains  over  the  road.     But 
by  the  prompt  though  considerate  action  of  the  authorities,  and  the 
good  sense  of  the  more  intelligent  strikers,  who  cautioned  moderation 
and  no  violence  to  property  or  person,  the  trouble  ended  peaceably  on 
the  first  day  of  August,  after  six  days'  duration,  without  the  destruc- 
tion of  life  or  property  or  the  shedding  of  blood.     The  Regiment  ar- 
rived at  Galesburg  soon  after   dark,  hungry,  dirty  and    tired,  and 
remained  there    until  Wednesday  evening,  when  all  the  companies 
except  C  and  F  were  sent  home;  they  remained  until  Saturday  after- 
noon.    In  justice  to  the  field,  staff  and  line  officers,  and  especially  to 
the  private  soldiers,  upon  whom  the  brunt  of  the  labor  rested,  it  is 
but  proper  to  say  that  their  ready  and  willing  response  to  the  order, 
calling  them  from  their  work  in  the  shops,  business-places,  fields  and 
homes,  will  ever  be  remembered  as  a  proud  record.     There  was  no 
duty  required  of  them  that  they  were  not  ready  and  willing  to  perform 
at  any  moment. 

The  organization  of  the  militia  is  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the 
civil  authorities  to  enforce  law  and  obedience,  when  called  upon.  The 
citizens  of  the  great  State  of  Illinois  need  have  little  tear  that  that 
duty  will  be  well  performed,  when  necessity  requires  it,  by  the  men 
who  have  shown  such  willingness  to  discharge  it  in  the  past. 

Below  are  the  names  of  the  members  of  this  organization  who 
reside  in  this  county.  The  headquarters  of  the  Regiment  are  at 
Aitona. 

BAND. 

The  4th  Regiment  Band  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  has 
kept  up  a  continuous  organization  ever  since.  Previous  to  the  sum- 
mer of  18TT  it  was  known  as  the  Oneida  Cornet  Band,  At  that  time 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


it  became  the  regimental  band  for  the  4th  Regiment,  I.  N.  Gr.  The 
band  is  the  oldest  organization  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  The  fol- 
lowing are  its  memhers:  C.  S.  Matteson,  Leader,  1st  E  flat  cornet; 
M.  J.  Ladd,  2d  E  flat  cornet;  A.  W.  Ladd,  1st  B  flat  cornet;  Arthur 
Stunner,  2d  B  flat  cornet;  Harry  Swafford,  solo  alto;  F.  0.  Bristol,  1st 
alto;  E.  Nelson,  2dalto;  Fremont  Cawkins,  1st  tenor;  Leroy  Cawkins, 
2d  tenor;  W.  Jelliff,  barytone;  John  Howland,  1st  bass;  W-  W.  Ladd, 
basso;  Willis  Swafford,  snare  drum;  Henry  Howland,  bass  drum. 

REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Col.  Wm.  Whiting,  Altona,  Knox  county,  111. 

Lieut-Colonel  Win.  Jackson,  Elmira,  Stark  county,  111. 

Major  O.  L.  Higgins,  Oneida,  Knox  county,  111. 

Major  James  F.  Todd,  Surgeon,  Galva,  Henry  county. 

Capt.  Walter  T.  Hall,  Assistant  Surgeon,  Toulon,  Stark  county. 

Capt.  G.  Wiley  Martin,  Chaplain,  Prairie  City,  McDonough  county. 

Lieut.  Wm.  O.  Whiting,  Adjutant,  Altona,  Knox  county. 

Lieut.  Theodore  A.  Wetmore,  Quartermaster,  Oneida,  Knox  county. 

Onslow  P.  Shellenbarger,  Sergeant-Major,  Toulon,  Stark  county. 

Benjamin  Whitcher,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Wyoming,  Stark  county. 

Robert  D.  Murray,  Commissary  Sergeant,  Princeton,  Beaver  county. 

Dr.  Barnard  S.  Pick,  Hospital  Steward,  Galva,  Henry  county. 

D.  W.  Wooley,  Color  Sergeant,  Altona,  Knox  county. 

Frank  W.  Ward,  Ordinance  Sergeant,  Kewanee,  Henry  county. 

George  W.  Williams,  Drum-Major,  Galesburg,  Knox  county. 

Chas.  S.  Matterson,  Principal  Musician,  Oneida,  Knox  county. 

Arthur  W.  Ladd,  Principal  Musician,  Oneida,  Knox  county. 

DRUM  CORPS, 

This  drum  corps,  consisting  of  twenty-one  boys  ranging  in  ages  from  7  to  15,  ws 
organized  at  Galesburg  on  the  25th  of  May,  1878,  by  Geo.  W.  Williams,  Drum  Major 
of  this  regiment.  This  is  the  third  regiment  of  which  Drum  Major  Williams  has 
filled  the  position  of  Drum  Major.  He  tendered  this  corps  to  Col.  Whiting,  who 
accepted  May  28. 

Geo.  W.  Willianis,  Major  and  President. 
W.  W.  Williams,  Secretary.  Frank  Smith,  Treasurer. 

Drummers. 


Walter  W.  Williams, 
Horace  Willsie, 
Frank  Smith, 
Lyman  Burk, 
Leon  Charvat, 
Frank  Culler, 
Chas.  Burton, 


Gust  Hoffheimer, 
Burt  Ekins, 
Harry  Parker, 
Frank  Charvat, 
Mart.  O'Connor, 
Samuel  R.  Mead, 
Howard  Fuller, 


Geo.  W.Williams,  Jr., 
William  Dunsworth, 
Clarence  Smith, 
Warren  Marshall, 
Eddie  Hoyle, 
Fred.  H.  Calson, 
Chas.  Fitch. 


COMPANY  A.     (Stationed  at  Oneida.) 

Line  Officers. 
Capt.  Frank  Murdoch,  1st  Lieut.  J.  W.  Howland,    2d  Lieut.  George  R.  Moore. 

Non-Commissioned  Officers. 

1st  Sergt.  Win.  Black,  2d  Sergt.  Albert  B.  Risden,  8d  Sergt.  Frank  B.  Moore, 

4th  Sergt.  Howard  Moore,  5th  Sergt.  (vacant), 

1st  Corp.  Elisha  Kenney,  2d  Corp.  W.  S.  Dunn.          2cl  Corp.  Adelbert  Mosher, 

4th  Corp.  J.  L.  Armstrong,  5tli  Corp.  Tyler  Thorn,        6ih  Corp.  D.  McSkimmiug, 

7th  Corp.  Frank  Jelliff,  8th  Corp.  Frederick  West. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


383 


H.  B.  Allen, 
Ed.  Butler, 
George  Brainarcl, 
Jacob  Creston, 
Chaj.  L.  Dingman, 
Ralph  Garrison, 
L.  C.  Mitchell, 
Chas.  A.  Moore, 
N.  A.  Olson, 
Orrin  E.  Powell, 
Andrew  Simpson, 


Privates. 

Ephraim  Bigham, 
Wm.  E.  Butler, 
Frank  Codding, 
Gardner  G.  Cherrington, 
John  Ferril, 
C.  F.  Kenney, 
Thos.  H.  Mead, 
Edwin  Moore, 
Andrew  Olson, 
John  M.  Ray, 
Walter  H.  Vance. 


Henry  P.  Brancher, 
Robert  8.  Bell, 
Albert  Coyle, 
Chauncy  Decker, 
Nelson  Fink, 
J.  A.  Liggett, 
"Watson  J.  Martin, 
W.  Olson, 
P.  Sterling  Olson, 
Lorenzo  T.  Rogers, 


COMPANY  B.     (College  City  Guards.) 


This  company  is  located  at  Galesburg,  and  was  organized  in  Sept.  24, 1878. 

Line  Officers. 
Capt.  E.  F.  Pkelps,  1st  Lieut.  C.  T.  Wells,         2d  Lieut.  Fred.  L.  Brooks. 

Non-Gommissioned  Officers. 

1st  Sergt.  Frank  D.  Bellows,  2d  Sergt.  Ed.  R.  Drake,        3d  Sergt.  James  E.  Hamblin, 
4th  Sergt.  Daniel  S.  Hecker,  5th  Sergt.  Fred.  H.  Holmes. 

1st  Corp.  Geo.  W.  Manning,  2d  Corp.  Lucius  J.  Phelps,  3d  Corp.  John  A.  Nelson, 
4th  Corp.  Chas.  P.  Waste,      5th  Corp.  W.  B.  Barnes,       Gth  Corp.  Geo.  P.  Worrell, 
7th  Corp.  Frank  W.  Stilson,  8th  Corp.  Frank  T.  Thulin. 

Musician. 
Gustave  Werner. 


Win.  C.  Alden, 
E.  P.  Chandler,  Jr., 
Wm.  H.  Gillette, 
R.  Jackson, 
Chas.  J.  Munson, 
E.  W.  Moulton. 
J.  M.  Porter, 
J.  E.  Rodin, 
Wm.  W.  Tompkins, 


Privates. 

Wm.  W.  Brown, 
O.  T.  Duvon, 
W.  A.  Heizer, 
James  B.  Kingan, 
Frank  H.  McMillen, 
W.  J.  Melins, 
R.  W.  Peterson, 
J.  C.  Reese, 
W.  S.  Wood, 
G.  Wahlgreen. 


E.  H.  Gushing, 
H.  E.  Ewing, 
John  B.  Johnson, 
Alfred  Laird, 
Chas.  W.  Munson, 
J.  C.  Olson, 
Geo.  W.  Prince, 
J.  E.  Snow, 
E.  H.  Welch, 
Walter  N.  Boyer. 


COMPANY  C.    (Stationed  at  Altona.) 


Capt.  Chas.  A.  Smith, 


1st  Sergt.  L.  S.  Whitcomb, 
4th  Sergt.  Harvey  Austin, 
1st  Corp.  Ed.  Tengblade, 
4th  Corp.  John  Beckman, 
7th  Corp.  And.  Bergland, 


Chas.  Arvidson, 
John  P.  Bowman, 
Joseph  B.  Copley, 
Leander  Collinson, 
John  M.  Ferguson, 

22 


Line  Officers. 

1st  Lieut.  James  T.  Starr,  2d  Lieut.  George  B.  Hall. 
Non-Commissioned  Officers. 

2nd  Sergt  T.  J.  Golliher,    3d  Sergt,  Cornelius  Wayman, 
5th  Sergt.  Wm.  Krantz. 

2d  Corp.  F.  A.  Whiting,      3d  Corp. . 

5th  Corp.  Frank  W.  Bartle,  Gth  Corp.  Henry  Mortimer, 
8th  Corp.  Curtis  C.  Capps. 

Musician. 
Edward  S.  Thomas. 

Privates. 

Clarence  M.  Allis,  Samuel  M.  Bowman, 

Alfred  Beckman,  Jas.  M.  Burneson, 

Dewitt  C.  Copley,  Frank  G.  Carlson, 

Chester  J.  Chase,  Albert  E.  Ericson, 

Mart.  Ferguson,  Wm.  G.  Ferkins, 


334 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


James  Hakenson, 
John  B.  Johnson, 
Chester  F.  Murray, 
Wm.  F.  Scott, 


Daniel  Henderson, 
Jefferson  B.  Keel, 
Thos.  McClure, 
Jas.  B.  Thompson, 


Lyons  C.  Hurd, 
Frank  S.  Miller, 
John  Olof  Risburg, 
Robert  Patterson. 


MEMBERS  OF  BATTERY.    (Located  at  Altona.) 

Capt.  Aaron  Brown. 

Section  No.  1 — Jack  W.  Farr,  Gunner — 6-lb.  guns. 

Jesse  T.  Eaves,  No.  1,  Orin  B.  Preston,  No.  2,       E.  B.  Smith,  No.  3, 

Wallace  Smith,  No.  4,  Wm.  H.  Keys,  No.  5,  John  A.  Stuckey,  No.    6 

Lemuel  H.  Smith,  No.  7. 

Section  No.  2 — Wm.  M.  Stockdale,  Gunner — 6-lb  guns. 

Peter  G.  Anderson,  No.  1,      Harry  Vanscoyk,  No.  2,      Samuel  Pawling,  No.  3, 
Jacob  Borkhart,  No.  4,  Chas.  Austin,  No.  5.  Cornelius  Wayman,  No.  6, 

Oscar  Durant,  No.  7. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  385 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RESOURCES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

We  purpose  in  this  chapter  to  give  a  short  summary  of  such  mat- 
ters as  will  clearly  show  the  business  and  resources  of  Knox  county. 
To  the  thoughtful  and  intelligent  reader  these  items  will  be  invalu- 
able, and  we  commend  them  to  the  capitalists  of  the  country  as  show- 
ing truthfully  the  resources  and  standing  of  the  county. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  mostly  rich,  rolling  prairie,  watered  by 
Spoon  river  and  Court  creek,  with  their  numerous  small  tributaries, 
along  which  are  extensive  bodies  of  timber.  The  farmers  have  planted 
artificial  groves  extensively  over  the  prairie,  which  has  had  the  effect 
of  ameliorating  the  climate,  by  keeping  the  winds  of  an  open  country 
from  the  surface  of  the  earth.  By  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the 
citizens  of  this  county  it  has  been  transformed  from  the  native  wilder- 
ness into  one  of  the  most  attractive  portions  of  the  State,  if  not  of  the 
West.  By  men  whom  the  country  rely  upon  as  authority  on  such 
subjects,  it  is  claimed  that  there  is  no  spot  on  the  face  of  the  earth 
capable  of  sustaining  a  denser  population  than  the  Military  Tract; 
and  those  familiar  with  this  beautiful  portion  of  our  State  know  that 
Knox  county  has  no  superior  within  its  boundary.  This  will  be 
plainly  shown  before  finishing  this  chapter;  and  that  this  county  con- 
tains as  intelligent,  enterprising  and  thrifty  set  of  agriculturists  as 
probably  can  be  found  in  the  same  breadth  of  territory  in  the  United 
States  few  will  deny.  Fine  barns,  with  all  the  modern  improvements, 
comfortable  dwellings,  lawns,  gardens,  out-houses,  etc.,  are  found  on 
every  hand. 

The  natural  resources  of  the  county,  as  above  alluded  to,  for  agri- 
cultural and  manufacturing  purposes  are  excellent,  which,  with  the 
numerous  railroad  facilities  for  transportation  and  marketing,  give  to 
the  farmers  and  manufacturers  of  the  county  superior  advantages. 
The  agricultural  interests  of  the  county  are  well  advanced.  The  soil 
is  mostly  rich  prairie  loam,  and  has  great  productive  qualities.  It  is 
mostly  divided  into  farms  of  medium  size,  from  80  to  320  acres;  but 
very  few  large  farms  are  to  be  found.  The  benefit  of  this  is  apparent 
by  the  increased  population  and  a  better  cultivation.  The  farms  are 


386  HISTORY   OF  KNOX    COUNTY. 

mostly  subdivided  by  hedges  of  Osage  orange  into  fields,  and  a  system 
of  rotation  in  crops  is  generally  practiced.  The  foolish  custom  of  the 
early  settlers,  of  burning  the  straw  to  avoid  making  manure,  has  been 
abandoned,  and  now  the  opposite  is  followed.  It  having  become  a 
known  fact  that  manure  benefits  even  the  best  prairie  soil,  the  farmers- 
save  all  material  that  will  fertilize  the  soil,  by  which  system  it  pro- 
duces better  grass  and  field  crops  (except  spring  wheat)  than  formerly. 
Cultivation  or  change  of  climate  has  rendered  that  crop  which,  when 
the  country  was  first  settled,  was  abundant,  one  of  great  uncertainty; 
so  much  so  that  the  farmers  sow  but  a  limited  number  of  acres  of  it 
each  year,  merely  enough  to  furnish  flour  for  themselves.  The  staple 
crops  of  cereals  are  oats  and  corn,  which  yield  abundantly  unless  the 
season  is  very  unfavorable.  The  corn  crop  is  by  far  the  largest  in 
acres,  and  may  be  safely  said  to  be  the  most  reliable  and  profitable 
one  to  the  farmer. 

Extent  of  Territory. — Knox  county  is  thirty  miles  in  length  and 
twenty-four  in  width,  haying  within  its  boundaries  twenty  townships 
of  thirty-six  square  miles  each,  or  a  total  of  720  square  miles.  In 
each  square  mile  are  640  acres,  which  makes  a  grand  total  of  460,800 
acres  of  land  in  the  county. 

Improved  Land. — By  this  statement  is  meant  such  lands  as  may 
be  enclosed  and  value  enhanced  by  cultivation,  by  the  erection  ot 
buildings,  or  in  the  manufacture  of  articles  of  profit.  It  is  customary,, 
in  the  assessment  of  real  estate,  to  call  any  tract  improved  that  ha& 
any  portion  under  cultivation.  The  number  of  acres  adapted  to  cul- 
tivation are  419,778. 

Unimproved  Land. — The  proportion  of  unimproved  land  is  small,, 
being  less  than  one-seventeenth  of  the  entire  land  of  the  county.  The 
greater  portion  of  this  never  will  be  brought  under  cultivation, 
although  much  of  it  is  of  great  value,  being  underlaid  with  coal, 
and  having  in  it  several  valuable  quarries  of  stone.  Several  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  county,  however,  were  once  thought  to  be  as  value- 
less as  much  of  this  unimproved  land  now  seems  to  be,  and  it  may  be 
that  a  considerable  part  of  it  will  yet  be  cultivated. 

Real  and  Personal  Property. — For  the  wealth  of  the  county,  the 
statement  of  the  amount  of  personal  property,  town  lots  and  lands, 
will  give  a  fair  idea.  We  learn  from  this  that  the  aggregate  value  of 
the  three  classes  of  property  named  is  $16,340,742.  But  as  it  is  not 
customary  to  make  the  assessment  on  a  full  cash  valuation,  we  must, 
in  order  to  fully  show  the  wealth  of  the  county,  add  the  per  cent, 
deficit.  The  assessment  shows  only  about  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  value 
of  property;  therefore,  upon  this  basis,  which  is  by  no  means  an 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  389 

we  find  the  real  wealth  of  Knox  county  to  be  $27,234,570, 
;  an  average  of  $544.60  to  ever}7  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  county. 
!The  State  Board  of  Equalization  has  always  made  a  deduction  from 
the  assessment  of  property  in  this  county,  while  in  many  counties 
they  have  never  failed  to  increase  the  assessment.     The  deduction 
made  on  personal  property  assessment  has  been  as  follows:     1873,  27 
[per  cent;   1874,  34  per  cent.;  1875,  32  per  cent.;   1876,  28  per  cent. ; 
1877,  22   per   cent.,  and   1878,  16   per   cent.     On  lands— 1873,  24 
per  cent.;  1874,  26  per  cent.;  1875,  23  per  cent.;    1876,  29  per  cent.; 
1877,  21  per  cent.;  1878,  16  per  cent. 

Wheat. — While  wheat  is  decidedly  preferred  to  all  other  grain, 
and  next  to  corn  is  the  most  important  crop  raised  in  the  county, 
jet  for  a  few  years  past  the  yield  has  been  light  and  the  quality  poor. 
Indeed  the  average  yield  of  the  crop  has  scarcely  compensated  for 
the  outlay  of  seed  and  labor.  Wheat,  although  not  an  aboriginal 
grain,  was  introduced  at  an  early  day.  Charlevoix,  who  went  down 
the  Mississippi  in  1721,  writing  from  Kaskaskia,  speaks  of  the  Illi- 
nois soil  "as  extremely  proper  for  wheat;"  and  Du  Pratz,  who  wrote 
a  description  of  the  country  in  1758,  says:  "  The  French  post  of  the  Illi- 
nois is,  of  all  the  colony,  that  in  which  with  the  greatest  care  they 
grow  wheat,  rye  and  other  like  grain,  for  the  sowing  of  which  you 
need  only  to  turn  the  earth  in  the  slightest  manner;  that  slight  cul- 
ture is  sufficient  to  make  the  earth  produce  as  much  as  we  can 
reasonably  desire.  I  have  been  assured  that  in  the  last  war,  when 
flour  from  France  was  scarce,  Illinois  sent  down  to  New  Orleans 
upwards  of  800,000  weight  in  one  winter."  This  would  be  almost 
4,000  barrels.  Monett  states,  on  the  authority  of  Martin,  that  600 
barrels  of  flour  were  sent  to  New  Orleans  in  1746.  Pittman,  in 
1770,  mentions  that  "  in  the  late  war,  flour  and  other  articles  were 
sent  down  the  Mississippi,"  and  notes  mills  "for  corn  and  planks"  at 
Ivaoquias,  Saint  Phillipe  and  Kaoquias.  Gov.  Reynolds,  in  his 
41  Life  and  Times,'-'  states  that  the  French  in  1800  "  sowed  spring 
wheat  as  their  common  fields  were  occupied  by  the  cattle  all  winter. 
The  Americans  mostly  raised  fall  wheat,  and  at  times  some  spring 
wheat  also.  It  was  tolerably  well  plowed  in  with  the  ox  team."  Even  as 
late  as  his  day  the  sickle  or  the  reap  hook  was  the  only  implement 
used  to  cut  the  grain.  It  was  stacked  by  the  Americans  and  put  in 
barns  by  the  French.  It  was  thrashed  by  horses,  and  winnowed  with 
-a  sheet,  which  latter  process  the  Governor  pronounced  the  hardest 
work  he  ever  performed.  J.  M.  Peck,  in  1831,  says  that  "  wheat  pro- 
duces a  good  and  sure  crop,  especially  in  Morgan,  Sangamon  and 
•other  counties  north."  He  mentions  crops  of  35  bushels  to  the  acre- 


390  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

"Few  of  our  farmers,"  he  concludes,  "have  barns  or  threshing  floors: 
the  grain  is  put  up  in  stacks,  exposed  to  the  weather,  and  trod  out 
with  horses  on  the  ground,  with  considerable  loss  and  injury." 

In  Northern  Illinois  spring  wheat  was  made  a  crop  of  great  prom- 
inence between  1840  and  1860.  Since  1860,  however,  it  has  generally 
declined,  and  is  regarded  as  an  uncertain  and  not  very  profitable  crop; 
while  the  drill,  which  was  introduced  about  1850,  has  not  overcome 
the  disadvantages  of  a  colder  climate  and  more  open  soil  for  winter 
wheat.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  abundant  crops  of 
wheat  were  raised,  and  of  a  superior  quality,  winter  wheat  being 
principally  sown.  Of  late  years  spring  wheat  has  very  generally 
taken  its  place,  the  cause  being  that  winter  wheat  has  nearly  always 
been  killed  by  the  severe  cold  of  our  winters.  In  1850  there  were 
raised  in  this  co'unty  201,4:81  bushels;  in  1860,  442,127  bushels,  and 
in  1870,  275,418  bushels.  In  1877  there  were  sown  730  acres  of 
winter  wheat,  which  yielded  12,030  bushels.  The  same  year  5,196 
acres  of  spring  wheat  were  sown,  producing  59,715  bushels.  The 
largest  number  of  bushels  of  winter  wheat  were  raised  in  Orange 
township,  being  3,697  bushels.  The  yield  was  the  largest  per  acre, 
in  Maquon  township,  being  a  fraction  over  20  bushels.  This  town- 
ship also  yielded  the  largest  number  of  bushels  of  spring  wheat;  from 
611  acres  6,611  bushels  were  raised,  Lynn  township  raising  the  most 
per  acre.  From  216  acres  in  that  township  3,226  bushels  were  raisedr 
— about  15  bushels  to7the  acre. 

There  were  sown  this  year  6,924  acres  of  wheat,  being  1,000  acres* 
more  than  for  1877. 

Corn. —  Among  the  products  of  Knox  county,  as  well  as  generally 
in  the  United  States,  corn  takes  the  precedence  as  being  the  most 
popular  and  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  soil.  The  origin  of  Indian  corn 
has  been  a  source  of  much  controversy;  and  although  there  has  been 
much  written  on  the  Eastern  origin  of  it,  yet  it  is  certain  it  did  not 
grow  in  that  part  of  Asia  watered  by  the  Indus  at  the  time  of  Alex- 
ander the  Great's  expedition,  as  it  is  not  among  the  productions  of 
that  country  mentioned  by  Nearchus,  the  commander  of  the  fleet. 
Neither  is  it  noticed  by  Arrian,  Diodorus,  Columella,  or  any  other 
ancient  author.  And  even  as  late  as  1491,  the  year  before  Columbus- 
discovered  America,  Joan  di  Cuba,  in  his  "  Ortus  Sanitatis,"  makes 
no  mention  of  it.  It  has  never  been  found  in  any  ancient  tumulus, 
sarcophagus  or  pyramid,  nor  has  it  ever  been  represented  in  any 
ancient  painting,  sculpture,  or  work  of  art,  except  in  America.  But 
in  this  country,  according  to  Garalaso  de  la  Vega,  one  of  the  earliest 
Peruvian  historians,  the  palace  gardens  of  the  Incas  were  ornamented 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  391 

with  maize  in  gold  and  silver,  with  all  the  grains,  spikes,  stalks,  and 
leaves;  and  in  one  instance,  in  the  "  Garden  of  Gold  and  Silver," 
there  was  an  entire  corn-field  of  considerable  size,  representing 
the  maize  in  its  exact  and  natural  shape,  a  proof  no  less  of  the  wealth 
of  the  Incas  than  of  their  veneration  for  this  important  grain.  In 
further  proof  of  the  American  origin  of  this  plant,  it  may  be  stated 
that  it  is  still  found  growing  in  a  wild  state,  from  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains in  North  America  to  the  humid  forests  of  Paraguay,  where, 
instead  of  each  grain  being  naked,  as  is  always  the  case  after  long 
cultivation,  it  is  completely  covered  with  glumes  or  husks.  It  is 
moreover  a  well  authenticated  fact  that  maize  was  found  in  a  state  of 
cultivation  by  the  aborigines  on  the  Island  of  Cuba  at  the  time  of  the 
discovery  by  Columbus,  as  well  as  in  most  other  places  in  America 
first  explored  by  the  Europeans. 

The  first  successful  attempt  of  the  English  in  North  America  to 
cultivate  this  grain  was  made  on  James  river,  in  Virginia,  in  1608. 
The  colonists  sent  over  by  the  "  London  Company  "  adopted  the  mode 
then  practiced  by  the  Indians,  which  with  some  modifications  has  been 
pursued  ever  since. 

There  were  in  cultivation  in  this  county,  during  the  year  1877, 
155,060  acres  of  this  grain,  yielding  4,894,359  bushels, — an  average 
of  32  bushels  per  acre,  which,  as  the  season  was  unfavorable  through- 
out the  Northwest,  should  be  satisfactory  to  the  farmers  of  Knox. 
Indeed  it  was  the  largest  crop  of  corn  ever  raised  in  the  county,  as 
comparison  with  former  years  clearly  shows,  and  the  aggregate  number 
of  bushels  was  greater  than  ever  produced  by  any  county  in  the  State 
of.  Illinois  as  shown  by  the  census  returns.  In  1850  the  crop 
amounted  to  1,570,361  bushels;  in  1860,  3,155,470  bushels;  in  1870, 
2,708,319  bushels;  and  in  1877,  4,894,359  bushels.  Ontario  town- 
ship led  the  van,  both  in  number  of  acres  and  yield:  there  were  10,- 
861  acres,  yielding  570,500  bushels,  an  average  of  53  bushels  to  the 
acre.  There  were  planted  during  the  past  year  171,418  acres  of  corn, 
being  over  two-fifths  of  all  the  land  under  cultivation  in  the  county ;  and 
as  the  yield  will  be  much  larger  this  year  than  last,  it  is  safe  to  make  an 
estimate  upon  the  basis  of  40  bushels  to  theacre.  This  will  give  an  aggre- 
gate yield  of  6,856,720  bushels;  but  as  the  corn  crop  is  applied  to  so 
great  a  variety  of  purposes,  and  is  such  an  indispensable  article  for  farm 
consumption  however  abundantly  it  may  be  produced,  the  country's 
increasing  demand  will  press  heavily  upon  the  supply.  Yery  many 
of  the  farmers  do  not  pretend  to  sell  a  bushel  any  season,  because  they 
find  it  more  profitable  to  feed  it  to  stock  than  to  sell  it  in  its  bulky 


392  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

condition.  The  general  market  price  varies  from  25c  to  40c  per 
bushel. 

Oats. — When  considered  in  connection  with  the  artificial  grasses* 
and  the  nourishment  it  affords  to  stock,  especially  the  horse,  this 
grain  may  be  considered  as  one  of  the  most  important  crops  produced. 
Its  yield  is  generally  abundant  and  profitable.  In  1877  there  were 
27,326  acres  sown,  yielding  926,370  bushels,  an  average  of  34  bushels 
to  the  acre.  For  1878  there  were  26,955  acres  devoted  to  this  grain, 
but  the  yield  is  much  heavier  than  for  the  former  year.  It  will  not 
fall  short  of  45  bushels  to  the  acre,  which  will  make  the  aggregate 
yield  1,212,975  bushels.  The  general  market  price  varies  from  20c  to 
40c  per  bushel. 

Meadow. —  The  hay  crop  is  becoming  one  of  great  importance, 
the  vast  prairies  of  Knox  county  affording  an  abundant  yield,  which 
with  the  little  labor  required  to  raise  it,  and  the  generally  fair  market 
price,  makes  it  a  very  profitable  article  of  culture.  Besides,  it  en- 
ables the  farmer  to  rest  his  land.  Clover  and  timothy  are  the  chief 
crops  grown  for  hay,  but  the  former  in  this  latitude  is  liable  to  be 
killed  by  freezing  in  the  winter.  When  used  for  pasture  land  both 
give  way  to  blue  grass,  which  seems  to  be  as  natural  here  as  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  grows  equally  luxuriant.  The  sod  which  this  grass  makes 
when  broken  up,  produces  large  corn  crops.  The  market  price  of  this 
staple  article  varies  from  $5  to  $12  per  ton.  The  season  of  1877  there 
were  assigned  to  the  cultivation  of  grass  in  this  county  42,967  acres, 
producing  62,483  tons  of  hay, —  an  average  of  almost  1|-  tons  per 
acre.  This  season  44,307  acres  were  allotted  to  grass. 

OTHER  PRODUCTS. —  Under  this  head  are  included  rye,  barley,  buck- 
wheat, potatoes,  and  such  other  articles  as  are  commonly  cultivated 
in  small  quantities.  Alloted  to  the  use  of  these  products  for  the  year 
1877  were  14,256  acres;  for  1878,  18,408  acres. 

Rye  and  Barley. —  These  grains  are  generally  a  sure  crop,  and  the 
yield  heavy;  but  there  being  no  home  demand,  and  the  general  market 
price  so  low,  other  grains  are  more  profitable:  consequently  but  a 
small  portion  of  the  land  is  allotted  to  their  culture. 

Buckwheat. —  This  gram  is  but  little  cultivated  in  this  county, — 
in  fact  not  enough  to  supply  home  consumption,  the  farmers  claim- 
ing it  to  be  unprofitable.  In  1877,  392  acres  were  raised,  yielding 
5,529  bushels. 

Broom-Corn. — This  is  another  product  that  receives  but  little  at- 
tention from  the  farmers  of  Knox  county.  In  1877  there  were  culti- 
vated 1,302  acres,  yielding  365,316  pounds.  Of  this  amount  600  acres 
were  grown  in  Galesburg  township. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  393 

Potatoes. —  The  common  Irish  potato,  so  extensively  cultivated  in 
most  of  the  temperate  climates  of  the  globe  because  of  its  value  as  an 
item  of  daily  food,  is  regarded  of  but  little  less  importance  than  corn 
or  wheat.  In  this  county  the  yield  is  generally  heavy.  The  Color- 
ado bug,  which  for  several  years  was  so  destructive  of  the  potato, 
killing  the  vine  before  the  potato  matured,  for  the  past  few  years  has 
not  made  its  appearance  to  any  considerable  extent.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  days  of  this  enemy  of  the  potato  are  past.  The  general  market 
value  is  extremely  fluctuating,  ranging  all  the  way  from  15c  to  $2 
per  bushel.  In  1877  there  were  1,410  acres  planted  in  potatoes,  yiejd- 
ing  120,397  bushels.  In  the  city  of  Galesburg  254  acres  yielded 
68,580  bushels,  an  average  of  270  bushels  to  the  acre.  The  aggregate 
number  of  acres  is  larger  this  year,  as  also  the  yield. 

Pasture. —  The  number  of  acres  of  pasturage  at  present  in  this 
county  is  134,508.  This  is  used  for  pasturing  cattle,  almost  every 
farmer  having  a  few  acres  enclosed  for  that  purpose.  Some  of  the 
land  is  woodland,  and  can  be  used  for  no  other  purpose;  but  being 
well  watered  and  good  for  grazing,  it  is  valuable. 

Miscellaneous  Products. —  In  1877  there  were  36  acres  of  beans 
grown,  yielding  1,421  bushels.  Two  acres  of  peas,  producing  135 
bushels,  was?a  portion  of  the  products  the  same  year,  as  also  50  acres 
of  sweet  potatoes,  yielding  3,244  bushels.  Of  sugar  cane  there  were 
126  acres,  from  which  was  made  10,993  gallons  of  syrup.  From  the 
34  acres  of  grapes  raised  but  142  gallons  of  wine  were  manufactured. 
There  were  devoted  to  turnips  and  other  root  crops  247  acres,  yielding 
10,960  bushels.  There  were  but  695  pounds  of  tobacco  cultivated. 
The  seed  crop  amounted  to  3.471  bushels,  mostly  timothy. 

Wood  Land. — As  before  mentioned  Knox  county  is  largely  prairie 
land,  although  there  are  many  streams  and  large  creeks  running 
through  it  which  are  bordered  by  timber.  The  timber,  however, 
does  not  extend  a  great  distance,  the  wood  land  being  only  34,003 
acres.  The  timber  land  is  principally  in  the  central  and  south- 
ern townships.  The  principal  varieties  are  white,  red  and  black  oak, 
hickory,  elm,  cherry,  maple,  white  and  black  walnut,  birch,  etc.  This 
land  is  not  considered  as  valuable  now  as  it  was  in  the  earlier  history 
of  the  county,  when  it  was  deemed  essential  by  every  farmer  that  he 
should  have  the  greater  part  of  his  farm  in  timber^  that  he  might 
have  sufficient  for  building  purposes,  fencing  and  fuel.  The  question 
of  supply  and  demand  puzzled  the  pioneers  greatly,  but  it  has  been 
effectually  solved  by  the  introduction  of  the  railroad. 

Domestic  Animals. —  The  first  animals  brought  to  America 
from  Europe  were  imported  by  Columbus,  in  his  second  voyage,  in 


394  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

1493.  He  left  Spain  as  Admiral  of  seventeen  ships,  bringing  a  collec- 
tion of  European  trees,  plants  and  seeds  of  various  kinds,  a  number 
of  horses,  a  bull,  and  several  cows. 

The  first  horses  brought  into  an}7  part  of  the  territory  at  present 
embraced  in  the  United  States  were  landed  in  Florida  by  Cabeca  de 
Vaca  in  1527, — 42  in  number,  all  of  which  perished  or  were  other- 
wise killed.  The  next  importation  was  also  brought  to  Florida,  by 
De  Soto,  in  1539,  which  consisted  of  a  large  number  of  horses  and 
swine,  among  which  were  13  sows,  the  progeny  of  the  latter  soon  in- 
cre^sing  to  several  hundred. 

The  Portuguese  took  cattle  and  swine  to  Newfoundland  and  Nova 
Scotia  in  the  year  1553.  Thirty  years  after,  they  had  multiplied  so 
abundantly  that  Sir  Richard  Gilbert  attempted  to  land  there  to  obtain 
supplies  of  cattle  and  hogs  for  his  crew,  but  was  wrecked.  In  1609 
three  ships  from  England  landed  at  Jamestown,  Va.,  with  many  im- 
migrants, and  the  following  domestic  animals:  6  mares,  1  horse,  600 
swine,  500  domestic  fowls,  and  a  few  sheep  and  goats.  Other  animals 
had  been  previously  introduced  there.  In  1611  Sir  Thomas  Gates 
brought  over  to  the  same  settlement  100  cows,  besides  other  cattle. 
In  1610  an  edict  was  issued  in  Yirginia  prohibiting  the  killing  of 
domestic  animals  of  any  kind,  on  penalty  of  death  to  the  principal, 
burning  the  hand  and  loss  of  the  ears  to  the  accessory,  and  twenty-four 
hours'  whipping  to  the  concealer.  As  early  as  the  year  1617  the  swine 
had  multiplied  so  rapidly  in  the  colony  that  the  people  were  obliged 
to  palisade  Jamestown  to  prevent  being  over-run  with  them.  In  1627 
the  Indians  near  the  settlement  fed  upon  hogs  which  had  become  wild, 
instead  of  upon  game.  As  early  as  1750  the  French  of  Illinois  were 
in  possession  of  a  considerable  number  of  horses,  cattle  and  swine. 

[For  the  kinds  of  stock  raised  in  the  county,  see  chapter  on  Blooded 
Stock.] 

Horses. — Horses  stand  first  in  aggregate  value  among  the  live  stock 
of  Knox  county.  As  early  as  1800  Gov.  Reynolds  says  large  stocks 
of  them  were  grown  by  the  inhabitants  in  Illinois.  He  adds  that  the 
horses  were  of  the  Arabian  strain.  Col.  Wm.  Whiteside,  in  the  year 
1797,  introduced  into  the  territory  a  fine  blooded  horse  of  the  Jpnus 
stock.  It  is  supposed,  by  the  best  judges  of  horses,  that  a  better  horse 
has  never  since  stood  in  Illinois.  Ford,  in  speaking  of  the  horses  of 
Illinois,  says:  "A  French  pony  was  a  proverb  for  strength  and  en- 
durance. These  ponies  were  made  to  draw  sometimes  one  alone, 
sometimes  two  together,  one  hitched  before  the  other,  to  the  plow,  or 
to  carts  made  entirely  of  wood,  the  bodies  of  which  held  about  double 
the  contents  of  a  common,  large  wheelbarrow.  Nothing  like  reins 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  395 

were  ever  used  in  driving:  the  whip  of  the  driver,  with  a  handle  about 
two  feet  and  a  lash  about  two  yards  long,  stopped  or  guided  the  horse 
as  effectually  as  the  strongest  rein."  Peck,  as  late  as  1831,  says  that 
"  wild  horses  are  found  ranging  the  prairies  and^forests  in  some  parts 
of  the  State.  They  are  caught  in  pens,  or  with  ropes  having  nooses 
attached  to  them." 

About  1850  the  Morgan  horse,  under  its  own  and  various  other  cog- 
nomens, began  to  be  introduced,  and  about  twenty  }7ears  ago  was  all 
the  rage.  Some  twelve  years  ago  the  Norman  or  Percheron  horses 
began  to  appear,  and  have  during  the  last  few  years  absorbed  more 
attention  than  any  other  race  of  horses.  The  Clydesdale  horse  was 
introduced  in  1857. 

During  the  year  1878,  there  was  16,409  horses  in  this  county,  with 
an  average  value  of  $38.75.  Last  year  Knox  county  was  excelled,  in 
point  of  number,  by  only  three  other  counties  in  Illinois. 

Cattle.— Even,  more  than  horses,  cattle  have  been  a  favorite  product 
of  Knox  county.  Some  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers  have  turned 
their  entire  attention  to  stock-raising.  The  buffaloes  that  roamed  the 
native  prairies  of  Illinois  were  called  "wild  cattle"  by  the  Jesuits, 
and  they  suggested  herds  of  tamer  animals.  Charlevoix,  in  speaking 
of  Illinois  in  1721,  says:  "Cattle  and  sheep  would  multiply  wonderfully 
here.  Even  the  wild  buffaloes  might  be  tamed,  and  great  advantages 
drawn  from  a  trade  of  their  wool  and  hides,  and  from  their  supplying 
the  inhabitants  with  food."  Pittman,  in  1770,  says:  ;' The  captain 
of  militia  at  St.  Phillippe  has  about  20  slaves  and  a  good  stock  of  cat- 
tle." Reynolds  states  that  in  1800  cattle  were  abundant,  and  that 
the  plowing  was  generally  done  by  oxen  "  tied  to  the  plow  by  a 
straight  yoke,  which  was  tied  to  the  horns  of  the  oxen  by  straps  of 
untanned  leather."  The  horned  cattle,  he  says,  came  from  Canada, 
and  "  were  a  hardy  race, — not  large,  but  of  neat  formation,  with  gen- 
erally black  horns.  They  stood  the  winter  better,  without  grain,  than 
the  American  cattle,  gave  less  milk  in  summer,  and  kicked  more  all 
the  time." 

Knox  county  ranks  among)  the  first  counties  in  the  Northwest  in 
quality  of  cattle  raised.  We  refer  the  reader  to  chapter  on  "Blooded 
Stock"  for  a  full  exposition  of  this  stock.  There  are  at  present  in 
this  county  34,060  cattle,  valued  at  $471,870.  There  were  11,262  fat 
cattle  sold  during  the  year  1877.  The  average  weight  was  1,135 
pounds.  Rio  led  in  point  of  number;  from  that  township  alone  949 
were  sold,  the  average  weight  being  1,200  pounds.  The  highest  aver- 
age weight  was  from  Knox:  584  were  sold,  averaging  1,350  pounds. 


396  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

That  Knox  county  is  fast  becoming  a  dairy  is  evident  from  the  fol- 
lowing carefully  compiled  statistics,  which,  although  large,  do  riot  fully 
show  the  extent  of  her  interests  in  this  respect,  as  there  was  no  doubt 
much  butter  and  milk  sold  in  a  small  way  which  was  not  given  in. 
There  were  10,102  rnilch  cows  kept  in  the  county,  Henderson  having 
the  largest  number — 639.  From  these,  besides  the  large  quantities  of 
milk  sold  and  cheese  made,  there  were  416,151  pounds  of  butter  mar- 
keted, Galesburg  township  alone  furnishing  102,680  pounds  of  this, 
which  was  four  times  the  amount  sold  from  any  other  township. 

There  were  94,682  pounds  of  cheese  sold,  the  greater  portion  being 
manufactured  in  Ontario,  which  is  fast  becoming  the  cheese  center  of 
this  part  of  the  State,  that  township  selling  66,756  pounds. 

The  quantity  of  milk  sold  represents  only  what  was  sold  for  domes- 
tic use,  which  was  principally  in  Galesburg.  Out  of  the  53,623  gal- 
lons sold  in  the  county,  48,025  were  in  that  township. 

Mules  and  Asses. —  Notwithstanding  these  animals  will  do  more 
with  the  same  amount  of  care,  they  do  not  appear  to  be  a  favorite  with 
the  farming  community,  there  being  only  856  head,  or  one-twentieth 
as  many  as  there  are  horses.  The  mule  is  less  enduring  of  cold  and 
wet  than  the  horse,  and  the  unstableness  of  our  climate  has  driven 
them  mostly  into  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  The  breeding  of 
this  stock  was  begun  at  a  comparatively  late  day.  Reynolds  states 
that  the  monks  of  La  Trappe,  on  Monk's  Mound,  Madison  county, 
kept  a  jack  in  1808. 

Sheep. —  There  has  been  a  remarkable  decrease  in  the  number  of 
sheep  raised  in  Knox  county  during  the  past  few  years,  caused  by  the 
low  price  of  wool  in  the  general  markets.  During  the  war  wool-grow- 
ing was  a  most  profitable  business  and  largely  engaged  in  by  the 
farmers;  but  the  demand  for  woolen  goods  hasjlecreased  greatly,  and 
the  price  realized  is  so  small  that  other  business  is  now  much  more 
profitable.  There  are  now  in  the  county  but  8, 127  head  of  sheep,  with 
an  average  value  of  $1.96  each.  In  1854  there  were  9,571  head,  but 
were  worth  but  a  fraction  over  $1  each.  Even  as  early  as  1840  there 
were  6,907  head  of  sheep  in  this  county,  and  in  those  primitive  days 
it  must  be  remembered  that  wolves  roamed  at  will,  and  it  was  only 
with  great  difficulty  that  sheep  were  protected. 

During  the  year  1877,  43,411  pounds  of  wool  were  shorn  from  the 
sheep  of  this  county.  There  were  3,730  fat  sheep  sold,  which  weighed 
an  average  of  111  pounds.  Ontario  sold 'about  five  times  as  many  as 
any  other  township,  the  sales  amounting  to  1,542.  There  were  290  sheep 
killed  by  dogs.  These  were  valued  at  $132.65.  Haw  Creek  lost 
-12.  which  was  the  largest  number  lost  by  any  one  township. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  397 

The  first  account  we  have  of  sheep-raising  in  the  State  was  in  1797. 
A  body  of  emigrants  from  Virginia  settled  in  Monroe  county. 
Reynolds  says  of  these  that  they  "  cultivated  fall  wheat  for  market,, 
and  raised  sheep  and  made  linseys  for  clothing."  Faux,  an  English 
farmer  who  visited  the  State  in  1819,  speaks  very  minutely  of  the 
sheep  raised  at  the  time,  which  he  calls  "  very  mean  ones."  Evidently 
mutton  was  not  generally  used  as  an  article  of  food,  for  he  further 
says:  "  These  Americans  hold  mutton  in  the  utmost  contempt,  and 
I  have  heard  them  say  people  who  eat  it  belong  to  the  family  of 
wolves." 

Swine. —  This  stock  was  first  introduced  in  to  this  State  by  the 
French,  but  was  not  extensively  used,  as  they  lived  more  on  vegetable 
diet  that  the  Americans.  Woods  says  of  the  swine  in  the  Wabash 
country  in  1820:  "Pigs  are  numerous,  being  easily  raised;  they  are  of 
various  sorts,  but  many  of  them  are  of  a  sandy  color  and  some  with 
wattles, —  that  is  a  piece  of  flesh  about  two  inches  long  and  a  half  inch 
thick,  growing  out  on  their  cheeks.  They  are  of  a  middling  size,  but 
from  very  hard  keep  they  do  not  rise  to  much  weight.  It.  is  not  un- 
common for  one  person  to  have  from  60  to  100  in  the  woods,  and  left 
to  shift  for  themselves,  except  giving  them  now  and  then  a  little  salt. 
During  the  summer  when  grass  and  herbs  are  dry,  and  before  the 
frosts  begin  to  fall,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  describe  how  excess- 
ively poor  they  are.  Most  of  them  run  until  they  are  two  and  some- 
times three  years  old  before  they  are  killed.  Some  years  when  there 
are  a  large  quantity  of  acorns  and  hickory-nuts,  they  are  said  to  get 
good  pork.  A  hog  of  200  weight  is  called  a '  fine  chunk  of  a  fellow.' ' 

This  class  of  stock  has  received  great  attention  from  the  farmers  of 
Knox.  Notwithstanding  the  large  number  that  have  yearly  been  car- 
ried off  with  the  cholera,  none  seem  to  abandon  the  business.  The 
large  yield  of  corn,  the  readiness  with  which  the  hog  fattens  and  the 
advanced  market  price  all  together  afford  abundant  compensation  to 
the  farmer  or  stock-raiser.  In  1840  there  were  28,854  head  of  hogs 
in  Knox  county:  in  14  years  they  had  increased  to  44,729,  and  24 
years  later  the  number  is  almost  double,  being  73,101.  But  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  table  was  compiled  from  the  assess- 
ment made  in  May,  when  there  are  a  less  number  than  at  any  other 
season  in  the  year,  sucking  pigs  never  being  counted  and  nearly  all 
the  marketable  hogs  shipped.  The  assessment  will  never  show  the  true 
number,  for  many  pigs  that  are  not  assessed  are  sold  before  the  next 
yearly  assessment.  Thus  we  see  a  steady  but  rapid  increase.  In 
1867,  62,723  hogs  were  marketed,  the  average  weight  304  pounds, 
which  makes  19,067,792  pounds  of  pork  sold  from  the  stock  Knox 


398  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

county  raised  for  one  year.  Henderson  township  took  the  lead  in 
point  of  number,  there  being  4,046  sold  from  that  township,  having 
an  average  weight  of  325  pounds.  The  heaviest  hogs  were  from  Lynn 
the  average  weight  of  3,037  being  345  pounds.  The  very  large 
number  of  48,817  hogs  and  pigs  died  with  the  cholera  during  the 
same  year,  the  average  weight  being  85  pounds.  Rio  was  the  heaviest 
loser,  where  7,768  head,  with  an  average  weight  of  108  pounds,  died 
from  this  dreaded  disease;  while  in  Ontario,  the  adjoining  township, 
but  219  died,  the  average  weight  of  which,  however,  being  150 
pounds. 

Orchards. — As  a  country  grows  older,  the  more  extensive  are  her 
orchards  and  abundant  her  fruit  crop.  Knox  county  now  ranks 
among  the  foremost  fruit-growing  counties  in  the  State,  in  regard  to 
both  quantity  and  the  quality  of  fruit  grown.  In  this  county  there 
are  now  5,585  acres  devoted  to  this  purpose/which  if  we  calculate  80 
trees  to  the  acre  would  make  a  total  of  446,800.  This  number  is 
divided  among  the  diiferent  kinds  of  fruit  grown,  such  as  apple,  pear, 
peach  and  plum. 

Apples. —  The  greater  part  of  the  orchard  ground  is  devoted  to 
apples;  the  principal  kinds  grown  being  jenneting,  winesap,  rambo? 
bell-flower,  Ben  Davis,  Jonathan,  Pennsylvania  red-streak,  red  June, 
and  early  harvest.  These  are  now  considered  standard.  Formerly 
were  grown  to  a  considerable  extent  Roxbury  russet,  Rhode 
Island  greenings,  Baldwin,  white  winter  pearmain,  and  phoenix. 
There  were  last  year  4,462  acres  of  apple  orchard,  which  yielded 
47,466  bushels.  Galesburg  having  422  acres,  f  yielded  only  2,706 
bushels,  while  Chestnut,  with  157  acres,  raised  5,270  bushels,  being 
the  largest  yield  per  acre  of  any  township,  and  there  only  34  bushels- 
This  clearly  shows  the  crop  to  have  been  light;  but  it  was  light 
throughout  the  Northwest.  The  yield  the  present  year  will  be  large. 
About  600  bushels  to  the  acre  is  considered  an  average  crop.  Reckon- 
ing upon  this  basis,  the  crop  would  be  over  2,500,000  bushels;  but  in 
many  places  the  heavy  hailstorms  destroyed  the  crop.  In  the  orchard 
belonging  to  Mr.  Geo.  Ratekin,  three  miles  southeast  of  Galesburg, 
the  fruit  was  totally  destroyed.  Mr.  R.  has  3,000  trees  (perhaps  the 
largest  apple  orchard  in  the  county),  and  it  is  evident  it  would  have 
produced  15,000  bushels  had  the  hailstones  in  May  last  not  beaten 
oft'  the  germs. 

Peaches.  Pears  and  Plums. — These  are  not  especially  adapted  to 
this  climate,  and  seldom  yield  enough  to  justify  their  culture.  The 
quality- of  the  peach  is  very  poor.  Formerly  large  quantities  of  good 
peaches  were  raised,  but  climatic  changes  have  operated  against  them. 


/ 


HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  401 

The  pear  and  plum  trees  grow  well,  but  the  fruit  is  generally  poor, 
the  pear  being  destroyed  by  blight,  and  the  plum  by  the  curculio. 

Cherries. — The  principal  varieties  of  this  fruit  grown  are  the  Eng- 
lish Morello,  Early  Richmond,  and  May  Duke,  the  two  former  being 
superior  in  quality  to  the  latter,  and  more  certain  to  bear.  The  yield 
is  usually  large  and  of  a  superior  quality. 

Grapes. — This  fruit  is  becoming  one  of  the  staple  products  of  the 
county,  the  yield  generally  being  very  heavy,  when  the  proper  care 
and  attention  is  given.  The  market  is  good,  and  at  prices  that  make 
its  culture  profitable.  The  varieties  mostly  cultivated  are  the  Concord, 
Delaware,  Hartford  Prolific,  Isabella,  and  Catawba.  In  1877  there 
were  raised,  as  reported,  37,891  pounds  of  grapes:  11,600  pounds  of 
them  were  credited  to  Salem. 

Small  Fruit. — The  small  fruit  cultivated  in  this  county  are  the 
currant,  gooseberry,  raspberry  and  strawberry,  all  of  which  yield  well 
and  are  found  quite  profitable.  The  quality  of  each  is  good.  It  has 
been  only  in  the  last'few  years  that  any  attention  has  been  given  to  the 
raising  of  small  fruit;  but  as  it  is  found  to  be  profitable,  doubtless  ere 
long  it  will  be  largely  engaged  in. 

Carriages  and  Wagons. — Knox  county  appears  well  supplied  with 
vehicles  of  all  kinds;  and  as  the  county  grows  in  wealth  more  will  be 
used,  especially  of  the  finer  grades.  There  are  5,999  of  such  vehicles, 
valued  at  $157,971. 

Nothing  can  better  show  the  wealth,  importance  and  standing  of 
Knox  county  than  a  comparison  of  assessments  with  other  counties  of 
the  State.  Such  a  comparison,  which- is  by  no  means  unfavorable  to 
this  county,  will  clearly  set  forth  the  resources  of  Knox  county  as  in 
relation  to  the  other  counties  of  Illinois.  It  is  not  our  desire  or  in- 
tention to  make  a  commendable  representation  when  not  substantiated 
by  facts;  we  only  propose  showing  wherein  this  county  is  excelled  by 
others,  and  also  wherein  she  is  a  successful  competitor.  We  give 
nothing  but  authentic  figures,  such  as  are  filed  from  each  county  with 
the  State  Auditor,  and  therefore  may  be  relied  upon  as  bold,  stubborn 
facts. 

We  will  take  the  assessment  for  1877,  which,  although  a  small  per 
cent,  larger  than  that  of  the  present  year,  is  the  latest  we  have  of  all 
counties,  as  reported  by  the  State  Board  of  Equalization.  For  that 
year  there  were  426,987  acres  of  improved  land  in  Knox  county,  val- 
ued at  $9,878.365.  In  point  of  nunfber  of  acres  of  this  land  she  was 
excelled  only  by  Bureau,  Henry,  La  Salle,  Will,  Iroquois,  Livingston, 
Sangamon,  McLean,  Champaign  and  Vermillion,  all  of  which  coun- 
ties are  much  larger  than  this.  In  the  value  of  such  land  it  was  sur- 


402  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

passed  only  by  Ogle,  La  Salle,  Sangamon,  McLean  and  St.  Clair. 
There  were  but  21,264  acres  of  unimproved  land  in  the  county,  which 
was  a  less  number  of  acres  than  any  county  of  half  its  size  had,  except 
De  Kalb,  Grundy,  "Will,  Livingston  and  Douglas,  and  a  fewer  num- 
ber of  acres  than  had  any  county  of  like  dimensions,  save  Will.  The 
average  value  of  this  land  is  higher  than  in  any  county  with  the 
exception  of  Boone,  Cook,  Ogle,  Kane,  Stephenson,  Grundy.  Kendall 
and  Macon.  Knox  had  7,226  improved  city  and  town  lots,  a  larger 
number  than  possessed  by  any  other  than  Cook,  Kane,  La  Salle, 
Sangamon  and  McLean,  all  of  which  contain  large  cities;  and  a  less 
number  of  unimproved  lots  than  any  other  county  containing  so  large 
a  number  of  lots. 

The  total  value  of  personal  property,  lands  and  lots  was  higher  in 
Cook,  Ogle,  La  Salle,  Adams,  Sangamon,  McLean  and  St.  Clair  than 
in  this  county. 

In  comparison  of  stock,  Knox  also  ranks  high.  But  seven  counties 
had  a  larger  number  of  horses,  and  of  these  in  but  two  were  they  more 
valuable.  In  cattle,  twelve  counties  excel  Knox  in  numbers.  In  but 
five  of  these,  however,  was  their  cash  value  relatively  higher.  Knox 
was  far  behind  in  number  of  mules,  sixty-two  counties  having  a  greater 
number,  several  of  them  four  or  five  times  as  many.  This  animal  is 
used  mostly  in  the  southern  counties.  There  were,  however,  accord- 
ing to  the  report  of  1877,  only  seven  where  the  average  value  exceeds, 
that  of  this  county.  As  in  the  mule^trade,  Knox  county  evidently 
makes  no  pretensions  to  sheep-raising,  twenty-nine  counties  having, 
in  1877,  a  larger  number.  The  average  value,  however,  was  exceeded 
in  but  seven.  In  number  of  hogs,  Knox  stood  fifth,  Henry  first. 
La  Salle,  Bureau  and  Livingston  excel.  There  were  68,545  hogs,  as 
reported — 5,000  less  than  the  present  year. 

Twenty-five  counties  had  a  larger  number  of  billiard  and  pigeon- 
hole tables,  twenty-four  others  an  equal  number,  this  county  having 
twenty-nine,  since  nine  have  been  added.  Fourteen  counties  exceed 
in  number  of  wagons  and  carriages.  There  are,  however,  but  four 
counties  whose  people  ride  in  finer  and  costlier  vehicles,  being  ex- 
ceeded only  by  Ogle,  Cook,  Calhoun  and  Shelby. 

The  citizens  of  Knox  county  are  certainly  lovers  of  music.  This  is 
practically  evident  by  the  large  number  of  musical  instruments  owned 
in  the  county.  In  number  of  pianos  only  eight  counties  exceed,  and 
in  average  value  none  of  them  £re  higher.  In  melodeons  and  organs 
but  seven  counties  have  a  larger  number,  and  the  average  value  is 
exceeded  by  none. 

In  material  and  manufactured  articles  thirteen  counties  are  ahead 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


of  this,  and  nine  with  more  money  invested  in  manufactures,  tools  and 
machinery.  There  are  but  six  having  a  larger  sum  invested  in  agri- 
cultural implements.  In  household  and  office  property  but  five  have 
more  money  invested.  But  five  have  more  money  invested  in  shares 
of  State  and  national  banks.  These  are  Cook,  Winnebago,  La  Salle, 
Morgan  and  San  gam  on. 

In  railroad  property  Knox  ranks  among  the  leading  counties  of  the 
greatest  railroad  State  of  the  Union.  She  is  excelled  in  amount  of 
persona]  property  of  railroads,  as  well  as  the  value  of  all  railroad 
property,  by  Cook,  Kane  and  McLean.  There  are  79  miles  of  rail- 
road in  this  county — 71^  miles  belonging  to  the  main  lines  of  the  C.r 
B.  &  Q.,  2  miles  to  the  P.  &  R.  I.,  and  5-J-  to  the  St.  Louis  division  of 
the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  In  connection  with  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  were  21  miles  of 
side  track  in  the  county, — a  larger  number  of  miles  than  a  single  road 
has  in  any  county  of  the  State  excepting  Cook,  and  a  larger  number 
of  miles  of  all  roads  in  any  county  save  Cook,  Kane,  La  Salle,  Peoria, 
St.  Clair  and  Will;  and  these  have  several  roads  passing  through 
them. 

23 


404:  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

POLITICAL. 

In  the  early  history  of  Knox  county  the  political  views  predominant 
among  the  people  were  those  promulgated  by  the  Democratic  party. 
The  old  Whig  party  always  fought  hard  and  often  successfully  for 
nominees  placed  upon  its  ticket. 

During  the  first  few  years  party  lines  were  not  drawn  nor  conven- 
tions held,  and  no  organized  mode  of  placing  candidates  in  the  field. 
The  following  incident  illustrates  the  manner  of  running  candidates, 
and  occurred  shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  county.  Henry  D. 
Bell  and  Peter  Frans  were  candidates  for  the  office  of  sheriff.  The 
contest  between  the  two  gentlemen  was  not  based  upon  political  dif- 
ferences, but  each  one  claimed  he  was  a  candidate  before  the  other. 
They  were  neighbors,  and  everybody  was  surprised  to  see  them 
running  for  the  same  office  in  opposition  to  each  other.  They 
traveled  over  the  county  together,  on  an  electioneering  tour,  basing 
their  claims  for  votes  upon  the  argument  that  each  was  in  the 
field  before  the  other.  Election  day  came.  All  the  voters  in  the 
county  assembled  at  the  old  log  court-house  inKnoxville,  to  cast  their 
ballots.  Bell  was  victorious,  having  a  majority  of  two.  It  took  but 
little  time  to  run  up  the  tally  sheet  and  announce  the  result.  All  the 
voters  had  remained  to  learn  this,  for  if  they  should  return  to  their 
homes  in  various  portions  of  the  county,  it  might  be  days  and*  even 
weeks  before  the  result  would  reach  them.  While  they  yet  stood 
around  the  old  building  (there  being  about  250,  which  was  then  con- 
sidered a  large  crowd),  and  after  the  result  was  announced,  Peter 
Frans  stood  in  the  only  door  of  the  old  court  edifice  and  made  the 
the  following  announcement:  "  Oh,  yes!  oh,  yes!  I  now  announce 
myself  candidate  for  High  Sheriff  of  Knox  county  at  an  election  to 
be  held  two  years  hence,  lest  again  it  be  disputed  that  I  am  not  the 
oldest  candidate  in  the  field."  Frans  had  then  an  undisputed  claim 
upon  the  priority  question  for  the  next  campaign,  and  accordingly  at 
the  next  election  he  was  chosen  for  the  office  of  High  Sheriff. 

The  only  person  that  voted  for  the  first  Free  Soil  candidate  (Martin 
Van  Buren)  for  President  at  Henderson  was  Amos  Wilmot.  There 
were  other  Free  Soilers  in  the  vicinity,  but  they  went  to  Galesburg,  as 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  405 

at  that  time  a  person  could  vote  any  where  in  the  county.  Votes 
were  given  vivavoce,  and  the  judges  objected  to  receiving  Wilmot's 
vote  as  it  would  make  too  much  extra  work  to  write  a  single  vote. 
William  Riley,  learning  the  state  of  affairs,  urged  them  to  accept  this 
vote.  After  much  discussion  his  vote  was  taken  and  recorded. 

1836. — We  have  no  record  of  a  party  caucus  or  convention  being 
held  previous  to  the  'year  1836,  During  this  year  the  Democratic 
party  held  a  convention  at  Henderson.  Hon.  Julius  Manning  deliv- 
ered one  of  those  interesting  arid  telling  speeches  which  almost 
he  alone  was  capable  of  doing.  Hon.  William  McMurtry  was  put  in 
nomination  to  represent  this  and  Warren  counties  in  the  Legislature, 
and  was  elected.  The  Whig  party  held  no  convention  until  some 
time  after  this. 

An  incident  illustrating  the  strong  feelings  held  against  Abolition- 
ists at  an  early  day  is  related  by  I.  M.  Wetmore,  who  came  to  the 
county  in  1836.  He  says  the  first  general  election  he  attended  was  at 
Henderson.  The  candidate's  name  and  office  were  announced  by  the 
person  voting,  and  written  down  by  the  clerk.  This,  of  course,  re- 
vealed the  principles  of  the  voter.  A  few  Abolitionists  came  to  vote, 

when  they  were  informed  that  they  "didn't  allow  the  d d  Whig 

Abolitionists  to  vote  there."  One  of  the  judges  even  arose,  pulled 
off  his  coat,  shook  his  fist  in  their  faces,  declaring  they  could  not  vote 
for  such  candidates  in  that  place.  The  five  however  cast  their  ballots 
as  they  desired,  and  were  not  harmed.  John  Denny  was  the  first 
Whig  Representative  elected  from  this  county.  This  occurred  in  1840. 

The  first  county  Anti-Slavery  Society  was  formed  late  in  1838,  or 
in  the  winter  of  1838-9.  J.  M.  Holyoke  writes  that  he  very  dis- 
tinctly remembers1  this  meeting,  which  was  held  at  Knoxville,  as  he 
with  several  others  went  to  that  place  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
such  a  society  one  very  bitter  cold,  stormy  day  in  that  winter.  Wil- 
liam Holyoke  presided  at  this  first  meeting.  He  afterwards  was  one 
of  the  six  presidential  electors  of  this  State  on  the  first  Liberty  party 
ticket  brought  out,  which  was  in  1810,  when  James  G.  Birney  ran  for 
President  at  the  head  of  the  Liberty  ticket.  Col.  Matthew  Chambers 
was  elected  president  of  this  society.  Among  those  who  dared  to 
come  out  boldly  and  make  a  firm  and  decided  stand  in  opposition  to 
slavery  in  every  form  at  that  time  were  Samuel  Metcalf  and  his  son 
Michael,  Abel  C.  Thomas,  who  afterwards,  ran  for  Representative, 
Nehemiah  West,  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  Rev.  John  Waters,  Rev.  John  J. 
Miter,  William  Holyoke,  and  others,  mostly  from  Galesburg.  That 
city  was  known  far  and  wide  as  an  Abolition  town,  in  fact  most  of  the 
inhabitants  at  that  date,  especially  the  women,  were  Abolitionists, 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Bat  few,  however,  joined  the  political  movement  known  as  the  Lib- 
erty party  till  after  1840,  the  feeling  prevailing  generally  among 
the  people  that  the  time  to  take  the  matter  into  politics  had  not  yet 
come.  There  were  only  13  in  Knox  county  who  voted  for  James  G. 
Birney,  candidate  for  President  on  the  Liberty  ticket  in  1840.  We 
are  truly  glad  to  be  able  to  present  the  names  of  these  brave  men. 
The  present  and  the  future  generations  may  never  fully  appreciate 
•the  stand  taken  by  them,  for  at  present  even  it  is  looked  upon  as 
the  only  rational  and  humane  one  possible.  The  13  were  the  fol- 
lowing: William  Holyoke,  Levi  Spencer,  Patrick  Dunn,  John  Mc- 
Mullin,  Deacon  Samuel  Metcalf,  Thomas  Simmons,  John  G.  West, 
Loren  0.  Conger,  G.  A.  Marsh,  George  A  very,  Abrarn  Tyler,  Leonard 
Chappell,  and  Horatio  Foote.  Conger  was  a  Democratic  Abolitionist. 
Almost  all  of  the  Galesburg  Abolitionists  had  been  Whigs  and  in- 
sisted on  voting  for  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too,"  as  the  heads  of  the 
Whig  ticket  were  styled. 

Rev.  Horatio  Foote,  now  of  Quincy,  was  pastor  of  the  First 
Church,  Galesburg,  during  this  period.  He  made  a  stirring  speech 
in  favor  of  the  Liberty  party  movement.  He  was  opposed  by  Hiram 
Marsh  and  others,  and  the  consequences  were  that  all  votes  were  polled 
for  Harrison,  save  the  13  above  alluded  to.  From  that  period  the 
votes  of  the  Liberty  party  increased  until  they  numbered  enough  to 
hold  the  balance  of  power,  and  in  1854-6  was  merged  into  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  followed  its  standard  to  victory  in  1860. 

We  are  unable  to  trace  the  political  history  year  by  year  until  we 
corne  to  1849,  or  to  give  the  returns  of  elections  held  prior  to  that 
time.  There  were  no  county  papers  published  previous  to  1848,  and 
the  poll-books  and  abstracts  of  the  early  elections  were  burned,  leav- 
ing not  a  vestige  from  which  we  could  glean  any  information. 

1849. — In  the  fall  of  1849  there  was  but  little  interest  manifested 
in  the  election,  although  the  people  were  to  choose  officers  for  four 
years'  service  and  vote  on  township  organization.  The  Knoxville 
Journal,  a  neutral  paper,  was  issued  the  day  after  the  election,  but  had 
not  one  word  about  the  matter.  The  next  number,  however,  gave  the 
official  returns.  A  majority  of  the  votes  cast  was  given  for  township 
organization,  but  the  question  was  soon  afterward  raised  whether  the 
law  did  not  require  a  majority  of  all  the  voters  in  the  county,  and  it 
was  again  submitted  at  a  subsequent  election,  and  carried  by  a  large 
vote. 

1851. — In  1851  there  was  also  very  little  excitement.  The  mutual 
confidence  of  the  pioneers  was  so  prevalent  that  there  was  no  thought 
of  introducing  personalities  into  the  canvass,  if  indeed  it  can  be  said 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  407 

that  there  was  any  "canvass"  at  all.  E.  T.  Byram,  however,  was  so 
popular  that,  after  he  had  failed  of  a  nomination  by  either  of  the  par- 
ties for  the  office  of  County  Surveyor,  and  had  nominated  himself,  he 
received  more  votes  than  both  the  regular  candidates  together.  The 
Knoxville  Journal,  in  giving  the  proceedings  of  the  Democratic 
county  convention,  mentions  the  name  of  but  one  candidate  nomi- 
nated, namely,  David  Edgerton  for  Treasurer.  A  Democratic  con- 
vention (of  the  senatorial  district,  we  believe)  met  at  Henderson  and 
nominated  a  candidate  for  State  Senator,  and  the  next  week  a  similar 
convention  of  the  same  party  met  at  Cambridge  and  superseded  the 
former  action  by  nominating  another  man  ;  and  signified  a  preference 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  President  of  the  United  States. 

1 852. —At  a  Democratic  convention,  held  April  3  of  this  year,  at 
the  court-house  at  Knoxville,  a  very  strong  love  was  expressed  for 
Senator  Douglas.  It  was  resolved  "That  Senator  Douglas' political 
and  official  life  is  stainless  and  pure;  that  his  statesmanlike  and 
original  mind  can  embrace  in  one  view  all  the  varied  interests  of  this 
mighty  nation,  from  the  Atlantic  waves  to  the  golden  shores  of  the 
Pacific.  As  Chief  Magistrate  he  would  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people, 
commanding  respect  at  home  and  abroad,  and  would  bind  this  great 
confederacy  together  with  the  cords  of  affection,  fraternity  and  peace." 
No  local  question  of  note  was  raised  this  year. 

1853. — The  election  campaign  of  this  year  gives  us  no  incident  of 
which  we  can  find  any  record. 

1854. — The  Whigs  and  Republicans  fused  this  year,  and,  with  the 
many  Democrats  who  joined  them,  elected  their  entire  ticket  by  a 
large  majority. 

1855. — In  the  autumn  of  1855  the  Republican  party  was  under  full 
head\vay  and  excitement  raised  to  a  white  heat  on  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, each  party  nominating  its  own  candidate  for  every  office,  no  mat- 
ter how  small.  The  Republicans  succeeded  in  electing  one  candi- 
date,— William  McGowen,  for  Treasurer,  by  327  majority.  The  Demo- 
crats elected  all  the  other  officers. 

1856. — On  the  death  of  the  Whig  party  there  sprang  up  two  parties, 
neither  of  which  could  really  claim  to  possess  any  of  the  vital  princi- 
ples that  gave  power  to  the  old  party.  The  American  party,  believ- 
ing the  country  in  danger  by  the  influx  of  foreigners  and  the  [alarm- 
ing growth  of  the  Roman  Catholic  power,  emblazoned  on  their  ban- 
ners, "Americans  must  rule  America;"  "Put  none  but  Americans  on 
guard."  Republicans  pleaded  for  "Equal  rights  to  all;"  "Free  press 
and  free  speech."  The  American  party  made  very  rapid  growth  in 
many  of  the  States,  particularly  in  the  South,  while  the  Republican 


408  HISTOKY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

party  only  secured  a  foothold  in  the  North,  its  principles  being  deemed 
antagonistic  to  some  of  the  peculiar  institutions  of  the  South.  In  1856 
we  find  both  of  these  parties  in  this  county  in  very  considerable  num- 
bers, each  striving  for  power,  arid  both  battling  against  a  common 
enemy,  the  Democratic  party.  A  partial  alliance  was  formed  between 
them  for  the  purpose  of  securing  local  offices. 

In  the  campaign  of  1856  the  question  of  removing  the  county  seat 
to  Galesburg  was  agitated,  as  also  the  charter  of  a  railroad  from  Bath 
to  Rock  Island.  The  strife  between  Knoxville  and  Galesburg  com- 
pelled all  the  citizens  of  the  county  to  take  sides;  and  one  of  the  ques- 
tions now  forced  upon  them  was  whether  this  railroad  should  go 
through  the  one  place  or  the  other. 

One  interesting  little  incident  of  a  personal  character  occurred  this- 
fall.  In  order  to  draw  votes  away  from  George  W.  Enke,  Republican 
candidate  for  Sheriff,  some  one  published  in  the  papers  that  he  was  a 
Spiritualist, — which  charge,  however,  was  promptly  denied  for  him  by 
a  friend. 

1857. — In  the  autumn  of  1857  the  Democrats  and  Republicans  had 
another  square  fight  over  the'county  offices,  both  parties  being  proud 
of  the  men  on  their  ticket.  The  Republicans  claimed  that  the  Demo- 
crats made  up  their  ticket  by  a  very  secret  caucus,  and  put  two 
"Know-Nothings"  into  the  field  to  catch  the  votes  of  that  party. 
David  Sanborn,  who  had  but  a  short  time  before  been  removed  from 
the  Galesburg  post-office,  "  because  [as  was  alleged]  he  wouldn't  help 
get  subscribers  for  the  Chicago  Times,"  was  also  placed  in  nomination 
by  the  Democrats,  without  his  knowledge,  for  Treasurer.  On  the 
Republican  ticket  was  John  S.  Winter  for  County  Clerk,  who  had  in 
Zelotes  Cooley  a  foeman  worthy  of  his  steel.  Mr.  Cooley  had  held  the 
office  for  four  years,  and  was  nominated  for  re-election.  In  this  cam- 
paign the  Republicans  won  by  an  average  majority  of  about  500. 

Having  spoken  of  Mr.  Winter,  we  may  as  well  in  this  connection 
relate  an  incident  showing  the  importance  of  preserving  papers.  The 
Board  of  Supervisors  met  at  Knoxville  in  January,  1856,  and  seeing 
a  lot  of  old  documents  on  hand  for  which  they  could  see  no  use,  con- 
cluded they  would  relieve  the  office  of  cumbersome  material  by  or- 
dering them  burned.  Accordingly  they  were  taken, — two  or  three 
wheelbarrow  loads, — dumped  into  the  street,  and  set  on  fire.  Mr. 
Winter,  seeing  the  conflagration,  hastened  to  the  place  and  rescued 
all  the  papers  that  he  could.  They  were  mostly  election  returns,  of 
which  there  was  no  other  record.  Hence  we  are  unable  to  give  in 
this  history  the  election  returns  previous  to  1849,  as  they  were  con- 
sumed in  that  fire.  The  destruction  of  papers,  which  might  possibly 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  409 

be  valuable  at  some  future  time,  is  nearly  always  sure  to  be  a  source 
of  trouble,  and  these  perplexities  seem  to  increase  with  the  lapse  of 
time.  As  another  instance  inculcating  the  same  lesson,  there  was 
once  a  case  in  this  county  where  an  estate  worth  several  thousand  dol- 
lars was  in  dispute,  the  settlement  of  which  depended  upon  an  adver- 
tisement in  a  newspaper  which  could  not  be  found. 

1858. — The  contest  during  this  campaign  has  but  few  equals  in  the 
interests  manifested.  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
candidates  for  the  United  States  Senate,  made  their  famous  tour 
through  the  State,  holding  joint  discussions.  On  Thursday,  October 
7,  they  held  a  debate  in  Galesburg,  and  there  were  gathered  to  hear 
these  champions  of  the  two  great  political  parties  of  the  nation,  from 
20,000  to  25,000  people.  This  was  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the 
largest,  number  of  people  that  ever  assembled  in  Knox  county.  The 
extension  of  slavery  was  almost  the  sole  question  at  issue  during  this 
campaign.  The  contest  was  national,  yet  upon  it  the  local  tight  was 
based.  The  Democrats  evinced  their  love  for,  and  confidence  in,  their 
President  by  very  laudatory  resolutions  passed  at  a  convention  held 
at  Knoxville,  April  16.  Concluding,  they  said,  "that  the  President's 
message  on  the  Kansas  question  was  one  of  the  ablest  documents  ever 
emanating  from  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  nation;  and  this  conven- 
tion concurs  in  the  belief  that  James  Buchanan  possesses  the  wisdom 
of  a  Washington  and  the  firmness  of  a  Jackson,  as  clearly  portrayed 
in  every  line,  and  cannot  fail  to  carry  conviction  to  every  honest  mind 
possessed  of  ordinary  sagacity." 

1859. — The  campaign  of  1859  was  a  continuation  of  the  battle  be- 
tween the  Democrats  and  the  Republicans — on  national  issues  only. 
As  it  was  the  "off  year,"  the  candidates  all  good  men  and  no  person- 
alities afloat,  and  the  people  generally  not  seeing  the  necessity  or 
appropriateness  of  introducing  national  issues  into  local  affairs,  less 
than  half  the  usual  number  of  votes  were  polled.  The  Republican 
majority  ranged  from  480  to  5b8.  No  incidents  occurred  worthy  of 
relating  here.  Thomas  S.  Vaill,  of  Knoxville,  while  absent  in  Chicago, 
was  nominated  for  School  Commissioner,  but  on  his  return  he  or- 
dered his  name  withdrawn,  saying  that  he  did  not  believe  the  office 
should  be  sought  or  obtained  through  the  process  of  any  political 
contest. 

1860. — We  now  come  to  the  memorable  campaign  of  1860,  one  dur- 
ing which  there  was  an  intense  excitement  throughout  the  country, 
not  equaled  even  by  the  "hard-cider"  contest  of  1840.  The  two  fa- 
vorite sons  of  Illinois  were  now  rival  candidates  for  the  Presidency, 
and  such  an  effort  was  put  forth  by  the  friends  of  each  to  carry  the 


410  HISTOltY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

State  as  was  never  witnessed  before  or  since.  Both  State  and  county 
tickets,  of  each  of  the  parties,  were  claimed  to  be  unexceptionable.  A 
vast  amount  of  money  was  spent,  and  the  final  result  was  the  Repub- 
licans carried  the  county  by  large  majorities.  Abraham  Lincoln  ran 
for  President  against  three  pro-slavery  candidates.  Excitement  upon 
national  issues  was  so  high  as  to  overwhelm  personal  differences  be- 
tween candidates  for  local  offices.  It  is  claimed  that  the  Republicans 
of  Knox  county  were  the  first  to  nominate  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the 
Presidency. 

'  Hon.  R.  W.  Miles,  of  this  county,  sat  on  the  floor  .by  the  side  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  Library  room  of  the  Capitol  in  Springfield, 
at  the  secret  caucus  meeting  held  in  January,  1859,  when  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's name  was  first  spoken  of  in  caucus  as  candidate  for  President. 
When  a  gentlemen,  in  making  a  short  speech,  said,  "We  are  going  to 
bring  Abraham  Lincoln  out  as  a  candidate  for  President,"  Mr.  Lin- 
coln at  once  arose  to  his  feet  and  exclaimed,  "  For  God's  sake  let  me 
alone!  I  have  suffered  enough!  "  This  was  soon  after  he  had  been 
defeated  in  the  Legislature  for  United  States  Senate  by  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  and  only  those  who  are  intimate  with  that  important  and 
unparalleled  contest  can  appreciate  the  full  force  and  meaning  of 
these  expressive  words  of  the  martyred  President.  They  were  spon- 
taneous, and  prove  beyond  a  shadow  of  doubt  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
did  not  seek  the  high  position  of  President.  Nor  did  he  use  any 
trickery  or  chicanery  to  obtain  it.  But  his  expressed  wish  was  not  to 
be  complied  with;  our^beloved  country  needed  a  savior  and  a  martyr, 
and  Fate  had  decreed  that  he  should  be  the  victim. 

After  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  President  Mr.  Miles  sent  him  an 
eagle's  quill  with  which  the  Chief  Magistrate  wrote  his  first  inaugural 
address.  The  letter  written  by  Mr.  Miles  to  the  President,  and  sent 
with  the  quill,  which  was  two  feet  in  length,  is  such  a  jewel  of  elo- 
quence and  prophecy  we  gladly  give  it  a  place  in  the  History  of 

Knox  county: 

PERSIFER,  December  21,  1860. 

HON.  A  LINCOLN: 

Dear  Sir  :  Please  accept  the  eagle  quill  I  promised  you,  by  the  hand  of  our 
Representative,  A.  A.  Smith.  The  bird  from  whose  wing  the  quill  was  taken  was  shot 
by  John  F.  Dillon,  in  Persifer  township,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  in  February,  1857. 
Having  heard  that  James  Buchanan  was  furnished  with  an  eagle  quill  to  write  his 
Inaugural  with,  and  believing  that  in  1860  a  Republican  would  be  elected  to  take  his 
place,  I  determined  to  save  this  quill  and  present  it  to  the  fortunate  man,  whoever  he 
might  be.  Report  tells  us  that  the  bird  which  furnished  Buchanan's  quill  was  a 
captured  bird, — fit  emblem  of  the  man  that  used  it;  but  the  bird  from  which  this 
quill  was  taken  yielded  the  quill  only  with  his  life' — St  emblem  of  the  man  who 
expected  to  use  it;  for  true  Republicans  believe  that  you  would  not  think  life  worth 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  413 

the  keeping  after  the  surrender  of  principle.   Great  difficulties  surround  you;  traitors 
to  their  country  have  threatened  your  life;  and  should  you  be  called  upon  to  surren-  . 
tier  it  at  the  post  of  duty,  your  memory  will  live  forever  in  the  heart  of  every  free- 
man; and  that  is  a  grander  monument  than  can  be  built  of  brick  or  marble. 

"  For  if  hearts  may  not  our  memories  keep, 
Oblivion  haste  each  vestige  sweep, 
And  let  our  memories  end." 

Yours  Truly,  R.  W.  MILES. 

The  most  noticeable  thing  in  Knox  county  appears  to  have  been 
Bob  Ingersoll's  speech  at  Maquon.  Said  he:  "  Any  man  that  will 
vote  for  Lincoln  is  worse  than  a  d — d  dog  and  should  be  kicked  out  of 
the  State."  Also:  "  If  you  don't  wish  to  vote  for  Bob  [himself]  you 
can  go  to  hell  and  be  d — d."  He  was  drunk  at  the  time.  He  ate  at  the 
hotel  table  without  using  knife,  fork  or  spoon.  Contrast  his  Maquon 
speech  with  the  eloquence  with  which  he  nominated  Mr.  Elaine  for 
the  Presidency  two  years  ago  at  Cincinnati !  / 

This  fall  is  the  first  time  we  read  of  torch-light  processions  in  this 
county.  They  were  made  by  the  "  Wide-Awakes "  and  "  Ever- 
Readies,"  or  "  Hickories."  Many  speeches  were  made  and  political 
discussions  held.  .Rev.  Mr.  Smithett  preached  a  sermon  at  Knoxville 
on  the  question,  "How  far  the  religious  maybe  political."  Hon. 
Arthur  A.  Smith,  Republican  candidate  for  Representative,  and  Sid- 
ney Myers,  Democratic  candidate  for  Circuit  Clerk,  held  a  discussion 
at  the  court  house  in  Knoxville.  T.  J.  Pickett,  of  Peoria,  and  A.  C. 
Mason,  of  Galesburg,  also  held  public  debates.  These  gentlemen 
were  candidates  for  Representative  in  the  State  Legislature,  the 
former  Republican  arid  the  latter  a  Douglas  Democrat. 

Republicans  were  all  very  highly  pleased  with  the  success  of  their 
champions.     Of  the  three  Gale  brothers,  of  Galesburg,  Josiah  was  a 
Breckinridge  man, George  was  for  Douglas,  and  W.  Selden  for  Lincoln.      \ 
The  Knox  Republican  said  "  they  so  arranged  it  that  whoever  may     I 
be  elected  President,  the  Gale  family  would  get  the  post-office." 

1861. — In  the  campaign  of  1861  there  was  a  disaffection  in  the  Re- 
publican ranks,  the  minority  being  led  by  Hon.  Arthur  A.  Smith,  T. 
G.  Frost,  Thomas  Harrison,  W.  S.  Gale  and  others.  They  held  a 
convention  at  Knoxville,  which  the  Knox  Republican  denominated 
the  "lobscouse  "  convention,  and  nominated  a  county  ticket.  There 
was  intense  excitement  over  the  distribution  of  the  spoils  of  office  be- 
tween the  old  line  Democrats  and  the  "sore-headed"  Republicans.  W. 
Selden  Gale,  of  Galesburg,  became  a  candidate  for  the  State  Consti- 
tutional Convention,  and  was  opposed  mainly  for  his  (alleged)  partial- 
ity to  Galesburg  and  vicinity.  They  said  he  was  opposed  to  bridging 
Spoon  river,  and  to  other  improvements  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the 


414  HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

I 

county.  In  a  week  or  two,  however,  they  claimed  that  he  had  turned 
and  was  in  favor  of  "  bridging  Spoon  river  lengthwise,  so  that  one 
could  cross  anywhere!  "  Thomas  A.  E.  Holeomb,  for  Treasurer,  was 
opposed  on  the  ground  that  he  was  employed  in  Dunn's  bank  at,Gales- 
burg,  and  would  deposit  in  that  bank  all  the  funds  of  the  county.  In 
two  years  from  this  time,  sure  enough,  Dunn  failed.  At  this  election 
the  Republicans  elected  but  two  of  their  men, — John  S.  Winter  for 
Clerk,  by  136  majority,  and  James  H.  Knapp,  for  School  Commis- 
sioner, by  232.  The  Democrats  elected  their  candidates  by  majorities 
ranging  from  200  to  500. 

1862.— The  contest  was  as  usual  quite  animated.  The  Democratic 
party  put  their  county  ticket  in  the  field  under  the  head  of  the 
"  Union,"  or  "  Union  Democratic."  The  Republicans  elected  their 
entire  ticket  by  a  large  majority. 

1863. — As  the  election  of  1863  approached,  the  Galesburg  Free 
Democrat  headed  its  editorial  columns  with  the  "  Unconditional 
Union  Ticket."  The  general  outlook  for  the  national  cause  in  the 
South  being  rather  dark  and  gloomy,  the  opposition  cared  not  to  do 
much  lest  their  actions  be  misinterpreted.  The  Republicans  of  the 
county  gave  about  1,000  majority. 

1864. — This  was  another  Presidential  campaign,  and  naturally 
much  feeling  was  manifested.  Abraham  Lincoln  again  ran  for  the 
Presidency,  his  opponent  being  George  B.  McClellan.  The  local 
fight  was  greatly  animated. 

1865. — The  local  election  of  this  year  presents  a  singular  phase. 
There  was  no  direct  contest  between  the  Republicans  and  Democrats, 
but  the  conflict  was  based  on  purely  personal  grounds.  Soldiers  re- 
turning home  from  the  war  had  the  sympathy  of  the  mass  of  the  voters 
of  the  county.  It  will  be  noticed  in  the  returns  of  election  that  Allen 
received  only  7  votes,  while  his  opponent  received  3,455.  This  is 
without  a  parallel  in  the  political  history  of  the  county.  Allen  was 
not  beaten  so  badly  because  he  was  a  Democrat  or  because  of  unpopu- 
larity, but  because  Harrison  was  a  soldier. 

1866. — The  efforts  made  in  1865  were  continued  this  year,  when  the 
county  went  Republican  by  the  largest  majority  ever  obtained  for  an 
entire  ticket. 

1867. — But  little  interest  was  manifested  in  the  election  this  year. 
From  the  returns  it  appears  that  the  Democrats  polled  only  about 
three-fourths  the  number  of  votes  cast  the  previous  year,  and  the 
Republicans  about  two-fifths  the  number  cast  in  1866. 

1868. — The  campaign  commenced  early,  and  nationally  was  full  of 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  415 

interest  and  excitement  The  Republicans  won  an  easy  victory  in  the 
county,  Grant  receiving  a  majority  of  2,605  over  Seymour.  The 
"  bloody  shirt"  was  a  strong  weapon  used  against  the  Democrats,  and 
it  was  freely  shook  by  their  victorious  opponents. 

1869. — Politics  were  almost  entirely  ignored  this  year.  The  con- 
flict was  purely  sectional.  It  was  Galesburg  against  Knoxville,  or 
vice  versa,  and  not  a  political  contest,  although  the  Democrats  man- 
aged to  elect  a  Treasurer  by  a  handsome  majority.  The  real  question 
at  issue  was  the  removal  of  the  county-seat  from  Knoxville.  Clark 
and  Miles,  two  recognized  Republican  leaders,  were  arrayed  against 
each  other  in  the  contest  for  Judgeship. 

1870. — In  the  selection  of  a  candidate  for  Congress  by  the  Repub- 
licans, a  different  mode  was  adopted  than  was  customary.  The  con- 
testants for  the  nomination  were  E.  C.  Ingersoll  and  T.  J.  Henderson. 
An  election  was  held  throughout  the  District  September  8,  Ingersoll 
receiving  the  nomination.  He  received  800  majority  in  this  county. 

1871. — A  light  vote  polled,  showing  considerable  apathy  on  the 
part  of  both  parties. 

1872. — The  Democracy  of  the  county  united  with  the  Liberal  Re- 
publicans, and  nominated  Horace  Greeley  for  President.  This  nomi- 
nation was  endorsed  by  fche  Democracy  of  this  county,  the  great  mass 
of  the  party  heartily  supporting  the  ticket,  though  there  were  a  few 
who  did  not  support  Greeley.  The  returns  present  a  singular  appear- 
ance, being  composed  of  Republicans,  Democrats,  Liberal  and  Inde- 
pendent. The  county  ticket  nominated  by  the  Republicans  was  a 
good  one.  The  candidates  were  all  young,  being  men  of  vigor  and 
eminently  capable  for  the  positions,  as  is  evinced  in  the  fact  that  all 
of  them  were  elected  and  re-elected,  and  hold  the  same  offices  at  the 
present  time,  except  Slater,  who  is  the  Republican  nominee  this  fall 
for  the  same  office  he  formerly  held. 

1873. — This  year's  campaign  was  a  repetition  of  the  one  four  years 
previous.  The  same  vital  question  was  the  issue;  the  same  candidates 
were  put  forward;  a  larger  vote  was  cast,  and  the  Galesburg  party,  led 
by  Clark,  Winter  and  Elliott,  received  a  much  larger  majority  than 
they  did  in  1869.  As  showing  the  strong  sectional  feeling  prevalent, 
we  need  but  record  the  fact  that  Clark  received  1,655  votes  in  the  city 
of  Galesburg,  while  there  was  only  6  polled  for  Miles.  In  four  of  the 
wards  not  a  ballot  was  cast  for  him.  "Winter  received  only  29  votes 
in  Knox  township,  where  a  few  years  previous  he  could  have  received 
nearly  every  ballot  cast. 

1874. — This  year  there  was  a  triangular  fight,  three  parties  being 
in  the  field, — Democratic,  Republican,  and  Independent,  or  Liberal; 


416  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  organization  known  as  the  "  Anti-Monopoly"  having  been  aban- 
doned, or  merged  into  the  Independent. 

1875.  —  -A  very  light  vote  polled.  Bnrkhalter  demonptrated  his 
popularity  at  home,  which  was  at  Maquon,  by  changing  materially  the 
customary  returns  from  that  place. 

187B.  —  Success  in  various  States  for  two  years  gave  the  Democracy 
increased  hope  of  again  coming  to  the  front.  We  find  them  this  year 
thoroughly  reorganized,  and  under  the  old  party  name.  Certain 
abuses  in  the  administration  of  the  civil  service  of  the  country  gave 
the  party  a  chance  to  demand  a  change,  and  under  the  cry  of  "  Re- 
form" they  went  into  the  canvass  with  a  determination  to  win.  In 
this  county  there  were  again  three  tickets,  the  Independent  party 
making  their  fight  upon  the  financial  question.  The  local  tickets  of 
all  parties.  were  unexceptionable,  and  on  personal  grounds  each  tried 
to  obtain  votes.  The  principal  candidates  for  local  offices  ran  ahead  of 
their  tickets  iu  their  respective  towns,  which  certainly  speaks  well  for 
them. 

1877.  —  No  considerable  interest  was  displayed,  yet,  for  a  local  elec- 
tion, a  large  vote  was  polled. 

With  this  the  political  history  of  the  county  is  brought  down  to  the 
present  time,  when  again  candidates  are  in  the  field,  but  no  enthusi- 
asm, or  even  any  degree  of  interest,  is  apparent.  Below  will  be  found 
.a  carefully  compiled  record  of  election  returns  for  the  years  of  which 
there  are  any  records  extant: 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1849.  ELECTION  NOV.  5,  1850. 

COUNTY   JUDGE.     ^  CONGRESS.  ^     ^ 

Geo.C.Lanphere,dem...        ™l»'  ^6     Martin  P  Sweet,  dem  ........  660        80 

Rob't  L.  Hannaman,  whig.  .  .  713  T"  CamPbe11.  whlS  ..........  58° 

ASSOCIATE    JUSTICE.  REPRESENTATIVE. 

James  M.  Hunter,  dem  .......  795        98     geQ7  ^T'n^'Y  .........  ?7i 

oon  Hugh  A.  Kelly,  whig  ........  5.1 


Isaac  Colton,  dem  ............  681 

Richeson  Walter,  whig  ......  697  SHERIFF. 

Alfred  Brown,  wliig  .........  808  Samuel  W.  Brown,  dem  ......  631        24 

COUNTY  CLERK.  David  Edgerton,  whig  .......  607 

Zelotes  Cooley,  dem  ..........  857  249                          COUNTY  JUDGE. 

Elisha  C.  Field,  whig  ........  608  G.  C.  Lanphere,  clem  ........  625        19 

TREASURER  AND  ASSESSOR.  R  L-  Hannaman,  whig  .......  606 

Charles  Rogers,  dem  .........  749  34                                CORONER. 

Hugh  S.  Woods,  whig  .......  715  Chauncey  White,  dem  ........  324 

SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER.  Wm.  H.  Heller,  dem  .........  296 

William  H  Whitton.dem.  ...  747  43     JosePh  Henderson,  whig  ......  657 

T.  Judson  Hale,  whig  ........  704  ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1851. 

COUNTY  SURVEYOR.  SENATOR. 

Arthur  A.  Denny,  whig  ......  908  359     Samuel  Webster,  whig  ........  608        91 

Philip  Wager,  dem  ..........  549  Reuben  S.  Spicer,  dem  .......  517 


HISTORY    OF    KWOX    COUNTY. 


417 


VOTE.   MAJ. 
TREASURER. 

David  Edgerton,  dem 621        85 

Abraham  Lightner,  whig 536 

SURVEYOR. 

Wm.  Maxwell,  dem 821 

E.  T.  Byram,  ind 626      305 

A.  W.  Martin,  whig 210 

SCHOOL    COMMISSIONER. 

W.  H.  Whitton,  dem 601        01 

T.  8.  Vaill,  whig 540 

ELECTION  NOV.  2,  1852. 

PRESIDENT. 

Franklin  Pierce,  dem 1119        39 

Winfleld  Scott,  whig 1080 

Nathan  P.  Hale,  free  soil 391 

CONGRESS. 

James  Knox,  dem 1 :75      295 

Lewis  W.  Ross,  whig 980 

Lewis  M.  Curtis,  free  soil. . . .  325 

CIRCUIT  JUDGE. 

Hezekiah  M.  Wead,  dem 1134        31 

Halsey  O.  Merriman,  whig. .  .1083 

STATE  SENATOR. 

Ben  Graham,  dem 1135        36 

Samuel  Webster,  whig 1099 

George  A.  Clifford,  free  soil . .  355 

R  EPRESENT  ATI  VE . 

Thomas  McKee,  dem 1194      167 

James  Bunce,  whig  1027 

Abel  Thomas,  free  soil 330 

SHERIFF. 

John  Eads,  dem 1299      307 

Henry  Arms,  whig 992 

Anson  L.  Massie,  free  soil.. . .  305 

CIRCUIT   CLERK. 

Hiram  T.  Morey,  dem 1170        73 

T.  Judson  Hale,  whig 1097 

George  Davis,  free  soil 318 

CORONER. 

J.  W.  Brewer,  dem 1162      103 

J.  W.  Spalding,  whig 1059 

Hiram  Elliott,  free  soil 300 

ELECTION  NOV.  8,  1853. 
STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

Aaron  Tyler,  Jr  ,  whig 754      183 

W.  C.  Goudy,  dem 571 

A.  Z.  Hayner,  free  soil 110 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

H.  G.  Reynolds,  clem 804      266 

W.  Selden  Gale,  whig 538 

E.  M.  Jordon,  free  soil ...     94 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

H.  Hadley,  whig 485 

Z.  Cady,  dem 852      367 

G.  W.  Enke,  free  soil 93 


VOTE.    MAJ. 
COUNTY   TREASUREIt. 

W.  H.  Whitton,  dem 661          6 

William  McGowan,  whig  ....  (555 
J.  Larimer,  free  soil 115 

SURVEYOR. 

R.  Deatherage,  dem 616        24 

E.  T.  Byram,  ind 592 

S.  Davis,  free  soil 100 

SCHOOL    COMMISSIONER. 

J.  W.  Knox,  whig 613 

J.  H.  Noteware,  dem 739      126 

W.  C.  Willard,  free  soil 97 

(The  vote  of  Sparta  was  thrown  out, 
owing  to  an  informality  in  the  returns. 
It  would  not,  however,  have  changed  the 
result.) 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1854. 

CONGRESS. 

James  Knox,  rep 1647      723 

Wm.  McMurtry,  dern 924 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

S.  W.  Brown,  rep 1580      616 

Thomas  McKee,  dem 964 

SHERIFF. 

Cornelius  Runkle,  rep 1331        73 

Peter  Burtnett,  clem 1258 

CORONER. 

JosephHenderson,  rep 1588      611 

William  H.  Heller,  dem 977 

ELECTION  NOV.  6,  1855. 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

William  McGowan,  rep 752      327 

Thomas  Murrie,  dem 425 

COUNTY    SURVEYOR. 

Elias  T.  Byram,  rep 746      823 

R.  Deatherage,  dem 423 

SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER. 

P.  H.  Sanford,  rep 791        46 

H.  H.  Smith, 45 

W.  H.  Whitton, 40 

J.  Blanchard, 3 

ELECTION  NOV.  4,  1856. 

PRESIDENT. 

John  Charles  Fremont,  rep..  .2851     1361 

James  Buchanan,  dem 1490 

Millard  Fillmore,   Amer 277 

CONGRESS. 

William  Kellogg,  rep 2890      326 

James  W.  Davidson,  dem 1564 

Arthur  H.  Griffith,,free  soil. . .  115 
STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

James  H.  Stewart,  rep 2862    1767 

B.  C.  Taliaferro,  dem. 1095 


418 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


VOTE.   MAJ. 
STATE   SENATOR. 

Thomas  J.  Henderson,  rep. .  .2863     1289 
John  Dickon,  dem 1574 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

D.  H.  Frisbie,  rep 2824    1165 

Isaac  Dernpsey,  dem 1659 

CIRCUIT  CLERK. 

Cephas  Armes,  rep 2853     1 203 

William  H.  Whitton,  dem 1650 

SHERIFF. 

George  W.  Enke,  rep 2639      735 

Peter  Burtnett,  dem 1904 

CORONER. 

Wm.  Hamilton,  rep 2861    1319 

Jason  Duncan,  dem 1542 

ELECTION  NOV.  3,  1857. 

JUDGE. 

L.  Douglass,  rep 1437      545 

Geo.  A.  Charles,  dem 892 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

J.  S.  Winter,  rep 1390      441 

Z.  Cooley,  dem 949 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

William  McGowan,  rep 1365      366 

David  Sanborn,  dem 999 

SURVEYOR. 

Alexander  Knapp,  rep 1456      633 

D.  W.  Rockhold,  dem 823 

SCHOOL    COMMISSIONER. 

P.  H.  Sanford,  rep 1399      443 

T.  A.  E.  Holcomb,  dem 956 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1858. 

CONGRESS. 

William  Kellogg,  rep 2965     1145 

James  W.  Davidson,  dem 1820 

Jacob  Gale 54 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

R.  W.  Miles,  rep 2930    1030 

G.  W.  Ford,  dem 1900 

J.  M.  Morse, 51 

SHERIFF. 

Andrew  Thompson,  rep 2800      981 

Peter  Burtnett,  dem 1819 

David  Sanborn,  free  soil 84 

CORONER. 

Alvin  H.  Potter,  rep 2848     1014 

Samuel  Wilson,  dem 1834 

Henry  Lander 84 

ELECTION  NOV.  6,  1859. 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

George  Davis,  rep 1 143      480 

Thomas  McKee,  dem 663 


VOTE.  MAJ 
COUNTY  SURVEYOR. 

Elias  T.  Byram,  rep 1183      568 

Walter  Jarvis,  dem 615 

SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER. 

Patrick  H.  Sanford,  rep 1142      497 

Thomas  S.  Vaill,  dem 645 

ELECTION  NOV.  6,  1860. 

PRESIDENT. 

A.  Lincoln,  rep 3832    1624) 

S,  A.  Douglas,  dem 2208 

CONGRESS. 

William  Kellogg  rep 3820    1609 

R.  G.  logo-soil,  dem 2221 

STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

James  H.  Stewart,  rep 3830    1613 

J.  C.  Pepper,  dem 2217 

SENATOR. 

T.  J.  Pickett,  rep 3822    1572 

A.  C.  Mason,  dem 2250 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

A.  A.  Smith,  rep. 3818    1577 

G.  A.  Charles,  dem 2241 

CIRCUIT  CLERK. 

J.  H.  Lewis,  rep. 3826    1583 

S.  Myers,  dem 2243 

SHERIFF. 

E.  C.  Brott,  rep 3803    1541 

Peter  Frans,  dem 2262 

CORONER. 

Reuben  Bailey,  rep 3816    1577 

J.  W.  Brewer,  dem 2239 

ELECTION  NOV.  5, 1861. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

R.  L.  Hannaman,  rep. : 1306 

A.  M.  Craig,  Union  dem 1943      637 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

J.  B.  Scheitlin,  Union  rep 1487 

J.  S.  Winter,  rep 1623      136 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

T.  A.  E.  Holcomb,  Union  ind.  1856      469 

George  Davis,  rep ;  .1387 

SURVEYOR. 

R.  Voris,  Union  rep 1784      392 

E.  T.  Byram,  rep 1392 

SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER. 

J.  H.  Knapp,  rep - 1733      232 

J.  S.  Foster,  Union  dem 1501 

CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTION. 

J.  M.  Holyoke,  rep 1054 

W.  Selden  Gale,  Union  rep..  1599      545 
Aaron  Tyler,  Ind.  rep 549 

ELECTION  NOV.  4,  1862. 

CONGRESSMAN- AT-LARGE. 

Ebon  Clark  Ingersoll,  rep. . .  2775    1126 
James  C.  Allen,  dem 1649 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


419 


VOTE.    MAJ. 


CONGRESSMAN. 


/    Owen  Lovejoy,  rep 2625 

Thomas  J.  Henderson,  dem..  .1769 


1126 


Ben  Graham 4 

STATE   SENATOR. 

George  I.  Bergen,  rep 28°8     1211 

Albert  C.  Mason,  dem 1597 

REPRESENTATIVE . 

Joseph  M.  Holyoke,  rep 2690      959 

Wm.  N.  Phillips,  dern 1731 

SHERIFF. 

J.  Calvin  Cover,  rep 2684    1004 

James  M  Hunter,  dem 1680 

CORONER. 

Giles  Cook,  rep 2681      955 

William  A.  Merricks,  dem. .  .1726 

ELECTION  NOV.  3,  1863. 

COUNTY   TREASURER. 

John  A.  West, 2409    1 .82 

Jesse  Grant 1127 

COUNTY  SURVEYOR. 

Ralph  Voris, 242S     1322 

John  S.  Foster, 1106 

SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER. 

James  H.  Knapp 2413     1300 

James  W.  Butler,  1113 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1865. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

Dennis  Clark,  rep 1859      161 

Frank  C.  Smith,  dem 1698 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

James  J.  Egan,  rep .1835      126 

James  M.  Gilson,  ind.  rep  ...  1709 

COUNTY    TREASURER. 

Thomas  Harrison,  rep 3455    3448 

Richard  Allen,  dem 7 

SUPERINTENDENT  SCHOOLS. 

James  H.  Knapp,  rep 3448 

COUNTY  SURVEYOR. 

Ralph  Voris,  rep 3429 

ELECTION  NOV.  6,  1866. 

CONGRESSMAN-AT-LARGE. 

John  A.  Logan,  rep 4314    2697 

T.  Lyle  Dickey,  dem 1617 

CONGRESS. 

Ebon  C.  Ingersoll,  rep 4313     2697 

Silas  Rumsey,  dem 1616 

STATE   SENATOR. 

Thomas  A.  Boyd,  rep 4294    2659 

George  A.  Charles,  dem 1685 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

John  Gray,  rep 4303    2698 

Elias  B.  Rea,  dem 1605 


VOTE.    MAJ. 
SHERIFF. 

David  W.  Bradshaw,  rep. . .    .4302    2688 
Commodore  P.  Lomax,  dem . .  1614 
CORONER. 

Levi  Massie,  rep 4219    2607 

Isaac  Martin,  dem 1612 

ELECTION  NOV.  5,  1867. 

TREASURER. 

Homer  Gaines,  rep 1 845       767 

Sylvester  Stearns,  dem .    1078 

SURVEYOR. 

Ralph  Voris,  rep I860      8    0 

Walter  Jarvis,  dem 1050 

ELECTION  NOV.  6,  1868. 

PRESIDENT. 

U.  S.  Grant,  rep 5101    2605 

Horatio  Seymour,  dem 2495 

CONGRESS. 

Ebon  C.  Ingersoll,  rep 5041     2507 

John  H.  Neglos,  dem 2534 

Samuel  Dorr, 2 

REPRESENTATIVE. 

W.  Selden  Gale,  rep 3908      486 

Alfred  M.  Craig,  dem 3422 

STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

James  A.  McKenzie,  rep 4024    1475 

D.  P.  Phelps,  dem 2549 

William  Marshall,  ind 955 

CIRCUIT  CLERK. 

James  W.  Temple,  rep 4981    2392 

Charles  H.  Jackson,  dem 2589 

SHERIFF. 

Wilkins  Seacord,  rep 4633    1922 

John  S.  Henderson,  dem 2711 

John  S.  Gorsett,  ind  . . .' 132 

ELECTION  NOV.  2, 1869. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

Dennis  Clark,  rep 2579      189 

Rufus  W.  Miles,  rep , . . .  .2390 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

John  S.  Winter,  rep 2491      213 

Samuel  L.  Charles,  rep 2278 

COUNTY   TREASURER. 

Edwin  T.  Ellett,  dem 2803      633 

David  J.  Ackerson,  rep 2 170 

COUNTY  SURVEYOR. 

David  Wilts,  rep 2531        81 

Ralph  Voris,  rep 2450 

SUPERINTENDENT     OF    SCHOOLS. 

Frederick  Christianer,  rep. .  .2584        94 
John  S.  Foster,  dem 2290 

ELECTION  NOV.  8,  1870. 

CONGRESS. 

Bradford  N.  Stevens,  dem 2250      152 

Ebon  C.  Ingersoll,  rep 2098 

F.  B.  Ives,  liberal 161 


420 


HISTORY    OF  KNOX    COUNTY. 


VOTE.    MAJ. 


SENATORS 


Henry  J.  Vaughn,  rep 2802        24 

Thomas  A.  Boyd,  rep 2778 

Alfred  M..  Craig,  dem 2076 

Benjamin  H.  Gal  ton, 1427 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

Oscar  F.  Price,  rep, 3131 

Joseph  F.  Latimer,  rep  ......  3030 

Patrick  H.  Sanford,  rep 2930 

Wm.  W.  Campbell,  deoi 1591 

Norman  Z.  Potter,  rep 1211 

Geo.  W.  McCown,  rep 1435 

SHERIFF. 

Samuel  F.  Patton,  rep 2560      627 

David  W.  Bradshaw,  rep 1933 

CORONER. 

Jesse  W.  Kimball,  rep 2979     1417 

Levi  Massie,  dem 1562 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1871. 

CONGRESSMAN-AT-LARGE. 

John  L.  Beveridge,  rep 2018     1115 

Samuel  S.  Hayes,  dem 903 

COUNTY   TREASURER. 

Francis  M.  Sykes,  rep 1688      443 

Edwin  T.  Ellett,  dem 1245 

COUNTY   SURVEYOR. 

Wm.  H.  Robinson,  dem 2048     1242 

.Ralph  Voris,  rep 806 

Robert  Deatherage,  dem 28 

ELECTION  NOV.  9,  1872. 

PRESIDENT. 

U.  S.  Grant,  rep 4315    2461 

Horace  Greeley,  liberal 1854 

Charles  O' Conor,  dem 98 

CONGRESS. 

Granville  Borrere,  rep 4331    2363 

Nich.  E.  Worthington,  clem  . .  1968 
Jas.  H.  Nicholson,  liberal 87 

STATE  SENATOR. 

Patrick  H.  Sanford,  rep. .     .  .4273     2267 
Alfred  S.  Curtis,  liberal 2006 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

Jacob  S.  Chambers,  rep 0469 

Geo.  P.  Graham,  rep 6337 

John  W.  Kinsley,  dem  3222^ 

Alson  W.  Streeter,  dem 2974 

STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

John  J.  Tunnicliff,  rep 4348    2387 

Fred.  A.  Willoughby,  clem.  .  .1961 
D.  H.  Clark,  clem 69 

CIRCUIT  CLKRK. 

Geo.  L.  Hannaman,  rep 4268    2209 

Patrick  H.  Smith,  dem 2059 


v'OTE.    MAJ. 
SHERIFF. 

August  W.  Berggren,  rep 4282     2337 

Peter  S.  Nelson,  liberal 1945 

Moses  S.  Carr,  clem 40 

John  S.  Garrett,  ind 34 

CORONER. 

Albert  S.  Slater,  rep 4325    2357 

Edward  H.  Stilson,  dem 1968 

ELECTION  NOV.  8, 1873. 

JUDGE. 

Dennis  Clark,  rep 3603     133g 

Rufus  W.  Miles,  rep 2271 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

John  S.  Winter,  rep 3440    1017 

Francis  M.  Sykes 2423 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

Edwin  T.  Ellett,  dem 3378      935 

Daniel  Robertson,  dem 2443 

SUPERINTENDENT  SCHOOLS. 

Mary  Allen  West,  rep 3015      814 

Bobb,  dem 2141 

S.  P.  Lucy,  lib 622 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1874. 

CONGRESS. 

Richard  H.  Whiting,  rep 2883      556 

Leonard  F.  Ross,  liberal 2327 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

Curtis  K.  Harvey,  clem 5165^ 

John  H.  Lewis,  rep 4750*| 

John  T.   McGinnis,  rep 3916>| 

James  M.  Taylor,  liberal 2l64>£ 

Robert  J.  Cabeen,  Ind 10 


August  W.  Berggren,  rep 3551     1764 

Samuel  F.  Patton,  Ind 1789 

SUPT.  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

Wm.  W.  Powell,  rep 3417     1522 

Samuel  W.  Etter,  lib 1895 

CORONER. 

Albert  S.  Slater,  rep 3503    1672 

J.  C.Morse,  lib 816 

Chauncey  Morse,  dem 1015 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1875. 

TREASURER. 

James  L.  Burkhalter,  rep 1822      522 

A.  C.  Clay,  clem 1300 

SURVEYOR. 

Henry  J.  Vaughn,  rep 1802      467 

Ralph  Voris,  clem    1335 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


421 


ELECTION  NOV.  2. 


VOTE.    MAJ. 

1876. 


PRESIDENT. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  rep. . .  .5235    2603 

Samuel  J.  Tilden,  dem 2632 

Peter  Cooper,  ind 141 

Jonathan  Blanchard, 1 

CONGRESS. 

Thomas  A.  Boyd,  rep 5004    2228 

Geo.  A.  Wilson,  dem 2776 

Watson  W.  Mathews,  ind 195 

SENATOR. 

Benjamin  C.  Taliaferro,  rep  ..5224    2478 
Franklin  C.  Smith,  dem .2746 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

Alfred  S.  Curtis,  rep 7806 

Joseph  F.  Latimer,  rep 7731 

Abraham  M.  Brown,  dern.  . .  .7868 

Joseph  E.  Harroun,  ind 510 

STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

John  J.  Tunnicliff,  rep 5190    2417 

Robert  Bollard,  dem 2773 

CIRCUIT   CLERK. 

George  L.  Hannamau,  rep 549        341 

Orrin  P.  Cooley,  dem 2085        50 

24 


VOTE.   MAJ 
SHERIFF. 

August  W.  Berggren,  rep 5194    2476 

Joseph  Stafford,  dem 2718 

CORONER. 

D.  W.  Aldrich,  rep 5228    2468 

J.  Harts  Miller,  dem 2760 

ELECTION  NOV.  7,  1877. 

JUDGE. 

Dennis  Clark,  rep 2478      542 

Curtis  K.  Harvey,  dem 1936 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

John  S.  Winter,  rep 2402      408 

Wm.  J.  Davis,  dem 1994 

COUNTY  TREASURER. 

J.  L.  Burkhalter,  rep 4375 

COUNTY    SUPT.   SCHOOLS. 

Mary  A.  West,  rep 3182    2041 

Henry  Case,  dem 1141 


422  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

PERSONAL  INCIDENTS  AND  MISCELLANY. 
HISTORICAL    ITEMS   FROM    REV.    WRIGHT'S   JOURNAL. 

The  following  interesting  items  are  taken  from  the  journal  of  Rev. 
S.  G.  Wright,  a  Congregational  preacher  of  Stark  county;  but  as  his 
labors  were  largely  in  Knox  county,  we  find  mention  made  frequently 
of  locations  and  incidents  here.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  and  lived  in  West  Jersey  township,  which  is 
township  12  north,  range  5  east,  and  was  formerly  a  part  of  Knox 
county.  From  his  journal  it  may  be  gathered  that  for  the  first  few 
years  he  had  regular  appointments  at  Walnut  Creek,  Victoria  and 
Henderson. 

First  entry.  "December  24,  1841. — Started  for  Walnut  cree' 
There  had  been  a  great  rain;  the  creek  was  swimming;  Richard  C 
and  William  Dunn  were  with  me;  had  much  difficulty  in  crossing  the 
branch  above  Trickle's  mill;  had  to  break  ice  for  near  an  hour,  and 
go  round  by  Fraker's  Grove,  in  order  to  get  to  the  bridge  below  Cen- 
treville;  preached  at  Mr.  Foster's  Friday  evening,"  etc.,  etc. 

"  April  18, 1842. — Went  to  Knoxville  to  attend  the  debate  betwee 
Kinney  and  Frazer;  also  to  obtain  a  teacher,  which  I  effected." 

"  May  2. — Went  to  La  Fayette  to  hear  Mr.  Harris  expose  Mormo 
ism;  rehearsed  his  lecture  to  my  people  at  Mr.  Webster's.     Last  week 
preached  but  twice;  plowed  the  rest  of  my  field,  and  sowed  four  an 
a  half  bushels  of  oats." 

"September  14. — Went  to  Henderson  and  Galesburg;  made  ar 
rangements  for  a  meeting  at  La  Fayette;  at  Knoxville  was  hinder 
all  the  next  day,  endeavoring  to  get  relief  for  five  colored  persons  wh< 
were  that  day  imprisoned  because  they  could  not  produce  full  evi 
dence  that  they  were  free." 

"November  18. — Last  week  I  went  to  Galesburg  to  attend  the  asso 
ciation;  no  minister  present  but  myself.     Preached  four  successive 
days,  and  was  detained  two  days  longer  by  the  severity  of  the  weather. 
How  soon  I  can  return  I  know  not,  as  the  snow  is  badly  drifted  and 
the  wind  yet  high  and  cold." 

"  December  24. — Attended  the  first  meeting  for  mutual  improve- 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  4:25 

ment  at  Knoxville;  also  the  other  association,— indeed,  had  a  promi- 
nent part  in  it,  but  was  compelled  to  tear  myself  away,  as  my  house 
and  family  needed  my  attention,  for  it  is  very  cold,  and  our  house  has 
neither  doors  nor  floors. 

"  I  have  spent  all  the  week  at  hard  work,  and  we  have  just  got  the 
lower  floor  laid,  the  doors  in,  and  the  upper  floor  battened  a  little." 

"February  6, 1843. — Last  week  had  much  severe  cold  weather;  had 
to  be  at  home  most  of  the  week;  read  'Home's  Introduction,'  etc. 
On  Fridayanother  fugitive  from  slavery  came  along, — making  twenty-  N 
one  that  have  passed  through  this  settlement  on  their  way  to  Canada. 
To-day  it  is  extremely  cold:  the  ink  freezes  in  my  pen  as  I  try  to  write 
beside  the  stove." 

"  May  22, 1843. — Last  week  was  at  home  most  of  the  time  ;  planted 
potatoes,  corn,  etc.;  visited  families;  hope  some  good  was  done.  Satur- 
day, went  to  the  Emery  settlement,  but  found  so  strong  an  antipathy 
against  abolitionists  that  but  few  would  hear  me  preach  ;  so  I  went 
on,  and  on  Sabbath  morning  preached  at  Toulon  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion ;  most  of  the  seats  filled.  Report  said  the  Mormons  meant  to 
encounter  me  here  and  draw  me  into  a  debate,  but  all  passed  off 
quietly." 

"May  20. — The  grand  jury  found  a  bill  'against  me  and  my  Elder, 
"W.  "W.  Webster,  for  harboring  runaway  slaves  !  Some  excitement 
exists,  but  hope  good  will  result.  Many  sympathize  with  us  and  with 
the  oppressed,  who  had  seldom  thought  on  the  subject  before  ;  and 
these  wicked  laws  'to  be  hated  need  but  to  be  seen.'  Rev.  Owen 
Lovejoy,  of  Princeton,  is  also  indicted.  We  have  not  yet  been  taken 
by  the  sheriff,  but  probably  shall  be  soon." 

"  May  20,  1844:. — Heard  there  was  to  be  an  informal  meeting  of 
the  presbytery  at  Knoxville,  and  went,  returning  the  next  day  in  the 
rain.  Sabbath  rainy,  but  preached  twice  ;  we  have  more  rain  than 
ever  before  ;  creeks  are  all  full,  bridges  gone,  and  the  earth  perfectly 
saturated  with*  water  ;  sickness  beginning  to  prevail,  lung  fevers 
especially." 

"May  24. — Last  week  court  sat;  no  complaints  against  'nigger- 
stealers'  this  time  ;  court  held  but  one  day." 

"  June  10,  1844. — Last  week  started  with  wife  and  two  daughters 
for  Knoxville,  Galesburg,  Victoria,  etc.  Wednesday  evening  at  Knox- 
ville, a  most  dreadful  storm  of  wind,  hail,  rain  and  lightning  broke 
over  us;  several  houses  were  unroofed,  and  one  new  two-story  house 
was  upset  and  dashed  to  fragments.  In  it  were  a  mother  and  three 
children;  one  child  dangerously  hurt.  The  storm  raged  from  Gales- 
burg  to  Spoon  river, — how  much  farther  we  know  not.  It  seemed  for 


426  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

many  minutes  impossible  that  the  house  in  which  we  were  could 
withstand  its  force.  Mr.  Cole  was  absent,  and  no  man  present  but 
myself.  There  seemed  but  a  step  between  us  all  and  death.  God 
alone  could  understand  our  feelings.  The  lightning  was  almost  con- 
stant, and  in  many  places  seemed  to  be  running  all  over  the  ground; 
persons  riding  in  wagons  saw  the  wheels  apparently  encircled  with 
fire.  This  occurred  on  the  5th  of  June,  1844.  Streams  are  all  swim- 
ming, bridges  gone,  roads  dreadful,  still  raining." 

"  J  une  24. — Went  to  Knoxville  as  a  witness  for  Eev.  Mr.  Cross,  in 
the  case  of  The  People  vs.  Cross  for  harboring  slaves;  at  length  a 
nolle  prosequi  was  entered,  and  I  returned  home.  On  Friday,  went 
to  Farmington  to  attend  a  convention  for  organizing  a  general  asso 
ciation  for  the  State.  The  constitution  was  changed  in  divers  places, 
and  the  confession  of  faith  slightly  altered;  strong  resolutions  passed 
on  the  subject  of  slavery." 

"  February  9,  1846. — Last  week,  went  to  Galesburg  to  attend  the 
installation  of  Brother  Kellogg*;  was  unexpectedly  called  to  give  the 
charge  to  the  people.  After  preaching,  we  had  a  conference  of  breth- 
ren in  reference  to  uniting  our  presbytery  and  central  association  in 
a  sort  of  convention,  so  there  should  be  one  and  not  two  bodies. 
Tuesday,  went  to  Galesburg  to  attend  the  commencement  exercises 
of  Knox  College.  They  were  quite  flattering  to  the  institution.  Mr. 
Blanchard,  however,  so  far  forgot  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  of  the 
West,  as  to  appear  in  a  '  toga,'  and  to  wear  his  hat,  etc.,  etc.,  while 
giving  his  inaugural  address." 

"January  5,  1847. — Went  to  attend  the  ordination  of  Brother 
Blanchard  at  Knoxville;  very  muddy,  bad  roads.  Arriving  at  home 
on  Friday  evening,  found  two  fugitives  from  slavery  had  been  along 
with  only  'Christmas  papers.'  Messrs.  Smith  and  Gordon,  of  Farm- 
n  o-ton,  pursued,  got  out  a  seirjh- warrant  for  two  stolen  horses,  and 
two  colored  men  who  were  supposed  to  have  stolen  them.  Neither 
horses  nor  men  were  described,  except  that  one  man  called  himself 
'  Major.'  They  searched  our  premises  in  vain,  however,  for  the  birds 
had  flown,  having  got  a  wink  from  friends  at  Farmington  that  they 
were  pursued.  Several  constables  and  others  followed  them  to 
Osceola,  but  before  they  reached  there  the  fugitives  were  safely  out 
of  the  county." 

Shall  we  ask  pardon  of  our  readers  for  introducing  so  many  extracts 
from  this  journal,  or  rather  express  regret  that  we  can  give  no  more? 


*  First  President  of  Knox  College;  but  this  must  have  been  his  installation  as 
Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Galesburg. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  427 

—not  on  account  of  their  intrinsic  worth,  of  themselves  considered, 
but  on  account  of  the  memories  they  awaken,  and  the  light  thrown 
on  the  "  long  ago."  Such  simple  allusions  to  matters  then  current 
<;oine  to  the  early  settlers  now,  with  their  far-off  date,  like  echoes  from 
a  land  they  shall  see  no  more. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  is  residing  in  Burlington,  Kansas,  at  the  present 
time,  and  is  still  a  missionary. 

INDIAN  BOY  KILLED. 

In  1837,  when  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  were  being  removed  west 
by  Colonel  Sands,  they  were  several  days  in  passing  through  this 
•county.  When  camping  near  Abingdon  one  of  the  Indian  boys  ac- 
cidentally shot  another,  killing  him.  This  aroused  the  parents  of  the 
unfortunate  boy,  who,  as  the  rule  was  among  the  Indians,  demanded 
the  life  of  the  boy  that  killed  him.  Colonel  Sands  knew  that  the 
killing  was  accidental,  and  therefore  did  not  want  the  boy  to  suffer 
•death  for  the  act;  so,  in  order  to  appease  them  and  settle  the  matter, 
he  called  them  all  up,  and  made  a  fatherly  speech  to  them;  and  as  a 
price  for  this  son  gave  to  the  parents  of  the  deceased  boy  blankets,  cloth, 
and  a  pony  or  two.  The  boy  was  buried  near  Jonathan  Latimer's 
house,  the  spot  being  marked  by  a  small  cross,  cut  into  a  hickory 
tree.  For  many  years  the  little  mound  over  the  grave  remained  un- 
disturbed. * 

BIG  STORMS. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  1844-,  occurred  one  of  most  destructive  wind 
and  rain  storms  that  ever  visited  Illinois.  The  damage  done  in  this 
•county  was  largely  in  the  northern  part.  Houses  and  barns  were  un- 
roofed and  demolished,  and  the  demon  of  destruction  prevailed  on 
every  hand. 

A  temperance  meeting  was  being  held  in  the  school-house  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Ontario  township.  A  reformed  drunkard  by  the  name  of 
Thomas  addressed  the  meeting  under  the  auspices  of  the  Washing- 
tonian  movement.  The  meeting  was  broken  up  by  the  fury  of  the 
storm.  Every  house  for  some  distance  was  unroofed  except  Mr. 
Camp's,  which  was  probably  saved  by  the  protection  afforded  by  a 
grove.  Some  forty  persons,  rendered  homeless  by  the  storm,  staid  at 
this  house  during  the  night.  As  the  people  drove  up  to  the  house, 
the  drivers  held  their  horses  from  the  windows,  but  the  wagons  were 
uncoupled  and  blown  to  fragments.  A.  S.  Clearwater,  who  was  liv- 
ing with  I.  M.  Wetmore,  took  a  load  of  young  people  to  the  temper- 
ance meeting  with  an  ox  team.  This  load  consisted  of  Misses  Hettie 


428  HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Morse,  Emma  Crane,  Leah  Keyes,  and  Deacon  Wetmore.  On  their 
return  the  storm  struck  them  with  great  fury.  Urging  on  his  oxen, 
they  reached  Ezra  Chapman's  big  gate,  when  the  driver,  finding  he 
could  go  no  farther,  unhitched  the  team.  They  then  went  with  the 
wind  out  upon  the  prairie.  This  moment  the  heavy  gate  was  blown 
around  upon  the  fore  part  of  the  wagon,  holding  it  fast  while  the 
hind  part  fluttered  in  the  wind.  Miss  Keyes  jumped  from  the  wagon; 
the  others  remained  in.  At  this  critical  juncture  the  roof  of  Mr. 
Chapman's  house  was  blown  oif  and  over  the  heads  of  those  in  and 
around  the  wagon;  this  was  quickly  followed  by  the  roof  of  the 
large  hog-pen  and  a  shed  roof,  all  passing  in  the  same  line.  "When 
the  house  roof  was  taken  off  the  eighteen  or  twenty  sheltered  there 
scattered,  some  going  to  the  smoke-house,  in  which  the  water  was  a 
foot  deep,  some  to  the  hog-pen,  which  was  soon  unroofed,  and  some 
to  the  shed  and  barn,  while  others  went  to  the  wagon.  Just  then  a 
200-pound  Miss  was  being  whirled  by,  when  Mr.  Clearwater  caught 
her. 

After  the  storm  somewhat  abated  they  set  about  getting  home, — 
at  least  those  who  had  any  left.  Amos  "Wilmot's  cabin  was  unroofed, 
and  the  family  took  shelter  in  the  out-door  cellar. 

Ezra  Chapman  left  the  temperance  meeting  with  the  rest,  but  being 
lame,  stopped  at  the  corner  of  his  yard  for  the  wind  to  lull,  when  he 
was  struck  by  a  missile,  as  he  supposed,  knocking  him  senseless,  in 
which  condition  he  remained  for  quite  a  while,  coming  to,  to  find  his 
buildings  unroofed.  He  describes  the  cloud,  when  approaching,  as 
like  a  large  wheel,  100  feet  in  diameter,  rolling  over  and  over,  filled 
with  debris. 

Joseph  Fisher  had  been  to  Henderson  to  have  some  blacksmithing 
done,  and  on  his  return  he  was  overtaken  by  the  storm,  which  took 
off  the  body  and  hind  wheels  of  his  wagon,  leaving  the  front  wheels 
attached  to  his  horse,  which  he  held  by  the  bit.  After  the  storm 
had  abated  he  proceeded  toward  home  as  he  thought,  but  after  trav- 
eling for  some  time  he  brought  up  at  Samuel  Randall's,  who  lived 
within  a  mile  of  Henderson.  He  found  his  log  cabin  partly  unroofed. 
Mr.  Fisher  was  so  chilled  he  could  not  speak.  On  returning  home 
to  Mr.  Bobbin's  the  following  day,  he  found  his  house,  which  he  was 
building,  completely  demolished. 

Thomas  Corder  rode  into  the  timber  on  horseback  just  as  the  storm 
struck  it.  He  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  riding  with  full  speed.  The 
trees  fell  fast,  just  whipping  in  behind  him.  Some  fifty  in  number 
fell  across  the  pass  just  behind  him. 

The  roof  of  James  Maxwell's  house  was  taken  off  and  set  down  on 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  429 

the  ground.  When  he  went  out  the  wind  took  him  along  with  the 
roof.  He  made  long  strides!  Lighting  in  the  hazel  brush,  he  caught 
hold  of  it  to  save  himself,  and  the  wind,  he  avers,  whipped  him  up 
and  down,  giving  him  a  tremendous  thrashing. 

In  the  northern  part  of  Ontario  township,  it  is  said,  two  cows  were 
pinned  together  by  a  rail  running  through  them  both. 

T.  P.  Wetmore  had  the  roof  of  his  house  torn  off,  a  feather-bed  car- 
ried several  rods,  a  tin  boiler  taken  five  miles,  and  crocks  of  milk  and 
lard  were  hurled  about  in  various  ways.  Two  carpenters — Fairneld 
and  Stillman — were  at  Mr.  "Wetmore's,  building  a  barn.  Stillman 
was  caught  by  the  wind,  whirled  down,  one  of  his  shoes  torn  off,  and 
lie  rolled  over  and  over  in  company  with  some  sheep  that  were  pass- 
ing, being  driven  by  the  same  power.  He  was  carried  some  thirty 
rods  and  thrown  into  a  large  slough  with  the  sheep,  before  his  clutch- 
ing to  the  grass  could  stop  him.  He  was  very  glad  to  be  found  for 
once  among  the  sheep,  and  not  the  goats! 

Several  hard-wood  planks  were  blown  sixty  rods,  and  only  two 
fence  posts  remained  standing  on  Mr.  Wetmore's  place.  In  plowed 
fields  the  wind  was  so  severe  and  powerful  as  to  blow  the  soil  away  as 
deep  as  it  was  plowed. 

SUDDEN  CHANGES. 

The  many  sudden  changes  in  the  weather  during  the  winter  of  1836 
are  often  referred  to  by  old  settlers.  The  following  is  especially 
worthy  of  note.  Gaddial  Scott  took  a  load  of  dressed  hogs  to  Hen- 
derson, a  distance  of  six  miles.  There  were  several  inches  of  snow  on 
the  ground,  but  rain  was  falling  slowly,  and  consequently  the  snow 
was  turned  to  slush,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he  could 
proceed  with  his  heavy  load.  The  road  continued  to  grow  softer  all 
the  way  until  he  reached  the  town.  No  change  in  the  weather  was 
noticed  when  he  begun  to  unload  his  hogs,  which  took  him  about 

renty  minutes.  Before  he  had  taken  the  last  hog  from  his  sleigh, 
the  horses,  previously  wet  by  perspiration,  were  covered  with  ice.  A 
jreat  cloud  from  the  northwest  came  up,  arid  the  ground,  covered 
with  snow,  and  water  were  so  suddenly  frozen,  that,  in  his  own  words, 
he  ''drove  home  just  as  though  he  was  on  a  sea  of  ice." 

COLD  WEATHER. 

In  1834-5  two  men  started  from  Persifer  township  to  Peoria  with 
pork.  They  landed  there  with  good  success  and  soon  started  home. 
On  their  way  they  got  very  cold  as  it  was  in  the  dead  of  winter.  One 
had  three  voke  of  oxen,  while  the  other  had  four  horses;  and,  after 


430 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


traveling  some  time,  the  one  driving  the  ox  team  saw  that  the  other 
would  freeze  to  death;  so,  in  order  to  save  the  man,  and  having  a  large 
whip,  he  struck  him  with  the  lash  a  few  times,  and  continued  doing 
so  until  the  man  became  so  enraged  that  he  got  down  from  his  wagon. 
He  was  then  so  stiff  he  could  hardly  walk;  but  the  other  kept  strik- 
ing him  with  the  whip,  keeping  out  of  the  way,  and  running  along 
by  the  side  of  the  ox  team  in  order  to  break  the  wind  from  him. 
By  so  doing  he  kept  himself  warm  and  saved  the  other's  life.  They 
remained  over  night  at  Kickapoo,  four  miles  out,  traveling  eight 
miles  the  next  day,  finally  returning  to  their  homes  in  safety. 


WET  SEASONS. 


In  this  section  the  "  wet  seasons  "  seemed  to  come  on  the  seven- 
year  plan  several  times  in  succession,  the  years  1844,  1851  and  1855 
being  particularly  characterized  by  rain  and  high  winds.  In  the 
spring  of  1858  the  village  of  Ellison,  southwest  of  Galesburg,  was  en- 
tirely swept  away  by  a  whirlwind;  and  in  Galesburg  during  another 
storm,  on  the  13th  of  April,  the  only  church  spire  (the  one  on 
"Beecher's"  church — First  Congregational)  was  blown  down,  crush- 
ing the  building  to  a  great  extent.  Repairs  were  made,  and  the  base 
of  the  spire  finished  off  into  a  low  cupola,  the  citizens  generally  be- 
lieving that  this  country  was  too  much  subject  to  hurricanes  to  admit 
of  tall  steeples.  Scarcely  any  venture  was  made  to  erect  a  magnifi- 
cent spire  until  1864,  when  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  build- 
ing was  surmounted  with  a  graceful  structure  of  this  kind.  Other 
churches  followed,  until  this  last  summer  the  old  "Brick"  church 
ventured  again  on  another  trip  heavenward. 

I**  A  part  of  the  roof  of  Isaac  Merrill's  dwelling  was  carried  away, 
leaving  just  sufficient  over  two  rooms  to  protect  a  bed  in  each,  and 
the  remaining  patches  of  roof  not  extending  more  than  six  inches 
beyond  the  edges  of  the  beds. 

luThe  storm  of  1858  brought  the  severest  wind  that  has  ever  visited 
Galesburg,  but  several  hailstorms  of  later  years  have  done  immense 
damage  in  this  region.  An  extensive  gardener  in  the  northwestern 
portion  of  the  city,  in  1868,  saw  $5,000  go  out  of  pocket  in  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour! 

A  FEROCIOUS  DOG. 

One  evening,  during  the  times  when  the  Indians  were  troublesome 
to  the  early  settlers,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Lewis  went  out  to 
milk.  She  was  accompanied  by  a  large  dog.  While  engaged  in 
milking,  an  Indian  jumped  over  the  high  log  fence  into  the  barnyard, 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  431 

where  she  was.  The  dog  immediately  gave  chase  to  the  Indian,  who 
jumped  back  over  the  fence.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  the  dog 
came  back  covered  with  blood.  He  had  never  been  known  to  bark 
much  before,  but  that  night  kept  up  a  continuous  growling  and  bark- 
ing, causing  the  family  to  think  that  the  Indians  were  near,  and  in- 
tended an  attack  on  them;  but  the  night  passed  without  any  further 
trouble.  A  few  days  afterward,  in  a  ravine  not  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  house,  the  body  of  an  .Indian  was  found  with  the 
head  nearly  eaten  off,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  dog  had  caused 
his  death. 

LOST  CHILDREN. 

In  November,  1862,  George  Flynn,  the  little  2^-year-old  son  of 
John  Flynn,  of  Fersifer  township,  strayed  from  home  and  was  lost. 
It  was  about  noon  when  the  child  was  first  missed,  and  no  one  re- 
membered seeing  it  about  the  house  later  than  ten  o'clock  that  morn- 
ing. Mrs.  Flynn  was  entertaining  a  number  of  visiting  friends,  and 
intent  on  the  hospitalities  of  the  occasion  the  absence  of  the  little  boy 
was  unnoticed. 

It  was  soon  noised  through  the  neighborhood  that  a  child  was  lost. 
This  startling  announcement  soon  spread  all  over  the  country,  and  in 
the  afternoon  as  many  as  200  friends  and  neighbors  were  searching 
up  and  down  North  creek  for  little  George.  They  brought  with  them 
baskets  of  food,  intending  to  continue  the  search  until  the  little  fellow 
was  found,  either  dead  or  alive.  So  many  came  that,  as  night  drew 
on,  Mr.  Flynn,  fearing  the  horses  wrould  tramp  on  the  child,  begged 
most  of  them  to  go  home,  and  he,  with  a  few  others  would  continue 
the  search  through  the  night.  This  they  did;  but  when  morning 
dawned  no  trace  of  the  child  had  been  found.  Early  in  the  day 
crowds  again  assembled,  with  increased  determination  not  to  give  up. 
The  agony  of  the  parents  over  the  lost  child  no  words  can  describe. 
The  mother  was  fairly  wild  with  grief  and  anxiety,  while  the  father 
was  excited  nearly  beyond  the  bounds  of  human  endurance.  They 
now  expected  to  find  only  the  lifeless  form. 

About  ten  o'clock  word  was  sent  along  the  line  that  Frank  Wilson 
had  found  near  the  stream  the  tracks  of  a  little  child.  Investigation 
proved  that  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  cross  the  stream.  As  the 
water  on  measurement  was  found  to  be  two  feet  deep,  nothing  re- 
mained for  them  to  do  but  to  drag  the  stream.  This  they  did  for  a 
distance  of  nearly  two  miles,  without  success,  when  they  became  al- 
most discouraged,  fully  believing  the  child  had  been  eaten  up  by  the 
wolves  which  were  known  to  infest  the  woods  at  that  time.  About 


432  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

noon  of  the  second  day,  Mr.  "William  Taylor,  who  lived  at  a  distance, 
heard  that  the  child  had  been  lost.  Without  finishing  the  dinner  just 
begun,  he  filled  his  pockets  with  biscuits  and  started  to  join  the  hunt. 
About  five  o'clock  he,  in  company  with  E.  M.  Beach,  found  tracks  on 
the  other  side  of  the  stream, — such  tracks! — so  faint  in  their  outline 
that  they  could  scarcely  believe  a  child  had  made  them.  On  they 
went — another  little  foot-print.  Was  there  ever  anything  so  small 
and  of  so  much  significance  ?  Great  was  their  surprise  when  at  last 
they  came  upon  the  little  fellow  alive  and  apparently  in  no  wise  dis- 
concerted by  his  night's  adventure  and  hazardous  surroundings. 
These  strong  men  shed  tears  of  joy,  and  great  was  the  shout  that  went 
up  from  all  around  when  the  lost  child  was  found. 

He  had  strayed  three  miles  from  home,  and  had  lived  on  black 
haws  during  his  sojourn  in  the  woods.  He  was  thinly  clad,  having 
on  no  garments  but  a  calico  frock;  was  without  shoes  or  hat,  but  was 
found  in  a  most  excellent  state  of  physical  preservation,  and  was  borne 
home  with  great  demonstrations  of  joy  to  his  parents,  who  had  given 
up  all  hope  of  ever  seeing  their  child  alive  again. 

A  little  boy  by  the  name  of  Lee,  and  only  three  years  of  age,  was 
lost  in  the  timber  on  North  creek,  for  about  two  days.  He  started 
out  one  morning  with  a  tin  cup,  to  go  to  a  neighbor's  for  some  milk 
for  breakfast,  but  in  some  manner  lost  his  way,  and  was  not  found 
until  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day.  He  was  then  wandering 
about  in  the  woods,  and  when  asked  where  he  was  going,  replied  that 
he  was  going  for  milk.  He  was  quite  weak  and  frightened,  but  held 
on  to  the  cup.  The  loving  parents  were  so  frantic  over  their  lost  son 
that  the  whole  neighborhood  and  vicinity  were  out  on  the  search,  and 
all  were  made  happy  when  the  lost  was  found. 

One  day  in  July,  of  the  year  1872,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Owen 
went  to  market,  leaving  their  little  daughter  Corrilla,  who  was  but 
three  years  of  age,  at  home  and  in  care  of  an  elderly  man  that  was 
about  the  farm.  They  left  her  fast  asleep,  but  upon  awakening,  after 
they  had  been  gone  some  time,  and  not  being  able  to  find  her  parents, 
the  little  one  concluded  that  they  had  gone  to  town  and  that  she  also 
would  go.  She  accordingly  started,  and  after  wandering  about  for 
some  time  toward  the  vicinity  of  Spoon  river,  she  came  upon  the  farm 
of  Mr.  Isaac  Sherman,  on  section  3,  in  Haw  Creek  township.  In  the 
evening  Mrs.  Sherman  discovered  her  in  the  field,  and  going  to  her, 
found  from  her  story  that  she  was  lost.  She  could  not  tell  her  name, 
so  Mrs.  Sherman  took  her  to  the  house  with  her.  In  the  mean  time 
the  parents,  almost  crazed  with  fears  and  excitement  that  they  should 
never  again  see  their  little  daughter,  were  searching  the  country  over 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  433 

for  her.  By  nightfall  the  father,  learning  she  was  safe  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Sherman,  most  joyously  went  for  her  and  carried  her  home  to 
the  anxious,  loving  mother.  Some  two  years  after  this  the  father 
died,  and  the  little  girl  wished  to  go  and  live  with  Grand-pa  Sherman, 
where  she  now  resides,  perfectly  at  home. 

RACE   TO    QUINCY. 

Many  are  the  races  occurring  between  parties  who  wanted  to  enter 
the  same  piece  of  land.  The  following  story  is  only  an  illustration  of 
others: 

In  1849  Granville  Fisher  discovered  coal  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  24,  Sparta  township.  He  proposed  to  Albert  Cawlkins.  if 
he  would  haul  the  coal  to  Galesburg,  he  would  give  him  two  days' 
work  for  each  load  hauled.  Thus  matters  advanced  about  a  year, 
when  one  Saturday  morning  Ezra  Chapman  came  to  view  the  land 
and  coal,  with  the  thought  of  entering  it  for  himself  and  others, 
in  order  to  secure  a  permanent  supply  of  fuel.  Mr.  Cawlkins  had 
also  entertained  the  same  thought,  with  regard  to  his  own  interest; 
and  the  same  day,  when  on  the  way  to  Galesburg,  mentioned  the  fact 
to  Wm.  D.  Lee,  who  inquired  why  he  did  not  do  so.  He  replied  that 
he  only  had  half  enough  money.  Mr.  Lee  then  proposed  to  go  in 
partnership  with  him  and  furnish  the  rest,  which  offer  was  accepted. 
Next  morning  Mr.  Cawlkins  returned  home,  and  on  Monday  secured 
the  number  of  the  land  and  made  arrangements  to  go  to  the  Land 
Office  at  Quincy,  130  miles  distant.  On  Monday  evening  he  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  Mr.  Lee's,  where  he  was  to  be  furnished  with  a  fast- 
traveling  horse,  owned  by  a  brother,  John  Lee.  (The  horse  was  after- 
ward called  "Telegraph,"  and  sold  to  parties  on  Long  Island  for  $1,000.) 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Chapman  had  returned  home  and  talked  the  matter 
among  his  neighbors, — about  one  of  them  going  to  Quincy  to  enter 
the  land.  As  none  of  them  wished  to  go,  it  was  proposed  to  take  Mr. 
Horace  L.  Sage  as  a  partner,  as  he  was  especially  qualified  by  experi- 
ence to  attend  to  such  matters.  This  arrangement  was  effected,  and 

tr.  Sage  arrived  at  William  D.  Lee's  a  short  time  before  Mr. 
)awlkins.  Mr.  Sage,  not  suspecting  any  opposition,  made  known  his 
Business,  and  Mr.  Lee  informed  him  that  he  intended  to  enter  the 
same  land.  Mr.  Sage  inquired  if  there  was  any  one  interested  with 
him,  and  he  replied  that  Albert  Cawlkins  was.  The  latter,  having 
just  arrived,  entered  the  room  at  this  point  of  the  conversation.  Mr. 
Lee  withdrew  his  claim,  leaving  the  matter  between  Mr.  Cawlkins  and 
Mr.  Sage,  who  continued  the  discussion  in  a  pleasant  way  until  bed- 
time, having  agreed  that  neither  would  start  out  before  morning,  both 


434  HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

being  determined  on  having  the  land.  Mr.  Lee  had  off  his  boots,  but 
remembered  that  he  was  to  inform  his  brother  John,  who  lived  on  the 
adjoining  farm,  that  he  would  help  him  pick  corn  the  next  day.  His 
brother  had  gone  to  Henderson.  He  left  word  with  the  family  for 
him  to  prepare  to  go  to  the  Land  Office  as  soon  as  he  returned.  Mr. 
Sage,  supposing  an  arrangement  had  been  made  with  John  Lee  to  go 
to  the  Land  Office,  made  a  pretext  to  go  over  to  borrow  his  buggy  for 
the  morrow.  John,  having  returned  home,  and  being  warned  by 
some  member  of  the  family  that  Mr.  Sage  was  coming,  was  earnestly 
talking  about  "  husking  corn  "  the  next  day.  He  concluded  that  he 
could  not  let  the  buggy  go,  on  account  of  the  "  roads  being  too  rough 
to  travel  on."  Mr.  Sage,  thinking  matters  all  right,  returned.  In  his 
absence,  Cawlkins  and  William  Lee  completed  their  arrangements, 
which  his  coming  had  prevented.  William  urged  the  subject  of  "corn- 
picking"  as  a  necessity  for  early  rising,  and  they  had  better  retire. 
The  visitors  decided  to  sleep  together,  so  as  to  keep  an  eye  on  each 
other.  After  they  had  retired,  William  Lee  quickly  mounted  a  horse, 
joined  John,  his  brother,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Cherry  Grove,  16 
miles  on  the  way  to  Quincy,  John  riding  his  fast  horse.  At  5  A.  M., 
he  proceeded  to  Quincy.  William  returned  that  night  to  his  home, 
through  a  bitter  cold,  freezing  wind. ;  He  had  just  gotten  home  and 
to  bed  when  Sage  and  Cawlkins  arose.  Lee's  wife  was  dilatory  in 
preparing  breakfast,  saying  that  Mr.  Lee  had  been  attacked  with  chills 
during  the  night,  and  his  condition  necessitated  a  late  breakfast.  Mr. 
Cawlkins  returned  home,  and  Mr.  Sage  started  on  his  journey  to 
Quincy  at  7  o'clock,  sixteen  miles,  or  two  hours,  behind  John  Lee. 
The  latter  traveled  that  day  and  all  the  next  night.  Mr.  Sage,  after 
traveling  all  day,  began  to  think  that  possibly  John  had  gone  ahead, 
but  when  he  began  to  inquire  along  the  way,  no  one  had  seen  him. 
John  had  passed  that  road  in  the  night.  He  inquired  of  a  man  who 
had  seen  such  a  man  and  horse,  as  described,  pass  along  at  a  swinging 
pace,  early  in  the  morning.  The  young  man  advised  Mr,  Sage  to  tele- 
graph to  Quinc}'.  He  therefore  pressed  the  young  man,  with  his  team, 
into  service,  to  convey  him  to  the  nearest  telegraph  office  on  the 
Mississippi,  at  a  cost  of  $7.  There  was  no  box  on  the  wagon,  and 
they  fairly  bounced  over  the  frozen  hubs.  They  telegraphed,  at  an  addi- 
tional cost  of  $7,  appointing  a  lawyer  in  Quincy  as  agent,  and  sent  a 
little  boy  to  the  Land  Office,  with  the  message,  to  enter  the  land.  The 
boy  entered  the  office  at  the  same  time  that  Lee  did,  and  handed  in 
the  letter  at  once.  Lee  waited  until  he  commenced  to  read  the  mess- 
age, when  he  presented  his  claim.  The  agent  had  read  enough  to 
know  the  subject,  and  then  decided  the  land  would  have  to  be  sold  to 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  437 

the  highest  bidder.  The  lawyer  was  sent  for;  they  bid  until  the  addi- 
tional amount  was  $2,  when  it  was  struck  off  to  Lee,  January  23,  1850. 
The  answer  sent  to  Mr.  Sage  was,  "Gone."  Thus  the  horse  beat  the 
telegraph,  and  that  was  the  origin  of  his  name  "Telegraph."  The 
result  was  eventually  accepted  with  good  grace  by  all  parties  interested. 

EAKLY.  MILLING. 

While  the  pioneer  farmers  of  the  broad,  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois, 
by  liberal  application  of  enterprise  and  muscle,  had  little  difficulty 
in  producing  an  abundance  of  the  cereals,  they  did  sometimes  experi- 
ence considerable  inconvenience  in  getting  their  grains  converted  in- 
to breadstuff's.  A  severe  drouth  prevailed  in  Knox  and  the  adjoining 
counties  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1842. 
Every  water-mill  in  this  region  of  country  was  forced  to  shut  down 
because  of  the  low  stage  of  the  streams ;  and  the  people  many  of  them 
resorted  to  the  old-time  hand-grater  to  convert  their  corn  into  meal 
for  bread,  for  to  get  wheat  ground  was  out  of  the  question.  There 
was  a  small  steam  mill  at  Knoxville,  but  it,  too,  was  obliged  to  suspend 
operations  for  want  of  water  to  make  steam.  It  had  a  capacity  of 
one  run  of  stone  for  wheat  and  one  for  corn.  Mr.  Marcus  Belden, 
then  living  on  a  farm  eight  miles  from  Knoxville,  growing  tired  of 
home-made  meal,  became  a  little  desperate  and  determined  to  have 
some  flour.  He  accordingly  loaded  a  few  sacks  of  wheat  into  his 
wagon  and  drove  to  Knoxville.  He  found  the  mill  full  of  sacks  of 
grain,  and  the  miller  fast  asleep  on  them.  Mr.  B.  awoke  him  and 
told  him  he  wanted  his  grist  ground.  The  miller  proved  to  be  in  a 
rather  unamiable  mood  and  replied,  "There  is  no  water  iVthe  well;  I 
can't  do  a  thing;  so  you  can  take  your  grist  and  go  ho*nfe."'  Mr.  B. 
replied  that  he  must  have  some  flour,  and  he  did  not  propose  to  give 
it  up  until  he  had  tried  the  experiment  of  supplying  the  engine  with 
water  from  a  small* running  steam  about  eighty  rods  distant.  His 
suggestion  struck  the  miller  forcibly,  and  he  replied,  "All'right:  you 
furnish  the  water  and  I  will  grind  your  grist."  Mr.  B.  looked  about 
and  gathered  some  barrels  and  casks,  loaded  them  into  -his  wagon  and 
drove  down  to  the  brook,  across  which  he  constructed  a  rud'e  dam. 
As  the  water  collected  he  dipped  it  into  his  casks.  When  they  were 
filled  he  drove  to  the  well  and  dipped  the  water  out  of  the  casks  into  it. 
This  was  repeated  several  times,  and  before  night  the  mill  was  started 
and  Mr.  B.'s  grain  was  ground  out.  His  improvised  water  supply 
worked  so  well  that  he  proposed  to  the  miller  that  for  200  pounds  of 
flour  per  day  he  would  haul  water  enough  to  keep  the  mill  running. 
The  miller  acceded  to  his  proposition,  and  the  mill  was  kept  going 


438  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

in  this  manner  for  more  than  two  months  before  the  fall  rains  fur- 
nished the  supply  in  the  usual  way.  People  came  from  15  or  20  miles 
away  to  the  mill;  and  there  would  be  from  twenty  to  forty  teams  wait- 
ing for  their  grist  to  be  ground,  notwithstanding,  the  mill  was  kept 
running  day  and  night  much  of  the  time.  While  furnishing  the 
water  supply  Mr.  B.  boarded  with  the  miller  at  $1.00  per  week,  which, 
by  the  way,  was  rather  cheaper  than  boarding  uow-a-days. 

A.  B.  Codding  and  Calvin  Lee  in  1844  went  to  Round's  mill  on 
Yellow  Creek.  The  streams  were  very  high  and  had  to  be  forded  or 
swam.  Codding  was  unable  to  swim,  but  Lee  being  a  good  swimmer 
would  swim  across  with  a  rope  and  tow  Codding  over.  Coming  to 
Yellow  Creek,  Lee  swam  over  and  aided  his  companion  with  a  rope. 
They  left  their  team  on  this  side,  and  went  over  for  something  to  eat. 
Lee  swam  back  and  came  home  with  the  team.  He  succeeded  in 
binding  some  flour  to  his  person  as  he  returned.  Codding  purchased 
a  cow  there  and  came  around  the  head  of  the  stream  by  way  of  La 
Fayette.  . 

CANADA    THISTLES. 

This  pest  of  all  pests  was  imported  from  Europe,  and  is  called  the 
"Canada,"  formerly  the  "Cursed  Thistle."  Its  root  is  perennial,  and 
it  lives  and  spreads  the  plant  independently  of  seeds.  Hundreds  of 
thousands  of  acres  curse  the  Eastern  States,  rendering  them  well 
nigh  useless  for  raising  small  grain.  Through  grass-seed  and  grain, 
also  in  the  packing  of  goods  and  fruit  trees,  they  have  been  intro- 
duced into  this  State.  The  first  known  in  Knox  county  were  intro- 
duced at  a  very  early  day  by  some  emigrants  from  the  East  who 
were  camping  for  the  winter  near  or  on  section  36,  Rio  township. 
Here  the  thistle  sprang  up,  and  for  awhile  seemed  destined  to  take 
the  country,  but  by  the  combined  efforts  of  the  alarmed  neighbors 
using  salt  and  other  means,  they  were  destroyed  in  time  to  avoid  a 
general  spreading. 

Through  private  and  public  discussions,  and  legislative  action,  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  eradicate  those  already  present  and  to  pre- 
vent the  introduction  of  any  more.  Great  good  has  been  done  by 
these  agitations,  and  many  patches  of  the  thistles  have  been  entirely 
destroyed,  yet  very  much  more  still  remains  to  be  done. 

From  among  the  different  methods  suggested  for  killing  out  this 
pest,  after  it  is  once  thoroughly  rooted,  we  give  the  cheapest  and 
most  effectual,  in  the  words  of  the  owner  and  destroyer  of  the  largest 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  439 

patcli  ever  reported  in  Knox  county.     The  said  report  is  found  among 
official  papers  at  the  Capitol  of  our  State. 

HOW  TO  KILL  CANADA   THISTLES. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  I  had  a  full  f  acre  of  this  pest  of  all  pests  to 
the  farmer.  They  spread  from  an  adjoining  lot  upon  mine.  We 
knew  the  only  way  to  kill  them  was,  not  to  let  them  grow  at  all. 
Any  way  to  do  this  will  surely  destroy  them.  My  way  is  my  theme 
now. 

I  broke  the  land  in  April,  1873,  about  four  inches  deep,  having 
first  grubbed  out  every  tree  and  shrub  I  did  not  care  to  save,  and 
digging  a  ditch  2|-  feet  deep  a  few  feet  outside  of  the  plants.  The 
last  of  May  I  began  harrowing  the  ground  and  working  it  with  a 
double-shovel  plow.  Did  this  twice  thoroughly.  As  my  neighbor 
would  not  try  to  kill  his,  I  gave  up  trying  to  kill  mine,  thinking  they 
would  keep  running  on  me  as  before.  So,  on  the  the  3d  and  4th  of 
June  I  planted  my  patch  to  corn. 

The  thistles  appeared  with  the  corn,  growing  luxuriantly,  forming 
a  perfect  mat  on  a  good  part  of  the  ground. 

Then  I  determined  to  let  nothing  grow  but  the  corn. 

This  I  did  by  plowing  the  ground  six  times  and  constantly  cutting 
the  thistles  and  the  weeds  with  the  hoe  as  fast  as  they  appeared. 

To  the  more  stubborn  thistles  I  applied  a  few  drops  of  sulphuric 
acid  to  each  plant.  No  plant  treated  with  this  acid  ever  came  up 
again. 

Result. — After  the  25th  of  July  that  year  only  five  or  six  thistles 
put  in  an  appearance  that  season;  and  only  one  puny  plant  has 
been  seen  since  except  where  my  neighbor's  have  run  across  the  line. 
The  acid  and  the  hoe  have  held  them  in  abeyance,  but  they  must  be 
constantly  watched  and  the  acid  applied  to  the  new  recruits. 

Thus  they  have  been  killed,  and  can  be  again.  Yet  it  can  only  be 
done  by  the  most  persistent  and  prompt  action,  not  allowing  a  single 
plant  to  grow.  E.  CHILD. 

ONEIDA,  Nov.  10,  1874. 

BEE-EAISING. 

This  is  a  business  that  is  becoming  quite  popular.  There  are  a 
number  of  persons  who  have  over  one  hundred  stands  of  bees  in  this 
county,  and  the  traffic  in  honey  amounts  to  thousands  of  dollars  an- 
nually. To  meet  a  scientific  bee-keeper  is  to  meet  an  enthusiast. 
Bee-keeping  affords  a  most  wholesome  recreation  and  handsome  profits, 


440  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

and  leads  to  habits  of  close  observation,  thought  and  study.  It  is 
taught  as  a  science  by  the  professor  of  entomology  in  the  Michigan 
State  Agricultural  College.  Bee-keeping  made  Adam  Grimm  a 
wealthy  man.  Capt.  Hetherington  received  over  $10,000  for  a  single 
year's  crop  of  honey.  Mr.  Harbison  is  reported  to  have  shipped  11 
car-loads  of  comb  honey  as  the  products  of  a  single  year.  The  results 
that  might  be  obtained  from  bee-raising  would  be  wonderful,  if  under 
a  rational  system  of  management,  and  with  the  aid  of  science,  art  and 
skill.  As  an  example  Samuel  Chapman,  Jr.,  of  Ontario  township, 
went  to  California  last  winter,  bought  150  colonies  of  bees  and 
shipped  over  50,000  pounds,  or  two  and  one-half  car  loads  of  honey,  as 
the  product  of  the  first  season,  and  increasing  his  colonies  to  about 
400,  or  rather  the  colonies  brought  the  number  up  to  400.  This  he 
shipped  to  New  York  in  five-gallon  cans,  where  he  expects  to  sell  it 
for  the  English  market. 

POPCORN    AND    MUSTARD. 

Nathan  O.  Ferris,  ascertaining  that  no  popcorn  was  raised  in  Eng- 
land, or  had  ever  been  introduced  there,  conceived  the  idea  of  raising 
a  large  crop  and  shipping  it  to  that  country.  Accordingly,  in  1846, 
he  planted  50  or  60  acres  on  his  farm.  2£  miles  west  of  Galesburg, 
which  produced  from  1,500  to  1,800  bushels.  A  hundred  barrels  of 
it  he  shipped  to  New  York,  and  20  barrels  to  Europe.  Finding  it 
difficult  to  introduce  it  in  the  American  Metropolis,  he  never  attempted 
shipping  any  more  of  the  crop  there,  but  went  to  England  with  the  20 
barrels,  and  landing  in  London,  with  his  cargo,  he  hired  rooms  and 
proceeded  to  pop  a  portion  of  the  corn.  He  was  introduced  to  some 
of  thenobility  and  became  acquainted  with  Prince  Albert,  chatting  with 
him  about  the  method  of  producing  the  corn,  and  upon  leaving  his 
Royal  Highness,  Mr.  Ferris  presented  him  with  a  barrel  of  it,  for 
which  the  Prince  heartily  thanked  him,  in  a  letter  received  after  his 
return  home.  The  Prince  also  asked  him  in  the  letter,  how  corn 
could  be  cultivated  in  England,  to  which  Mr.  Ferris  replied  that  he 
knew  no  other  way  than  to  ship  a  cargo  of  "  Illinois  prairie  soil " 
across  the  Atlantic,  in  which  to  plant  it. 

While  Mr.  Ferris  was  in  England,  he  boasted,  truthfully,  that  every 
article  of  wearing  apparel  he  had  on,  except  the  cotton  and  the  linen 
in  his  shirt,  were  produced  on  his  Illinois  farm.  He  was  also  the  first 
man  who  shipped  any  produce  out  of  Galesburg  township,  his  first 
cargo  going  to  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Ferris  was  engaged  in  seed-growing,  to  a  considerable  extent, 
and  as  lie  was  a  man  of  originality  and  enterprise,  he  concluded  to  try 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  441 

a  speculation  by  raising  mustard  seed.  Accordingly,  lie  sowed  and 
raised  220  acres  of  it,  in  1844.  The  crop  was  a  prolific  one,  yielding 
2,250  bushels,  and  this  was  all  cut  with  grain  cradles,  which  were 
manufactured  by  George  W.  Brown's  own  hands,  who  has  since 
gained  a  wide  reputation  under  the  cognomen  of  the  "  Corn-Planter 
man,"  a  sketch  of  whose  invention  and  manufactory  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  mustard  crop  was  gathered  and  threshed  from  the  gavels,  in 
large  wagons,  the  boxes  of  which  were  constructed  for  the  purpose, 
and  then  deposited  in  a  small  granary,  upon  wheels,  14  by  16  feet,  which 
was  covered  with  canvass.  Here  the  seed  was  cleaned  by  his  son, 
Mr.  Sylvanus  Ferris;  then  it  was  conveyed  to  a  barn  and  spread  until 
it  was  dry,  when  it  was  put  into  casks  and  hauled  on  wagons  to 
Peoria,  from  whence  it  was  shipped  down  the  river,  via  New  Orleans, 
to  New  York,  Iwid  consigned  to  parties  who  failed  to  dispose  of  if. 
satisfactorily  to  Mr.  Ferris;  and  the  enterprise  not  proving  financially 
remunerative,  he  abandoned  the  production. 

Mr.  Ferris  had  raised  225  bushels  of  mustard  and  125  bushels  of 
canary  seed,  the  year  previous:  hence  his  extensive  experiment  just 
noted. 

During  the  great  gold  excitement  in  California,  Mr.  Ferris  went  to 
that  State,  and  meeting  with  an  accident  there,  lost  his  life. 

The  family  have  this  year  erected  a  monument  to  his  memory,  in 
the  cemetery  at  Galesburg,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000. 

PerhapS  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  very  largest  watermelon  that 
was  ever  raised  in  this  county,  was  by  I.  M.  Wetmore,  in  1841,  on 
section  36,  Rio  township.  It  was  large  enough  to  fill  a  flour  barrel.  It 
was  packed  in  oats  and  sent  to  Win.  D.  Walcott,  New  York 
Mills,  K  Y. 

PRIZES   FOK   HOGS. 

James  Knox,  in  January,  1851,  published  proposals  to  his  customers 
that  he  would  pay  premiums  on  the  pork  of  the  ensuing  year,  thus 
giving  every  farmer  time  in  which  to  raise  a  fine  drove.  The  pre- 
miums offered  were  as  follows: 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than^SO  hogs,  $20. 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than  30  nor  over  50,  $15. 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than  20  nor  over  30,  $10. 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than  15  nor  over  20,  $8. 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than  10  nor  over  15,  $6. 

For  the  best  lot  of  not  less  than  5  nor  over  10,  $5. 

The  year  rolled  by,  and  as  the  packing  season  ^lo^ed,  Mr.  Knox 
25" 


442  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

announced  the  result  and  distributed  the  premiums.  The  first  pre- 
mium fell  to  James  A.  Bundy,  on  a  lot  of  103  hogs,  averaging  319f 
Ibs ;  the  second  to  F.  Wilson,  on  a  lot  of  36,  averaging  292  Ibs ;  the 
third  to  S.  C.  Simpson,  on  a  lot  of  20,  averaging  315  Ibs  ;  the  fourth 
to  Christopher  Wright,  on  a  lot  of  19,  averaging  284  Ibs ;  the  fifth 
to  Lewis  Ooe,  on  a  lot  of  11,  averaging  350  Ibs;  and  the  sixth  and  last 
to  James  Runkle,  on  a  lot  of  5,  averaging  346  Ibs. 

Mr.  Knox,  in  referring  to  this  offer  of  premiums,  says:  "Although 
my  offer  of  last  year  was  not  seconded,  as  I  hoped,  by  others  and  large 
pork-buyers,  I  am  assured  it  has  not  been  without  its  influence;  and  I 
am  induced  to  offer  the  same  premiums  upon  like  lots  of  hogs  to  those 
of  my  customers  of  whom  I  may  purchase  in  the  ensuing  year." 

In  giving  a  general  retrospective  statement  of  the  year  1851,  Mr. 
Knox  says  :  "  It  is  more  than  probable  that  for  years  to  come  'the 
oldest  inhabitant'  will  speak  of  the  year  1851  as  the  worst  year  ever 
known  by  the  farmers  of  Illinois.  It  is  but  too  true  that  the  indi- 
vidual, as  well  as  general  prosperity  of  the  country  is  greatly  retarded 
by  the  short  crop  of  last  year;  and  yet  if  any  one  will  look  back  upon 
the  last  five  years,  and  will  look  around  him  and  see  the  improved 
condition  of  himself,  his  neighbor  and  the  country  in  general,  he  must 
admit  that  he  has  good  cause  to  be  satisfied  with  his  locality." 

In  referring  to  the  railroads,  to  secure  which  a  great  effort  had 
been  and  was  being  made,  he  says  :  "  A  united  and  vigorous  effort 
by  all  interested  insures  the  early  construction  of  the  railroads  now 
in  progress.  Let  these  roads  be  completed,  and  the  products  of  the 
farmer  will  command  increased  and  ready  prices  at  home,  and  he 
will  find  more  time  to  devote  to  the  care  of  his  farm.  With  increased 
products,  at  advanced  prices,  our  farmer  must  become  the  most  inde- 
pendent of  this  very  independent  portion  of  the  community." 


MATRIMONIAL. 


The  subject  of  matrimony  has  always  been  an  interesting  one  to 
the  human  race  from  the  days  of  Adam  to  the  present  time,  and 
doubtless  will  be  until  the  angel  shall  stand  with  one  foot  upon  the 
sea  and  the  other  upon  the  land  and  cry,  "Time  was,  but  time  shall 
be  no  more."  As  showing  how  the  subject  has  been  dealt  with  here, 
we  append  the  following  statistics  in  relation  to  the  number  of  mar- 
riage licenses  issued  each  year  since  the  organization  of  the  county, 
which  gives  a  grand  total  of  10,965.  The  greatest  number  issued  in 
any  one  year  was  in  1866,  the  year  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
boys  in  blue  came  home  to  fulfill  vows  long  previously  made. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


44:3 


YEAR. 

1830 

NO.  ISSUED. 
3 

YEAR. 

1847  

NO.  ISSUED. 

118 

YEAR. 

1864  

NO.  ISSUED. 

351 

1831 

,  7 

1848  

126 

1865  

440 

1832  

....  7 

1849  
1850  

132 
147 

1866  
1867  

529 
479 

1833 

9 

1834 

14 

1851  

181 

1868  

463 

1835 

15 

1852  

145 

1869  

500 

1836 

...  31 

1853  

161 

1870  

460 

1837 

40 

1854 

230 

1871  

411 

1838  .  . 

53 

1855  
1856 

232 
.  .   .    339 

1872....  
1873  

422 
369 

1839 

61 

1840  .... 

65 

1857  

344 

1874  

378 

1841 

.  82 

1858 

363 

1875  

446 

•1842  .  ... 

74 

1859  . 

289 

1876  

....412 

1843  

71 

1860  .  .  . 

287 

1877  

409 

1844  

112 

1861 

302 

1878,  May  28. 

119 

1845  

88 

1*62 

268 

1846.. 

.  94 

1863.. 

..293 

Many  laughable  and  interesting  incidents  have  occurred  in  matri- 
monial affairs  here,  although  at  the  time  to  the  parties  most  deeply  in- 
terested they  were  quite  serious.  Below  we  give  a  few  such  inci- 
dents. 

Got  Another  Feller. 

"High  hopes  that  burn  like  stars  sublime"  are  supposed  to  possess 
the  heart  of  every  lover  when  the  auspicious  moment  arrives  for  him 
to  deposit  a  dollar  and  a  half  in  the  County  Clerk's  hand  in  payment 
for  his  marriage  license.  He  feels  that  he  has  a  "dead  sure  thing"  on 
the  loveliest  of  her  sex,  and  that  in  a  few  more  days  earth  will  not  be 
large  enough  to  contain  the  happiness  that  he  will  enjoy  with  his  fair 
partner.  But  there's  many  a  slip,  as  people  occasionally  learn  to  their 
sorrow.  A  young  man,  who  fondly  imagined  he  had  met  his  fate, 
took  out  a  marriage  license  on  Christmas  day,  1870  How  and  why 
his  hopes  were  scattered,  grief  preyed  upon  his  heart,  and  his  life  be- 
came a  burthen  are  set  forth  in  the  following  wail, — the  untutored 
eloquence  of  sorrow: 

JANUARY  3,  1870. 

MR.  JOHN  S.  WINTER.  Sir,  I  will  send  you  the  licence  that  you 
gave  me  to  get  married  with  and  stat  that  I  was  not  married  for  this 
reason  because  the  girl  whos  name  is  on  the  paper  went  back  on  me 

because  she  could  get  another  feller  his  name send  them  so 

that  you  can  give  him  license  for  her  but  bee  sure  and  get  your  fee 
for  so  doin.     No  more  at  present  but  believe  me 

Yours  most  hart-broken 


An  Interesting  Marriage. 
One  of  the  most  romantic  episodes  with  which  any  of  the  citizens 


444  HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

of  this  county  ever  were  connected,  was  the  wedding  ot  Ca«;er  Creel 
and  Miss  Parraelia  Swartz.  Creel  lived  in  McDonough  county,  and 
although  an  honest,  well-to-do,  pleasant  young  man,  the  parents  of 
Parmelia  were  bitterly  opposed  to  their  marriage,  and  threw  every  ob- 
stacle in  the  way  to  prevent  it  occurring.  But  who  ever  knew  parents, 
however  stern,  to  prevent  loving  hearts  from  coming  in  union?  There 
must  be  a  mutual  friend  to  facilitate  the  working  of  the  plans  of  these 
devoted  hearts.  Accordingly,  at  their  earnest  solicitation,  Judge 
Dennis  Clark,  then  a  young  unmarried  man,  acted  in  this  capacity. 
He  met  Mr.  Creel  at  Walnut  Grove,  McDonough  county,  and  with 
him  went  to  Macomb,  where  he  selected  a  wedding  dress  for  Parmelia, 
which  Mr.  Creel  purchased  and  had  made.  The  time  was  then  fixed 
when  Mr.  Creel  would  come  to  claim  his  bride.  Mr.  Clark  was  to 
take  Miss  Swartz  to  a  camp-meeting  held  at  Berwick,  Warren  county, 
where  Creel  could  get  her. 

The  day  arrived — but  the  old  folks  frustrated  their  plans  by  going 
themselves  to  camp-meeting,  taking  their  daughter  with  them 
and  maintaining  a  strict  watch  over  her  during  the  day.  Clark  went 
in  company  with  another  lady  on  horseback.  He  supposed  Mr. 
Swartz  intended  remaining  all  night,  but  in  the  evening  he  started 
for  home,  Clark  following  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  He  stopped 
at  a  Mr.  Keller's,  the  nearest  neighbor  of  Mr.  Swartz.  He  then  sent 
Mr.  Keller's  step-daughter,  Nancy  Ann  Johnson,  over  to  have  Par- 
melia come  and  stay  all  night  with  her.  Parmelia  hesitated,  in  order 
to  throw  aside  any  suspicion  her  parents  might  have  had.  Finally 
Miss  Johnson  took  her  bonnet  and  running  out  said,  "I'll  take  this 
anyway."  This  was  an  excuse  for  Parmelia,  who  hastily  followed. 
Clark  had  no  gentle  horse  that  would  carry  two  riders,  so  he  went 
after  dark  to  Joseph  Latimer's  barn  and,  without  permission,  took  a 
horse.  He  was  afraid  to  mention  the  matter  to  Mr.  Latimer,  for  he 
might  question  him  too  closely  besides;  he  would  run  no  risks  for 
fear  of  a  refusal.  Getting  the  horse,  he  rode  to  the  fence,  when  the 
fair  Parmelia  jumped  on  behind  and  they  went  to  John  C.  Latimer's, 
where  he  left  her  and  went  to  the  road  to  hail  Creel.  Major  Coy  had 
left  the  camp-meeting  grounds  to  meet  Creel  and  inform  him  of  the 
state  of  affairs.  Creel  came  with  a  hack,  and  his  fair  Parmelia,  with 
Coy  and  Clark,  went  to  the  camp  grounds  with  him.  Here  Clark 
wished  to  stop  and  let  the  loving  couple  proceed  to  Burlington  alone, 
'but  Parmelia  would  not  listen  to  his  leaving  them.  So  on  Latimer's 
horse  he  rode  with  them,  traveling  all  night.  On  the  following  day, 
on  the  deck  of  a  steamboat,  on  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  they 


COUNTY  CLERK 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  447 

were  married.  Creel  died  in  1846.  Parraelia  again  married,  but  was 
not  compelled  to  run  away  the  second  time.  She  resides,  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  in  Iowa. 

Married  Without  License. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  in  the  infancy  of  the  Galesburg  settlement,  was 
called  to  unite  two  of  the  colonists  of  mature  years  in  the  bonds  of 
matrimony.  When  about  to  proceed  with  the  ceremony  Mr.  Gale  in- 
quired of  the  groom  if  he  was  provided  with  a  marriage  license. 
Receiving  an  affirmative  reply,  the  marrying  went  on  and  was  con- 
summated to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  the  newly  wedded  parties. 
A  few  days  thereafter  Mr.  Gale  interviewed  the  new  husband  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  the  license,  to  append  thereto  his  certificate  of 
marriage,  preparatory  to  filing  the  same  in  the  office  of  the  County 
Clerk,  as  the  law  requires.  Then  he  was  much  surprised  to  learn  that  no 
license  had  been  procured.  The  groom  being  a  comparatively  recent 
comer  from  the  State  of  New  York,  where  marriage  licenses  were  un- 
known, was  unacquainted  with  the  fact  that  in  Illinois  such  a  requisite, 
in  the  legal  construction  of  matrimony,  is  indispensable.  His  affirma- 
tive reply  to  the  previous  inquiry  respecting  his  possession  of  the  re- 
quired document,  it  now  appeared,  was  mistakingly  given  to  be  then 
understood  whether  he  had  secured  the  consent,  to  the  union  then 
about  to  be  formed,  of  the  lady  who  was  to  become  his  bride.  To 
avoid  the  unpleasantness  of  a  marriage  of  questionable  legality,  and 
save  the  officiating  clergyman  from  the  liability  to  the  payment 
of  a  fine  of  $100  for  solemnizing  an  unlicensed  marriage,  the  newly 
wedded  parties  again  stood  up,  and  the  matrimonial  ceremony  was 
repeated. 

Married  in  a  Wagon. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  of  Henderson  township  concluded  to  try 
married  life.  He  was  not  long  in  finding  a  lady  of  the  same  state  of 
mind.  All  arrangements  were  made,  and  the  day  set  for  the  union. 
When  the  day  arrived,  the  Henderson  pioneer  yoked  up  his  faithful 
oxen  to  his  large  ox-wagon  and  drove  to  the  cabin  of  the  bride's 
parents,  where  without  delay  she  got  into  the  wagon,  and  they  both 
proceeded  to  Henderson.  On  arriving  in  that  village,  they  met  the 
justice  of  the  peace  in  the  road,  and  thus  accosted  that  official:  "  Well, 
'Squire,  are  you  the  man  what  marries  a  couple  for  a  dollar?  "  "  Yes," 
was  the  reply,  "just  alight."  "  Well,  no;  we'll  stand  right  up  in  this 
'ere  wagon.  So  go  ahead."  The  ceremony  was  then  performed,  the 
dollar  paid,  and  the  happy  twain  made  one  turned  t  their  slow  but 
faithful  oxen  and  drove  home,  where  years  of  happiness  awaited  them, 


448  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

even,  perhaps,  to  as  great  a  degree  as  though  they  were  united  amid 
the  glitter  of  gilded  parlors,  and  with  the  pomp  and  show  of  wealth 
and  luxury.  This  gentleman  still  resides  in  Knox  county,  and  is  a 
subscriber  to  this  book. 

i 

CATAMOUNT. 

Qn  the  15th  day  of  April,  1877,  three  small  boys,  James  Meader 
aged  16,  William  Meade'and  Lawrence  Highland,  each  14  years  old 
accompanied  by  a  large  Newfoundland  dog  and  a  terrier,  were  stroll- 
ing about  a  half-mile  east  of  Oneida  on  the  railroad,  when  they  came 
upon  a  male  catamount  17  inches  in  height.  The  dogs  at  once  at- 
tacked the  cat,  which  seized  the  little  dog  by  the  head.  James  ran 
up  and  put  his  foot  on  the  animal's  neck,  thinking  to  release  the  dog, 
In  the  mean  time  the  large  dog,  catching  the  cat  by  the  body,  brought 
his  jaws  together  with  such  tremendous  force  that  he  sent  one  of  his- 
canines  to  its  heart.  This  was  the  only  perforation  made  in  the  ani- 
mal's skin.  Dr.  D.  D.  Martin,  of  Oneida,  taxidermist,  has  this  cata- 
mount's skin  preserved  in  his  office.  The  female  and  her  yonng  ones 
were  seen  afterwards  in  the  neighborhood,  but  not  being  captured  left 
for  other  parts. 

WOLVES. 

This  country,  in  the  early  times,  was  filled  with  wolves.  One  even- 
ing, at  the  place  of  Leonard  Chappell,  two  of  the  women  went  out  to 
milk,  and  saw  in  the  barn-yard  what  they  supposed  to  be  several  dogsr 
but  upon  closer  inspection  the  supposed  dogs  proved  to  be  six  large 
wolves. 

S.  W.  Allen  and  A.  C.  Higgins  killed  a  wolf  on  the  site  of  Gales- 
burg  in  1838.  Mr.  Higgins  took  a  singletree,  hit  it  over  the  back 
and  so  crippled  it  that  Mr.  Allen  soon  followed  up  and  dispatched 
the  animal.  Mr.  Higgins  carried  it  to  Knoxville,  and  received  $2  for 
the  scalp. 

HIS    FIRST    TRIP. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Higgins,  on  his  trip  from  New  York  to  this  county, 
left  the  boat  at  Oquawka,  after  fourteen  days'  travel  on  water.  He 
walked  from  there  to  Log  City,  coming  across  the  big  prairies  thi& 
side  of  that  town.  Being  very  tired  he  lay  down  about  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  on  the  ground,  amid  all  the  vast  wildness,  in  the  hot 
June  sun,  and  slept  until  about  5  P.  M.,  when  he  awoke  to  see  a  large 
"prairie  schooner"  (as  certain  of  the  wagons  in  that  early  day  were 
called)  coming,  with  ose  man  seated  in  it.  Being  glad  to  see  a  human 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  449 

being,  Mr.  Higgins  asked  if  he  might  ride,  and  was  told  by  the  driver 
that  he  would  "  haul  him  to  von  timber  for  two  bits." 


AN    OLD    HATTER. 


William  D unbar,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  Lynn  township, 
was  a  hatter  by  trade.  He  plied  himself  at  that  business  after  set- 
tling there;  and  although  his  means  were  meager  and  his  shop  rude, 
he  made  good  head  gear,  and  in  several  styles.  Indeed,  they  were  of 
such  lasting  material,  and  so  substantially  constructed,  that  he  fre- 
quently renovated  and  remodeled  them  two  or  three  times,  making 
them  into  as  many  different  patterns.  He  manufactured  the  beaver 
hat  with  the  beaver  nap,  the  otter  hat  with  the  fur  of  the  otter,  and 
wool  hats  from  lamb's  wool,  besides  a  cheap  grade  of  fur  one  from 
rabbit  skins.  Not  possessing  a  very  commodious  or  attractive  sales- 
room for  his  wares,  and  customers  not  being  very  numerous,  Mr.  D. 
used  to  sew  a  lot  of  them  to  the  back  of  his  coat,  mount  a  horse,  and 
go  about  the  country  peddling  them.  Mr.  Dunbar  was  also  in  the 
habit  of  making  shoes  to  supply  his  family.  They  were  not  always 
constructed  after  most  modern  box-toe  pattern.  Sometimes,  for  the 
want  of  sole-leather,  he  would  shave  out  and  shape  soles  from  a  piece 
of  basswood,  and  tack  the  uppers  on  to  them.  They  were  more  noted 
for  utility  than  beauty,  for  they  frequently  wore  very  well. 

AEROLITE. 

A  meteoric  stone  of  considerable  size  fell  in  the  suburbs  of  Knox- 
ville,  in  the  day  time,  during  the  year  1868.  Although  the  day  was 
bright,  yet  it  so  far  exceeded  the  light  of  day  in  brightness  that  it 
attracted  great  attention.  When  it  reached  the  ground  it  plowed 
along  in  the  soil  for  some  feet;  and  when  dug  up  at  the  time, 
it  was  so  hot  that  it  could  not  be  handled.  It  lay  there  for  several 
years,  and  was  used  as  a  weight  on  a  harrow  during  the  seasons  when 
the  earth  was  being  prepared  for  seed.  It  is  thought  to  be  thej'e  at 
present,  although  a  slight  search  made  this  jear  failed  to  discover  it. 


450  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

TABLE    OF    DISTANCES. 

The  following  table  gives  the  distances  by  rail  and  wagon-road, 
from  Galesburg  to  the  various  towns  in  the  county: 

BAIL-   WAGON  BAIL-   WAGON 

KOAD.   BOAD.  BOAD.   BOAD. 

Abingdon 9%  11  Oneida 12  14 

St.  Augustine 15%  17%  Altona 16  18 

Knoxville 5  5  UnionTown 22% 

Gilson 10%  11  Hermon 18 

Maquon 15%  16  Henderson 6 

Summit 19%  21%  Rio 

Yates  City 23%  25%  Victoria 

Center  Point 3%  4  Eugene 20 

Wataga 7}f  9  Elba  Center 21 

COUNTY   FUNDS. 

Commencing  with  county  order  No.  1,  which  was  paid  to  Jacob 
Gum,  March  7,  1830,  the  number  ran  up  to  9,933  by  April  4,  1866. 
On  that  date  a  new  regime  was  inaugurated,  and  the  number  of  county 
orders  began  again  with  No.  1.  By  April,  1876,  just  ten  years,  the 
number  had  grown  to  be  10,000.  Again  No.  1  was  taken  up,  and  since, 
to  October,  1878,  2,460  orders  have  been  paid  by  the  County  Treasurer, 
thus  making  a  grand  total  of  all  county  orders  paid  since  the  organi 
zation,  of  22,393,  representing  millions  of  dollars. 

The  amount  of  money  annually  handled  by  the  County  Treasurer  is 
vast.  The  past  year,  $182,422.40  has  passed  through  his  hands. 
Knox  county  is  entirely  out  of  debt,  and  on  the  31st  day  of  August, 
1878,  had  $18,553.17  in  its  treasury. 

FIRST  THINGS. 

This  article  is  devoted  to  first  occurrences  of  every  description,  and 
is  compiled  only  after  careful  investigation  and  comparison  of  dates. 

First  settlers Daniel  and  Alexander  Robertson  and  Richard 

Mathews,  settled  in  Henderson  township,  in  the  latter  part  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1828. 

First  sermon  was  preached  by  Elder  Jacob  Gum,  a  Regular  Baptist 
preacher,  at  the  house  of  John  B.  Gum,  in  1828. 

First  Birth. — The  first  child  born  was  J.  B.  Gum,  son  of  Zephaniah 
and  Jane  Gum,  in  1829. 

First  Death. — The  first  death  occurred  January  9,  1829.  A  young 
man  named  Philip  Nance,  aged  17,  who  was  buried  on  section  16, 
Henderson  township.  His  grave  is  alone.  A  few  years  ago  a  neat 
stone  slab  was  placed  above  it. 

First  election  was  held  at  John  B.  Gum's  house,  July  3,  1830. 

First  County  Commissioners  were  Riggs  Pennington,  Dr.  Charles 
Hansford  and  Philip  Hash. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  451 

First  meeting  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  was  on  July  7,  at  the 
residence  of  John  B.  Gum. 

First  court  house  was  the  residence  of  John  B.  Gum. 

First  hotel  was  kept  by  Samuel  S.  White. 

First  saloon  was  kept  by  Samuel  S.  White,  to  whom  also  was  the 
first  tavern  or  any  kind  of  license  granted. 

First  meeting  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  October  1,  1830. 

The  first  case  before  the  Circuit  Court  was  a  bill  for  a  divorce. 

First  county  order  was  paid  March  7,  1831,  to  Jacob  Gum,  for  75c. 

The  first  County  Clerk  was  John  G.  Sanburn,  also  first  Circuit  Clerk. 

First  Treasurer  was  John  B.  Gum. 

First  Sheriff  was  Stephen  Osborn. 

First  School  Commissioner  was  William  McMurtry. 

First  Probate  Judge  was  John  G.  Sanburn. 

First  marriage  occurred  in  July,  1829.  This  was  a  double  wed- 
ding. L.  S.  Hash  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Razor,  and  Alexander  Osborn 
to  Miss  Annie  Hendricks,  were  married  by  Philip  Hash.  The 
licenses  were  obtained  at  Lewistown,  Fulton  county. 

First  marriage  license  was  issued  to  Daniel  Robertson,  in  1830. 

First  town  was  laid  out  in  1830.  It  was  then  called  Henderson,  but 
the  following  year  was  changed  to  Knoxville. 

The  first  church  and  school-house  erected  was  at  Cherry  Grove,  in 
1832. 

The  first  court-house  was  erected  in  1831. 

The  first  jail  was  erected  in  1832. 

First  Circuit  Judge  was  Richard  M.  Young. 

First  State's  Attorney  was  Thomas  Ford. 

First  murder  was  committed  in  the  winter  of  1837.  Dr.  Dalton 
was  shot  by  Silas  Rude,  at  Knoxville. 

First  hanging  occurred  in  March,  1873,  at  Knoxville.  John  M- 
Osborn  was  hung  for  killing  Mrs.  Mathews. 

First  county  fair  was  held  in  1839,  at  Knoxville.  This  association, 
however,  failed  in  a  year  or  two,  and  in  1853  the  Knox  County 
Society  held  its  first  fair. 

The  first  paper,  the  Intelligencer,  was  issued  at  Galesburg,  in  the 
early  part  of  1849. 

First  physician  in  the  county  was  Dr.  Charles  Hansford. 

First  drug  store  was  kept  by  Dr.  Duncan,  at  Knoxville. 

First  steel  plow  made  in  this  or  any  other  county,  was  by  H.  H- 
May,  of  Galesburg,  in  May,  1842. 

First  county  anti-slavery  society  formed  in  1838. 

First  Republican  elected  to  office  was  in  1854. 


452  HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

THE  BAR  AND  OFFICIALS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

THE  BAR. 

Since  1877  Knox  county  has  been  in  the  Tenth  Judicial  Circuit, 
which  is  composed  of  Rock  Island,  Mercer,  Henry,  Warren,  Hender- 
son and  Knox  counties.  Originally  it  was  in  the  Fifth  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit, which  included  all  that  part  of  the  State  known  as  the  "Military 
Tract,"  and  extended  across  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  including 
the  counties  of  Cook  and  Jo  Davies.  Then  it  was  changed  to  the 
Tenth  and  in  1873  to  the  Eighth.  Below  are  brief  personal  sketches 
of  the  Judges  and  State's  Attorneys  serving  this  Circuit  and  county 
since  its  organization: 

Richard  M.  Young. — The  first  judge  of  this  circuit  was  the  Hon. 
Richard  M.  Young,  who  was  appointed  in  the  year  1828,  and  made 
his  residence  at  Galena;  afterwards  in  1833  he  resided  in  Quincy  and 
remained  in  office  until  January,  1837,  when  he  resigned,  having  been 
by  the  Legislature  elected  United  States  Senator  for  six  years.  Judge 
Young  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Northern  Illinois.  He  ranked  high  in  his  profession,  and  his  coun- 
sels did  much  to  shape  the  policy  of  the  State.  In  his  manners  he 
was  gentle,  courteous  and  entertaining,  which  qualities  rendered  him 
attractive  and  popular.  He  was  generous  in  his  feelings  and  liberal 
in  his  views,  and  hence  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  He  possessed  a  liberal,  endowment  of 
intellectual  ability  and  literary  and  legal  acquirements,  and  these 
with  his  other  qualifications  admirably  fitted  him  for  the  post  he  was 
called  to  fill.  [Jpon  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  he  left  a  last- 
ing and  favorable  impression.  His  course  in  the  United  States  Senate 
brought  him  to  general  notice,  and  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
was  appointed  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office,  by  Presi- 
dent Polk.  He  also  discharged  the  duties  of  other  offices,  at  the  city 
of  Washington,  with  honor  to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  country. 

James  H.  Ralston. — The  Hon.  James  H.  Ralston,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  in  1S37  to  fill  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Judge  Young,  and  in  August  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  453 

same  year  he  resigned  on  account  of  his  health,  with  a  view  of  going 
to  and  living  in  Texas,  whither  he  went,  but  soon  returned  to  Quincy* 
his  former  residence,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In 
1840  he  was  elected  State  Senator.  In  1846  President  Polk  appointed 
him  Assistant  Quartermaster  of  the  United  States  arm}-,  and  he  was 
ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  the  Commandant  of  the  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, then  en  route  for  Mexico.  Having  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  station  faithfully  during  the  war  with  Mexico,  he  returned  home 
and  soon  after  emigrated  to  California. 

Peter  Lott. — The  Hon.  Peter  Lott,  a  native  of  New  York,  was 
elected  the  successor  of  Judge  Ralston,  and  continued  in  the  office 
until  January,  184L  He  was  subsequently  appointed  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  Adams  county,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until 
1848,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office  under  the  provisions  of 
the  new  constitution,  and  served  until  1852 ;•  he  then  went  to  Califor- 
nia and  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  United  States  Mint  in 
San  Francisco,  by  President  Pierce,  and  was  removed  in  1856  by 
President  Buchanan,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Kansas  and  lived  in 

humble  life. 
fff 

Stephen  A.  Douglas. — Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  elected 
Judge  by  the  Legislature  in  1841,  and  continued  in  office  till  August, 
1843,  when  he  resigned,  having  been  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Fifth  Congressional  District.  The  life  and  career  of  this  great  man 
is  so  well  and  widely  known  as  to  render  any  extended  notice  of  him 
useless.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  circumstances  under  which  he 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  were  sufficient  to  try  thoroughly 
the  force  and  scope  of  his  abilities.  The  circuit  was  large,  and  the 
previous  incumbent  of  the  office  had  left  the  docket  loaded  with  un- 
finished cases;  but  he  was  more  than  equal  to  the  task.  He  "cleaned 
out  the  docket"  with  that  dispatch  and  ability  which  distinguished 
his  subsequent  course;  and  so  profound  was  the  impression  which  he 
made  upon  the  people  that,  in  the  first  Congressional  election  which 
occurred  after  he  was  established  in  his  character  as  a  judge,  he  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  member  of  the  lower  house  of  Congress, 
and  was  elected.  Through  the  distinguished  abilities  which  he  dis- 
played as  a  statesman,  he  received  the  appellation  of  the  "Little 
Giant,"  and  became  the  recognized  leader  of  a  great  political  party. 
In  1860  he  received  the  nomination  lor  the  Presidency,  but  was 
beaten  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  his  competitor  for  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate two  years  previous. 

On  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln,  and  the  subsequent 
withdrawal  of  the  Southern  States  from  the  Union,  and  the  war  fol- 


454  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

lowing,  Mr.  Douglas  took  strong  Union  ground  and  declared  hence- 
forth there  could  be  but  two  parties  in  the  country,  patriots  and  trait- 
ors. In  a  few  days  thereafter  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  on  the  third 
of  June,  1861,  sincerely  mourned  by  the  whole  nation.  But  two  men 
have  ever  been  more  sincerely  mourned  than  Stephen  A.  Douglas, — 
George  Washington  and  Abraham  Lincoln., 

Jesse  B.  Thomas. — Hon.  Jesse  B.  Thomas  succeeded  to  the  office. 
He  was  appointed  in  August,  1843,  and  continued  in  it  until  1845, 
when  he  resigned.  Judge  Thomas  possessed  high  legal  abilities  and 
acquirements,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with  honor  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people.  After  his  resignation 
he  was  appointed  to  another  circuit  and  soon  after  died. 

Norman  H.  Purple. — Hon.  Norman  H.  Purple  was  the  next  in- 
cumbent of  the  office.  He  was  elected  in  1845,  and  served  till  May, 
1849,  when  he  resigned.  The  probable  cause  of  this  was  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  salary.  The  people  of  this  district  were  anxious  to  retain 
him  as  judge,  and  probably  would  but  for  the  cause  stated.  Pie  was 
distinguished  for  high  legal  abilities  and  executive  talents,  and  the 
office  was  rendered  the  more  honorable  by  his  having  occupied  it. 

Wm.  A.  Minshall. — This  man  was  the  next  judge.  He  was  elected 
in  May,  1849,  and  continued  in  the  office  until  his  death,  which  was 
in  October,  1851.  Judge  M.  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  came 
early  into  the  State.  He  was  an  active  and  successful  lawyer  and  at- 
tained distinction  in  his  profession.  Previous  to  his  election  as  judge, 
he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Wm.  Kellogg.— From  1849  to  1852  Hon.  Wrn.  Kellogg  of  Canton, 
Fulton  county,  held  the  office  of  Circuit  Judge.  He  was  a  relative  of 
"Wm.  Pitt  Kellogg,  of  Peoria,  now  ex-Governor  of  Louisiana.  Judge 
Kellogg  was  an  eminent  lawyer  for  many  years  previous  to  his  elec- 
tion. 

The  Knoxmlle  Journal  of  April  17,  1850,  in  reviewing  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  court  which  had  just  closed,  refers  to  Judge  Kellogg  as  fol- 
lows: "Throughout  the  court  Judge  Kellogg  presided  with  dignity  and 
dispensed  justice  with  impartiality,  giving  general  satisfaction.  Those 
who  have  heretofore  contended  that  judges  should  be  chosen  directly  by 
the  people  have  lost  nothing  in  the  argument  by  the  election  of  Judge 
Kellogg.  Courteous  but  firm,  mild  but  decided,  willing  to  hear  the 
authorities  of  law  and  the  arguments  of  reason,  but  unwavering  in  an 
opinion  once  formed,  he  is  possessed  of  the  elements,  intellectual  and 
moral,  which  cannot  but  render  him  an  efficient  and  respected 
judge." 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  455 

H.  M.  Weed. — This  judge  occupied  the  bench  from  1852  to  1855, 
serving  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people.  He  died  several  years 
ago. 

John  S.  Thompson. — Hon.  John  S.  Thompson,  of  Aledo,  was  judge 
from  1855  to  1860,  and  again  from  1864  to  1866.  He  is  now  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  has  accumulated  a  fortune. 

Aaron  Tyler. — This  gentleman  served  in  1860-1  (since  deceased). 

Charles  B.  Lawrence,  of  Galesburg,  1861-4.  Mr.  Lawrence  has 
since  served  on  the  Supreme  bench  of  the  State,  and  is  now  in 
Chicago.  He  has  always  been  very  highly  esteemed  by  the  citizens 
of  Galesbnrg,  as  a  lawyer,  a  judge,  and  as  a  gentleman. 

Joseph  Sibley. — Hon.  Joseph  Sibley,  of  Quiricy,  presided  in  1866-7. 

Arthur  A.  .Smith. — In  the  fall  of  1867  the  present  incumbent,  Hon. 
Arthur  A.  Smith,  of  Galesburg,  was  elected,  who  has  been  kept  in 
office  ever  since. 

In  1877  the  Eighth  Circuit,  comprising  Knox,  Warren  and  Hen- 
derson counties,  was  consolidated  with  the  circuit  north,  consisting  of 
Mercer,  Henry  and  Rock  Island  counties,  and  the  whole  is  now  de- 
nominated the  "  Tenth  Judicial  District,"  for  which  three  judges  are 
elected,  viz:  Arthur  A.  Smith,  of  Galesburg,  John  J.  Glenn,  of  Mon- 
mouth,  and  George  W.  Pleasants,  of  Rock  Island.  These  judges 
divide  their  work  among  themselves. 

STATE'S  ATTORNEYS. — The  gentlemen  who  have  tilled  the  office  of 
State's  (or  prosecuting)  Attorney  for  the  district  of  which  Knox 
county  forms  a  part,  deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice.  Like  the 
judges,  they  form  a  galaxy  in  which  the  citizens  of  the  county  may 
justly  take  pride.  If  it  were  possible,  we  would  be  pleased  to  give  a 
more  extended  notice  of  the  life  work  of  each,  but  our  space  forbids. 

Thomas  J^ord.—  The  first  incumbent  of  the  office  was  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Ford.  This  gentleman  served  from  the  organization  of  the 
county  until  January,  1835.  Possessed  of  high  and  noble  qualities 
of  manhood,  a  thorough  student,  a  keen,  energetic,  untiring  lawyer  of 
strict  integrity  and  high  and  laudable  aspirations,  he  was  universally 
esteemed  and  respected.  Afterwards  became  judge  of  the  northern 
district;  and  when  he  became  known  over  the  State  he  was  chosen 
Governor  by  a  spontaneous  movement  of  the  people.  He  held  this 
office  during  the  Mormon  war. 

William  A.  Richardson. — The  successor  of  Mr.  Ford  was  the 
Hon.  William  A.  Richardson,  who  served  till  1837.  Mr.  Richard- 
son's personal  merits  and  characteristics  are  too  well  known  to  the 
people  to  require  any  delineation.  His  predominating  traits  were 
courage,  unyielding  perseverance,  and  unvarying  adherence  to  the 


456  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

course  to  which  he  was  committed.  He  had  command  of  a  regiment 
of  Illinois  volunteers  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista  his  cap  was  carried  from  his  head  by  a  musket  ball.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  home,  where  his  services  were  recognized 
and  rewarded  by  a  generous  people  by  an  election  to  Congress.  He 
was  re-elected  five  times.  His  last  election  was  in  1860.  lie  was 
also  appointed  Governor  of  Nebraska,  by  President  Buchanan.  This 
post  he  resigned  after  a  year's  service. 

Henry  L.  Bryant. — Hon.  Henry  L.  Bryant  succeeded  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson, his  time  commencing  in  1837  and  continuing  until  1839.  He 
is  characterized  as  a  gentleman  of  fine  qualities  and  an  able  lawyer. 

William  Elliot. — This  man  was  the  next  occupant  of  the  office. 
He  served  from  January,  1839,  till  January,  1848.  He  was  esteemed 
as  a  worthy  man,  a  warm  friend,  and  a  good  lawyer.  He  served  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  was  wounded  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict 
with  a  single  Indian,  whom  he  killed.  He  was  Quartermaster  in  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  Volunteers  during  the  Mexican  war,  and  served 
through.  He  returned  to  Lewistown  after  the  war,  and  soon  died. 

Robert  S.  Blackwell. — This  gentleman  was  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Elliot,  and  served  from  1848  till  1852.  Mr.  Blackwell  was  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  lawyers  in  the  State,  and  is  the  author  of  "Black- 
well  on  Tax  Titles." 

Harmon  G.  Reynolds. — From  1850  to  1854  Hon.  Harmon  G.  Rey- 
nolds, of  Knoxville,  held  the  office.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  an  attorney  at 
law,  and  an  active  man  in  all  beneficent  enterprises.  He  came  from 
Rock  Island  to  Knoxville  some  time  between  1851  and  1855,  where  he 
practiced  law,  was  State's  Attorney  and  Postmaster,  and  held  prominent 
positions  in  the  Masonic  order.  He  moved  from  Knoxville  to  Spring- 
field, where  he  served  as  grand  secretary  of  the  order.  He  now  re- 
sides in  Kansas. 

William  C.  Goudy. — Hon.  William  C.  Goudy,  of  Lewistown,  Ful- 
ton county,  succeeded  Mr.  Reynolds  for  about  one  year  in  Knox 
county,  although  he  served  in  other  counties  for  a  much  longer  time, 
the  judicial  circuits  being  divided  occasionally.  Mr.  Goudy  was  a 
shrewd  Democratic  politician  in  earlier  days,  as  well  as  a  faithful  ser- 
vant of  the  people  as  a  delegate  to  conventions,  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate,  etc.  Since  1859  he  has  resided  in  Chicago. 

James  H.  Stewart. — Hon.  James  H.  Stewart,  now  of  Monmouth, 
Illinois,  was  appointed  pro  tern,  in  the  autumn  of  1855;  was  elected 
a  few  weeks  afterward,  and  re-elected,  until  he  had  served  about  ten 
years. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  459 

James  A.  McKenzie. — Hon.  James  A.  McKenzie,  of  Galesburg, 
was  elected  in  1865,  and  served  as  State's  Attorney  until  the  fall  of 
1872,  when  the  present  incumbent, 

Hon.  J.  J.  Tunnicliff,  of  Galesburg,  succeeded  him.  (See  bio- 
graphical sketch,) 

The  successive  re-elections  of  the  three  last  named  sufficiently  attest 
the  acceptability  with  which  they  served  the  cause  of  the  people  vs. 
all  the  criminals. 

We  append  sketches  of  the  two  following  lawyers,  who  were  emi- 
nently public  men,  and  both  of  whom  departed  life  young,  and  while 
residents  of  Knox  county: 

Hon.  Julius  Manning,  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  of  West- 
ern Illinois,  was  born  in  Canada,  about  ten  miles  from  Chateaugay, 
New  York.  He  passed  the  most  of  his  younger  days  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  but  completed  his  school  education  at  Middleburg  College, 
in  Vermont.  He  came  to  Knoxville  in  1839,  where  he  resided  until 
1853,  when  he  removed  to  Peoria.  During  his  life  he  was  County 
Judge,  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  of  1862,  where  he  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary 
committee.  He  was  an  invalid  for  several  years  before  he  died,  and 
his  death  occurred  July  4,  1862,  in  Knoxville,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  Knoxville  Cemetery.  In  politics  he  was  an  anti-slavery 
Democrat,  and  as  an  eloquent  pleader  at  the  bar  he  was  scarcely  equaled 
in  the  West.  As  a  citizen,  he  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. His  widow  now  resides  in  Galesburg.  His  principal  law 
partner  during  life  was  Judge  R.  L.  Hannaman. 

Curtis  K.  Harvey,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  (ralesburg,  and  a  very 
promising  young  man  every  way,  was  the  only  son  of  Hon.  C.  K. 
Harvey,  born  in  Knoxville,  educated  at  Knox  College,  graduated  with 
honor,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Hon.  A.  M.  Craig,  his 
brother-in-law,  with  whom  he  formed  a  co-partnership  immediately 
after  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  1869.  He  afterwards  was  a  part- 
ner of  Judge  Leander  Douglass,  of  Galesburg.  Mr.  Harvey  was  a  man 
of  superior  ability,  fine  education,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  law,  retentive  and  ready  memory,  and  quick  perception.  He 
reasoned  from  principles  with  accuracy,  was  clear  and  logical  in  pre- 
senting his  case  to  the  jury,  and  his  legal  argument  was  also  charac- 
terized by  force  and  clearness. 

He  died  March  2,  1878,  in  the  prime  of  life,  his  age  being  only  30 
years;  and  now  side  by  side  father  and  son  lie  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Knoxville. 


460  HISTORY    OF  KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  following  carefully  compiled  list  of  county  officials  will  be  val- 
uable for  reference.  We  give  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  each  of 
the  Commissioners  and  the  first  of  other  officials. 

PRESENT  BAR  OF  KNOX  COUNTY: 

Geo.  C.  Aldin.  Zelotes  Cooley.  A.  C.  Mason. 

Wm.  Andrews.  WILLIAM  DAVIS.*  J.  A.  McKENZIE.* 

B.  F.  ARNOLD.*  Chas.  Diland.  C.  H.  Nelson. 

J.  B.  BOGGS.*  R.  Dallard.  John  Nelson. 

A.  M.  Brown.  LEANDER  DOUGLASS.*  O.  F.  PRICE.* 

S.  H.  BUTLER.*  W.  H.  Fuson.  S.  H.  Ritchey. 

L.  K.  Byers.  Homer  Gaines.  P.  H.  SANFORD.* 

W.  C.  CALKINS.*  R.  L.  HANNAMAN.*  F.  C.  SMITH.* 

DENNIS  CLARK.*  R.  C.  HUNT.*  GEO.  W.  THOMPSON.* 

M.  M.  Clark.  A.  L.  Humphrey.  J.  J.  TUNNICLIFF.* 

W.  H.  CLARK.*  W.  N.  Keightlv.  E.  W.  WELCH.* 

D.  C.  Chipman.  GEO.  A.  LAWRENCE.*  E.  P.  WILLIAMS.* 

F.  F.  Cooke.  G.  C.  Lanphere.  J.  L.  Willis. 

O.  P.  COOLEY.*  E.  H.  LEACH.*  F.  A.  Willoughby. 

M.  D.  COOKE.*  F.  S.  MURPHY.* 
*See    biographical  sketch. 

COUNTY  OFFICIALS. 
COUNTY    COMMISSIONERS. 

Riggs  Pennington,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Central  Illinois  and  a 
member  of  the  first  County  Commissioners'  Court,  was  a  sharp, 
shrewd,  calculating  man  of  medium  size,  dark  complexion,  a  keen 
black  eye  and  full,  intellectual  forehead,  and  a  general  make-up  that 
gave  him  the  air  of  a  thorough-going,  wide-awake  business  man  that  he 
was.  Mr.  Pennington  was  the  first  man  to  settle  in  McDonough  coun- 
ty, 111.,  coming  originally  from  North  Carolina.  He  remained,  how- 
ever, but  a  short  time  in  McDonough  county,  when  he  removed  to 
Knox  county,  arriving  simultaneously  with  the  Robertsons.  Being  a 
shrewd  financier,  he  accumulated  a  large  property  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  Central  Illinois,  at  one  time,  and  leaving 
here  in  1837  for  Texas  he  took  with  him  $13,000.  Mr.  Pennington 
returned  to  Knox  county  in  the  spring  of  1840  on  business,  where  he 
was  received  by  his  former  co-workers  here  with  a  hearty  welcome; 
returning  again  to  Texas,  he  remained  there  until  his  death  in  1869. 

Dr.  Charles  Hansford,  one  of  the  first  three  County  Commissioners 
of  Knox  county,  came  here  in  1829,  and  was  the  first  practitioner 
who  located  in  the  county.  He  located  first  in  Henderson  Grove, 
from  whence  he  removed  to  Knoxville,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1854.  Dr.  Hansford  was  a  man  of  fair 
education  and  marked  native  ability.  Served  one  term  in  the  Legis- 
lature, and  was  at  one  time  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  the  coun- 
ty. Though  of  small  stature  and  slight  physical  form,  he  possessed 
great  powers  of  endurance.  His  practice  was  very  large,  employing 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  461 

three  teams  and  two  drivers,  the  doctor  riding  day  and  night  success- 
ively for  many  days  at  a  time. 

Philip  Hash  was  a  member  of  the  first  Commissioners'  Court.  He 
remained  in  the  county  but  tlires  years,  when  he  went  to  Missouri, 
where  he  died. 

Alexander  F rakes,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  one  of  the' earliest 
settlers  of  Knox  county,  and  one  of  the  County  Commissioners  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mr.  Frakes  was  a  fair  type  of  that  moving,  restless 
frontier  men  who  find  more  pleasure  in  the  subjugation  of  a  country 
than  the  occupation  of  it  after  it  has  been  settled.  He  came  to  Knox 
county  in  the  fall  of  1828,  at  the  age  of  36  years,  and  settled  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  9,  Henderson  township.  While  he  had 
a  strong  attachment  for  his  friends,  his  inordinate  love  of  money  was 
the  ruling  element  of  his  nature.  Mr.  Frakes  evidently  had  a  strong 
aversion  to  being  crowded,  and  wished  to  go  to  a  country  less  popu- 
lous. He  left  here  for  Oregon  in  1853,  saying  he  wanted  more  elbow 
room,  and  wished  to  live  far  enough  removed  so  as  not  to  hear  his 
neighbor's  pigs  squeal.  He  died  several  ye.irs  ago  in  his  adopted 
State  of  Oregon. 

Thomas  Maxwell,  who  very  early  served  as  a  Commissioner,  being 
elected  in  1831,  emigrated  from  Knox  county  in  1836,  going  to  Texas, 
where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed. 

Humphrey  Finch  left  the  county  at  a  very  early  day.  Whatba- 
came  of  him  we  are  unable  to  learn. 

John  G.  Rountree,  a  valuable  member  of  this  Court,  elected  in 
1833,  was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse. 

James  Ferguson  came  from  Kentucky  to  this  county  in  1830,  and 
settled  in  Henderson  township;  in  1832  moved  into  Orange  town- 
ship, where  his  children  are  still  living.  He  was  Major  of  the  Hangers 
from  this  county  during  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  died  in  1841. 

Alfred  Brown  was  first  elected  in  1833,  and  subsequently,  under  the 
County  Court  rule,  Mr.  Brown  served  as  Associate  Justice.  He  was 

man  of  fine  abilities,  a  Whig  in  politics  and  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
[e  died  in  this  county  on  the  farm  where  he  first  located. 

Joseph  Rowe,  another  member  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  of 
1835,  died  in  Cameron,  Warren  county,  at  the  age  of  about  80. 

Jonathan  Rice  came  to  the  county    in  the  fall  of  1831,  died   in 

pril,  1855,  on  the  place  where  he  first  settled.     He  served  as  Com- 
lissioner  from  1834  to  1839. 

John  H.  Wentworth  removed  from  this  county  about  1842  and  has 
since  died.  He  was  elected  Commissioner  in  1839. 

Asa  Haynes,  still  living  in  Orange  township. 
26 


462  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Eldert  Runkle,  farmer,  lived  two  miles  east  of  Knoxville  many 
years. 

John  Jackson  was  an  old  man  when  he  served  as  Commissioner. 
He  died  at  Knoxville  many  years  ago. 

Samuel  B.  Anderson  died  on  his'farm  south  of  Knoxville. 

Amos  Ward  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county  in  his  day, 
and  served  with  distinction  as  a  member  of  this  Court  from  1842  till 
it  was  abolished  in  1849.  Although  temporarily  absent,  Mr.  Ward 
is  still  a  resident  of  this  county. 

Daniel  Meek,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  popular  citizens  of 
the  county,  a  Kentuckian,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive farmers  of  the  county.  He  was  for  many  years  Supervisor 
of  Indian  Point  township. 

Martin  B.  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Commissioners'  Court,  resides 
near  Yates  City.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1806;  came  to 
this  county  in  1837,  and  before  this  Court  was  abolished  in  1849,  had 
served  with  distinction  as  a  member.  Since  the  township  organiza- 
tion law  was  adopted,  he  has  served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors. 

Manyweather  Brown  went  to  Oregon  from  this  county. 

This  closes  the  list  of  the  members  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  during  its  existence  in  this  county.  The  time-honored  custom 
of  conducting  the  public  affairs  of  counties  was  abolished  by  the  con- 
stitution of  1849,  and  the  County  Court  substituted,  which  continued 
until  1853,  when  it  was  replaced  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

TREASURERS. 

John  B.  Gum 1830-33  Wlliam  McGowan 1855-59 

Charles  Hansford 1834-35  George   Davis 1859-61 

George  Newman 18  5-37  T.  A.  E.  Holcomb 1861-63 

John  Eads 1837-43  John  A.  West 1863-65 

Henry  Arms 1843-46  Thomas  Harrison 1865-67 

Zelotes  Cooley ^ 1846-47  Homer  Gaines 1867-69 

David  Edgerton 1847^9  Edwin  T.  Ellett 1869-71 

Charles  Rogers 1849-51  Francis  M.  Sykes 1871-73 

David  Edgerton 1851-53  Edwin  T.  Ellett 1873-75 

W.  H.  Whitton 1853-55  James  L.  Burkhalter 1875-79 

John  B.  Gum,  the  first  Treasurer,  was  a  fair  type  of  the  men  who 
subdued  the  wilds  of  the  great  Northwest.  He  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  with  a  closely  knit,  well  developed,  muscular  form,  of 
medium  stature,  sandy  complexion,  with  a  contour  of  features  indi- 
cative of  firm  determination  and  strong  will  power,  but  tempered 
with  those  greatest  of  Christian  virtues,  benevolence  and  charity.  Mr. 
Gum  came  to  Sangamon  county,  this  State,  as  early  as  1826,  removed 
soon  after  to  Job's  settlement,  McDonough  county,  where  he  plante 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  463 

a  crop  of  corn  and  potatoes;  and  while  thus  engaged  he  met  a  man 
who  told  him  of  the  beautiful  land  lying  in  the  vicinity  of  Henderson 
Grove,  Knox  Co.,  to  which  place  he  soon  removed,  arriving  there 
during  the  year  1828.  Mr.  Gum  took  an  active  part  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  county,  his  own  home  being  selected  in  which  to  transact 
the  official  business  of  the  county,  and  there  in  that  primitive  log 
cabin  was  held  the  first  Circuit  C  ourt,  and  there  assembled  the  first 
County  Commissioners'  Court,  and  also  rested  the  temporary  seat  of 
justice,  of  the  infant  county  of  Knox.  John  B.  Gum  had  the  honor 
of  receiving  the  first  appointment  of  County  Clerk,  but  declining, 
was  appointed  first  County  Treasurer,  and  all  through  the  early  years 
of  this  county  was  found  among  its  wisest  councils.  He  was  quite 
modest,  as  illustrated  by  the  following  incident:  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  even  against  his  inclination,  and  one  day  was 
called  upon  to  marry  a  couple,  which  he  timidly  did,  but  immediately 
thereafter  resigned  the  office,  lest  he  would  again  be  called  to  perform 
a  like  ceremony.  He  remained  here  until  April  22,  1861,  when  he 
removed  to  California,  where  he  died,  in  1864,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
70.  His  widow  still  lives  there,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  75  or  76  years. 


COUNTY   CLERKS. 


John  G.  Sanburn 1830-37     John  8.  Winter 1857-65 

Henry  J.Runkle 1837-47     James  J.  Egan 1865-69 

Zelotes  Cooley 1847-57     John  8.  Winter 1869-78 


CIRCUIT   CLERKS. 


John  G.  Sanburn 1830-45  Cephas  Arms 1857-60 

Achilles  Shannon 1845-46  John  H.  Lewis 1861-65 

Alexander  Sanders 1846-47  John  Aberdein 1865-67 

T.  Judson  Hale 1847-52  James  W.  Temple 1868-73 

H.  T.  Morey 1832-56  George  L.  Hannaman 1873-78 

John  G.  Saiiburn,  the  first  Clerk  of  the  county,  who  also  held 
almost  all  county  offices,  both  elective  and  appointive,  for  many  years, 
was  born  in  Canandaigua,  New  York,  May  13,  1797,  and  died  in  the 
city  of  Knoxville,  this  county,  April  14, 1865,  greatly  mourned  by  all 
who  knew  him,  which  included  almost  every  resident  of  the  county. 

His  parents  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  New  York.  At 
the  age  of  20  he  came  west  to  Ohio,  and  one  year  thereafter  went  to 
Missouri,  returning  to  his  native  State  in  1819,  making  the  journey  on 
foot.  Shortly  afterwards  he  came  to  Yandalia,  then  the  capital  of 
this  State.  He  came  through  this  county  in  1829,  selecting  Hender- 
son as  a  home,  believing  it  would  be  the  county-seat  of  the  county, 
which  there  was  some  talk  of  organizing.  He  proceeded  to  St.  Louis, 
purchased  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  had  them  towed  up  the 
Mississippi  on  a  flat-boat  as  far  as  Oquawka.  Unfortunately  they 


4:64  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

were  injured  by  the  water,  many  of  them  being  destroyed.  So  the 
first  stock  of  goods  brought  to  Knox  county  and  sold  to  the  few  set- 
tlers were  damaged  goods.  On  the  county  of  Knox  being  organized, 
he  was  selected  to  fill  the  more  important  offices,  and  the  early  records 
attest  the  ability  and  fidelity  with  which  the  duties  of  these  offices 
were  performed.  In  compiling  this  history,  we  closely  read  the  rec- 
ords penned  by  him,  and  for  clearness,  exactness  and  fine  appearance 
they  compare  favorably  with  those  subsequently  made.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Alethea  Owen,  in  November,  1832,  who  survives  him  and 
resides  in  Knoxville.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Owen, 
who  came  to  the  county  in  1829. 

Mr.  Sanburn  was  generous,  of  noble  principles,  and  although  not 
as  social  as  some,  yet  his  popularity  was  great.  An  old  pioneer, 
almost  his  cotemporary,  sums  up  his  character  in  a  few  words,  thus: 
"Any  person  who  could  appreciate  genuine  goodness,  would  like 
him."  Could  a  higher  eulogy  be  passed  upon  any  man? 

SHERIFFS. 

Stephen  Osborn 1830-35  Andrew  Thompson 1859-60 

Henry  D.  Bell l»35-38  Elijah  C.  Brott 1861-62 

Peter  Frans 1838-47  J.  Calvin  Cover 1863-65 

Henry  Arms 1847-51  James  Soles 1865-66 

Samuel  W.  Brown  1851-52  D.  W.  Bradshaw 1367 

John  Eads 1852-54  Wilkius  Seacord 1868-70 

Cornelius  Runkle 1855-56  Samuel  F.  Patton • 1871-72 

George  JVI.  Enke 1857-58  A.  W.  Berggren 1873-78 

COUNTY  JUDGES. 

George  C.  Lanphere 1849-53     R.  L.  Hannarnaa 1862-35 

H.  G.  Reynolds 1854-57      Dennis  Clark 1866-78 

L.  Douglass 1258-61 

COUNTY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

William   H.  Whitton 1849-53     J.  H.  Knapp 1862-69 

J.  H.  Noteware. . .    1854-55     Frederick  Christianer 1870-73 

P.  H.  Sanford 1856-61      Mary  Allen  West. 1874-78 

CORONERS. 

Joseph  Henderson 1851-52  Giles  Cook 1863-64 

J.  W.  Brewer 1853-54  Levi  Massie 1867-70 

Joseph  Henderson 1855-56  Jessie  W.  Kimball 1871-72 

Wm.  Hamilton  1857-58  Albert  S.  Slater 1873-76 

Alvin   H.  Potter - 1859-60  D.  W.  Aldrich 1877-78 

Reuben  Bailey 1861-62 

SURVEYORS. 

Arthur  A.  Denny 1850-51  R.  Voris 1862-69 

E.  T.  Byram. 1852-53  David  Wilts 1870-71 

R.  Deatherage 1854-55  Wm.  H.  Robinson 1872-7 

E.  T.  Byram 1856-57  E.  T.  Byram 1874-75 

Alexander  Knapp 1858-59  Henry  J.  Vaughn 1876-78 

E.  T.  Byram 1860-61 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  465 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

TEMPERANCE. 

The  general  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage  by  all  classes 
and  the  direful  consequences  of  its  use  prevailed  throughout  the 
county.  There  was  nothing,  however,  in  the  custom  of  drinking 
peculiar  to  this  county.  In  the  absence  of  positive  knowledge,  we 
rather  incline  to  the  belief  that  for  a  long  time  it  was  less  prevalent 
here  than  in  other  places,  yet  the  "  ardent "  was  freely  used. 

Although  the  evils  of  intemperance  are  still  deplorable,  a  material 
change  in  the  custom  of  drinking  has  been  effected.  Good  men 
and  bad  men  indulged  in  it  then.  The  whiskey-jug  was  thought  an 
indispensable  help  in  the  harvest-field  or  at  house- raisings,  log-rollings 
and  corn-huskings;  nor  was  the  decanter,  with  its  exhilarating  con- 
tents, generally  wanting  at  social  gatherings. 

A  man  meeting  a  friend  near  a  tavern  invited  him  to  the  bar  to 
"  take  something,"  and  any  one  was  wanting  in  hospitality  if  he  did 
not  "treat"  his  visitors. 

Liquor  bought  by  the  gallon,  and  even  by  the  barrel,  was  kept  in 
families  for  daily  use.  Before  partaking  of  breakfast,  the  glass  was 
passed  around,  to  give  an  appetite.  When  bittered  with  some  herb 
or  drug,  it  was  used  as  a  sovereign  remedy  for  most  of  the  ailments 
flesh  is  heir  to,  and  often  as  a  preventive.  Liquor  being  kept  in  the 
early  country  stores,  some  merchants  were  wont  to  treat  their  cus- 
tomers, especially  when  making  large  bills,  and  often  beforehand, 
to  sharpen  their  appetite  for  trading.  Happily,  these  habits  have 
become  obsolete  among  the  better  classes  of  society,  and  it  is  hoped 
will  never  be  revived. 

While  intemperance  largely  exists,  it  is  evident  it  has,  within  the 
last  30  years,  greatly  decreased.  We  do  believe  that  according  to  the 
population  there  are  less  than  one-fourth  as  many  drunkards  in  the 
conrity  as  there  were  at  an  early  day.  This  leads  us  further  to  declare 
that  we  do  not  believe  the  efforts  put  forth  by  temperance  people  have 
been  a  failure  in  times  past. 

That  organizations  have  lived  and  flourished  for  a  while  and  then 

o 

gone  down,  prove  nothing.     All   these  organizations  are  but  human 
instrumentalities,  and  are  brought  forth  by  the  necessities  of  the  hour. 


466  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Their  design  is  to  accomplish  a  certain  purpose  apparent  at  the 
time.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  they  will  be  as  enduring  as  the 
hills,  or,  like  the  church,  so  strong  that  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  them/'  If  they  accomplish  a  good  work,  for  the  time 
being,  well  and  good.  If  it  is  found  that  there  is  a  radical  defect  in 
their  organizations  necessitating  a  change,  let  it  be  made,  and  let  us 
not  imagine,  because  they  are  defective  and  have  not  accomplished  all 
the  good  their  most  sanguine  supporters  anticipated,  that  nothing' 
has  been  done.  All  over  the  country  can  be  found  sober,  honest  and 
good  men,  who,  but  for  the  efforts  put  forth  by  the  members  of  some 
temperance  organization  that  has  ceased  to  exist,  would  now  fill  a 
drunkard's  grave.  Then  we  would  bid  God-speed  to  every  effort  of 
temperance  men  and  women,  knowing  that  as  temperance  increases 
our  country  will  become  more  and  more  prosperous. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  would  have  their  "  bitters," 
and  thought  nothing  of  the  harm  it  did.  Indeed,  the  first  license  ever 
granted  by  the  Commissioners'  Court  was  for  keeping  a  saloon.  They 
charged  only  two  dollars  for  the  license,  when  a  few  days  afterward 
a  man  paid  ten  dollars  for  a  license  to  sell  general  merchandise.  This 
would  indicate  that  they  considered  the  saloon  a  greater  public  benefit 
than  the  dry-goods  and  grocery  store. 

The  only  signs  these  fellows  ever  needed  were  for  the  taverns.  They 
were  gotten  up  in  a  crude  way,  but  none  could  mistake  the  reading 
thereon,  which  generally  was  "  Whiskey  and  Oats,"  or  "Entertain- 
ment." Such  signs  would  often  be  seen  hanging  from  little  log 
cabins. 

The  "  Horse  .ZTorspital,"  blazoned  with  red  paint  on  the  sides  of  a 
cabin  in  the  rural  districts,  will  be  remembered  by  many  an  old  citizen. 
Whiske}*  was  generally  sold  for  cash;  all  other  goods  on  credit.  Of 
course  it  was  not  expensive  then,  as  we  find  for  a  long  time  it  was 
sold  for  12 £  cents  a  pint,  this  price  being  established  by  the  County 
Commissioners.  When  some  of  the  fellows  wanted  to  get  on  a  tear, 
and  had  no  money,  they  would  manage  some  way  to  get  the  whiskey. 
A  man  living  in  Knoxville,  by  the  name  of  Lafferty,  played  a  novel 
scheme  to  get  whiskey.  He,  with  five  or  six  of  his  friends,  wanted  to 
go  on  a  spree,  and  had  no  cash  to  buy  whiskey  with,  but  genius  pro- 
vided. Lafferty  got  a  jug  that  had  contained  whiskey,  but  was  now 
empty.  He  put  some  water  in  it  from  the  public  well,  and  then 
went  to  a  grocery  and  called  for  a  quart  of  whiskey,  telling  that  the 
boys  wanted  to  go  on  a  tear,  but  didn't  have  quite  enough  whiskey. 
The  whiskey  was  drawn,  and  Lafferty  picked  up  the  jug  and  started 
off  without  saying  a  word  about  paying  for  it.  The  proprietor  told 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  467 

him  to  come  back,  as  whiskey  was  cash.  Lafferty  said  'he  had  no 
money.  "Well,  you  can't  have  the  whiskey,  then,"  was  the  reply. 
Lafferty  appeared  mad  and  stepped  back,  telling  him  to  take  his  d — d 
old  quart  of  whiskey.  This  was  done,  when  immediately  L.  visited 
the  public  well,  again  putting  in  more  water,  then  went  to  another 
place  and  called  for  a  quart,  had  it  drawn  and  again  emptied  back. 
Again  he  went  to  the  well  for  more  water.  By  this  time  he  had  his 
jug  half  full  of  pretty  fair  whiskey,  but  not  strong  enough;  so  he  went 
into  a  third  place  and  called  for  a  half  gallon,  stating  that  he  had  some, 
but  not  enough.  The  whiskey  was  drawn,  and  again  L.  started  for 
the  door,  without  paying  for  it.  As  he  expected,  they  made  him  come 
back,  and  took  from  his  jug  a  half  gallon.  He  again  appeared  mad, 
but  it  was  just  what  he  wanted  to  be  done,  and  when  he  left  the  third 
store  he  had  a  half  gallon  of  as  good  whiskey  as  the  merchant  had 
poured  back  into  the  barrel  from  the  jug.  This  was  a  first-class 
article,  and  the  boys  were  thus  afforded  a  rare  chance  for  a  good 
drunk,  after  the  most  approved  stj'le. 

Old  Dr.  Bowman,  who  was  one  of  that  kind  of  physicians  who 
carried  large  saddle-bags,  filled  with  tin  cups,  weeds  and  calomel, 
thrown  over  his  horse,  partook  freely  of  this  half  gallon  of  watered 
whiskey,  and  got  rather  top-heavy.  His  old  horse  stood  hitched  on 
the  square.  The  boys  (there  were  boys  in  those  days,  and  mischievous 
ones,  too),  tied  the  tail  of  the  doctor's  horse  to  the  rack.  The  doctor 
finally  went  up  to  his  faithful  animal  and  got  on,  without  noticing  the 
condition  of  its  tail.  He  got  well  seated  in  the  saddle  and  then 
started  off.  The  horse  turning  rather  suddenly,  the  doctor  fell  to  the 
ground,  pulling  his  immense  saddle-bags  off  on  to  him.  When  these 
fell  upon  him  the  old  fellow  yelled  out,  "Murder!  murder!  enough! 
enough!"  He  supposed  some  one  had  jumped  upon  him  and  was 
pounding  him.  These  and  similar  stories  are  told  by  the  pioneers. 

Robert  Hendricks  built  the  first  water-mill  in  the  county,  on  Court 
creek,  six  miles  from  Knoxville.  This  was  a  great  place  for  many 
a  year.  He  afterward  turned  the  mill  into  a  distillery,  and  when  he 
made  the  first  barrel  of  whiskey,  he  came  to  Knoxville  to  get  some  of 
the  boys  to  go  down  and  have  a  spree.  Six  of  them  went,  to  have  a 
big  time,  but  after  drinking  the  barrel  of  spirits  they  were  still  not 
drunk.  The  disgust  pictured  on  the  countenances  of  these  men  when 
they  came  back  and  gave  their  opinion  of  Hendricks'  whiskey,  was 
very  amusing. 

At  the  first  4th-of-July  celebration  held  in  Knoxville,  when  all 
were  gathered  around  the  sumptuously  spread  table  and  the  blessings 
pronounced,  glasses  or  gourds  were  filled  and  in  hand  ready  to  be 


468  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

drank  at  any  toast  that  might  be  offered.  Calling  upon  a  minister 
who  was  present,  he  arose  and  offered  the  following:  "The  Temper- 
ance Cause:  may  it,  like  tjie  stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without 
hands,  roll  on  and  on  until  it  shall  envelope  the  whole  earth."  Who 
could  drink  after  such  a  toast?  Profound  silence  reigned  for  a  moment 
when,  in  a  stentorian  voice  from  the  other  end  of  the  table,  came: 
"  A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss."  Up  went  the  gourds,  and  down 
the  contents.  One  lady  cried  out,  "  Fill  me  up  a  second,  on  that." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Knox  county,  held  at  the  court- 
house Wednesday,  March  29,  1854,  in  pursuance  to  a  call  of  Parker 
Earle,  agent  of  the  "  Main  Law  Alliance  of  Illinois."  The  meeting 
was  called  to  order  by  W.  II.  Holcomb,  President  of  the  "  Knoxville 
Temperance  Society." 

On  motion,  it  was  voted  unanimously,  "That  it  is  expedient  that 
this  meeting  do  now  proceed  to  organize  a  County  Main  Law  Alliance." 
Accordingly  the  society  was  organized,  a  constitution  framed  and 
adopted,  and  the  following  officers  elected:  W.  H.  Holcomb, 
President;  Yice  Presidents — A.  C.  Wiley,  Galesburg,  Stephen  S.  Buf- 
fum,  Salem;  William  Maxwell,  Abingdon;  David  H.  Frisbie,  Hen- 
derson; John  Becker,  Victoria;  and  E.  A.  Ellsworth,  Elba;  Secretary, 
John  G.  Sanburn;  Treasurer,  George  A.  Charles. 

As  early  as  1849  strong  feelings  on  the  temperance  question  were 
manifested.  The  direful  effects  of  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  were 
no  less  heart-rending  than  at  the  present  time.  The  society  of 
"  Sons  of  Temperance  "  was  doing  a  glorious  work  in  the  reformation 
of  inebriates,  about  this  period.  The  people  of  Henderson  were 
awake  to  the  destruction  going  on  in  their  midst  by  this  hydra  of 
intemperance.  Accordingly,  during  the  summer  of  1849,  a  series  of 
meetings  were  held  to  devise  means  for  the  suppression  of  the 
traffic.  Many  strong  resolutions  were  passed  in  opposition  to  the  sale 
and  use  of  ardent  spirits.  As  these  were  the  first  we  have  any  record 
of,  we  quote  a  portion  of  the  resolutions  adopted  at  a  general  meeting: 

Resolved,  1st.  That  we  consider  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  as  a 
beverage  to  be  a  more  biting,  bitter  curse  than  war,  pestilence  or 
famine. 

2nd.  That  every  law-abiding  citizen,  every  individual,  who  has  the 
least  spark  of  kindly  feeling  or  philanthropy  in  his  composition,  is  in 
duty  bound  to  exert  his  influence  to  the  utmost  extent  that  it  can 
be  legally  carried,  to  put  a  stop  to  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors  as  a  beverage  in  this  community. 

3d.  That  with  the  knowledge  of  the  character  and  effect  of  intoxi- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  471 

eating  liquors,  the  traffic  in  them  as  a  beverage  is  an  outrage  upon 
community. 

4th.  That  we  conscientiously  deem  the  man  who  can  be  so  dead  to 
the  interests  of  his  fellow-man  as  by  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  to  scat- 
ter crime  of  the  darkest  dye,  disease  of  the  worst  class,  and  death  in 
its  most  dreaded  forms  upon  community,  broadcast,  to  be  no  less  mor- 
ally criminal  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  to  be  no  less  so  in  the  sight  of 
man,  than  he  who  hires  his  neighbor  to  steal  for  his  benefit,  or  who 
scatters  contagion  that  he  may  reap  a  harvest  therefrom,  or  murders 
for  hire. 

5th.  That  we  deem  it  inexpedient  for  any  friend  of  morality  and 
good  order  to  visit  "Buck  Lick"  [the  most  noted  groggery  in  town], 
except  for  moral  or  benevolent  purposes. 

6th.  As  it  is  publicly  known  that  certain  office-seekers  in  this  pre- 
cinct and  elsewhere  are  in  the  habit  of  furnishing  ardent  spirits  as  a 
treat  for  the  purpose  of  securing  their  votes, 

Itesolved,  That  we  treat  them  as  their  conduct  demands. 

At  the  first  temperance  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to  cir- 
culate a  paper  in  order  to  ascertain  how  many  were  opposed  to  the 
traffic  and  the  number  in  favor  of  it.  The  committee  reported  that 
out  of  those  called  upon,  which  included  all  over  13  years  of  age,  110 
were  opposed  to  the  sale,  one  in  favor,  and  fifteen  refused  to  sign  at 
all.  These  papers  were  then  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  of 
ten,  appointed  to  call  on  the  liquor-sellers,  and  request  them  to  desist 
with  the  traffic.  All  the  satisfaction  obtained  from  the  dealers,  of 
which  there  were  two,  was,  that  they  would  sell  none  in  less  quan- 
tities than  by  the  quart,  and  that  they  would  not  suffer  the  liquor  to 
be  drank  upon  their  premises.  As  it  always  has  been  in  every  other 
place,  it  took  a  long,  hard  struggle  to  free  Henderson  from  these 
groggeries. 

Since  those  early  Henderson  meetings,  and  the  arrival  of  the  Gales- 
burg  colony,  the  temperance  cause  has  been  strongly  agitated.  It  has 
been  blessed  with  seasons  of  prosperity,  and  again,  at  times,  but  little 
interest  has  been  manifested  and  felt. 

In  regard  to  temperance,  the  Galesburg  colony  were,  in  this  respect 
as  in  many  others,  in  advance  of  their  age.  They  introduced  a  tem- 
perance clause  into  their  very  title-deeds;  and  the  old  First  Church  is 
to  this  day  a  temperance  society,  every  applicant  for  membership  being 
strictly  questioned  as  to  his  temperance  principles.  The  very  first 
winter  of  1836,  while  still  in  Log  City,  the  temperance  ball  was  set 
rolling  in  Knox  county. 

Old  Father  Turner,  of  Jacksonville,  was  sent  for — and  our  readers 


472  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

will  remember  that  in  those  days  a  journey  from  Jacksonville  over 
bad  roads,  bridgeless  streams,  and  trackless  prairies,  was  something 
more  than  a  few  hours'  ride  in  a  pleasant  railroad  coach — and  a  grand 
temperance  meeting  was  held  in  an  unfinished  house.  Knox  county 
had  never  heard  of  such  a  thing  before,  and  "  Yankees"  and  "  Suck- 

O  / 

ers"  came  from  far  and  near  to  attend,  the  latter  considerably  puzzled 
and  astonished  at  the  strange  doctrine  preached. 

The  Washingtonian  movement,  which  swept  like  a  mighty  tidal 
wave  across  the  land,  reached  Knox  county  in  the  winter  of  1840. 

In  February  an  enthusiastic  mass-meeting  was  held  in  Henderson. 
There  were  other  meetings  throughout  the  county,  and  July  4th  of  the 
following  summer  a  grand  "Washingtonian  celebration  at  Knoxville 
This  was  the  first  time  the  earlier  settlers  (those  who  were  here  before 
the  Galesburg  colony  came)  had  been  reached  to  any  extent.  Many 
who  had  before  been  hard  drinkers  now  signed  the  pledge,  and,  with 
their  families  and  descendants,  have  been  stanch  upholders  of  the  tem- 
perance cause  from  that  day  to  this. 

Some  eight  or  ten  years  later  there  was  a  general  interest  through- 
out the  State  on  the  subject  of  prohibition.  Knox  county,  of  course, 
shared  in  the  interest,  and  meetings  were  held  by  Mr.  Parker  Earle 
and  others.  Notwithstanding  the  absence  of  all  law  on  the  subject, 
public  opinion  had  up  to  this  time  kept  liquor  out  of  Galesburg, 
although,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  colonists,  it  was  occasionally 
sold  beyond  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  Five  or  six  years  later  there 
was  another  temperance  excitement.  Indeed,  from  the  winter  of  1836 
the  temperance  element  has  been  more  or  less  active,  particularly  in 
Galesburg,  where  the  sale  of  liquors  was  not  legally  licensed  until. 
1872,,  and  then  but  for  one  year  until  1876. 

All  through  the  county  much  has  been  accomplished  at  various 
times,  noticeably  by  Mr.  Pease,  "  the  Blind  Apostle  of  Temperance," 
who  has  been  for  more  than  thirty  years  an  active  worker  in  the  tem- 
perance cause  in  Knox  county. 

Nor  must  we  forget  to  mention  good  old  Father  Gilbert,  who  was 
particularly  interested  in  the  children,  and  who  often  circulated 
pledges  through  the  schools.  The  great  crusade  wave,  which  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1874  swept  over  Ohio  and  the  adjacent  States, 
was  felt  in  Knox  county. 

Large  mass-meetings  and  temperance  prayer-meetings  were  held  in 
Galesburg,  and  on  election  day  the  ladies  visited  the  polls,  and  the 
anti-license  ticket  was  carried;  and  it  is  said  that,  although  there  was 
intense  excitement,  the  city  election  was  never  before  conducted  with 
such  order  and  quiet.  During  the  following  winter  Francis  Murphy 


HISTORY    OF    KKOX    COUNTY.  473 

gave  a  series  of  temperance  lectures  in  the  city.  The  most  permanen 
result  of  his  work  was  the  formation  of  a  Band  of  Hope,  under  Miss 
Mary  Allen  West.  This  band  is  now  organized  in  three  divisions, 
and  numbers  more  than  five  hundred  children. 

In  February,  1874,  was  organized  the  "Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,"  with  Mrs.  M.  Wait,  President;  Mrs.  11.  S.  Hurd, 
Secretary,  and  Mrs.  Job  Swift,  Treasurer.  This  society  has  worked 
widely  and  successfully,  holding  regular  weekly  meetings  and  arrang- 
ing mass-meetings,  gospel-meetings,  lectures,  etc.,  and  has  always  had 
a  large  membership.  Similar  societies  have  been  organized  in  most 
of  the  towns  in  the  county. 

The  Galesburg  Union  in  the  spring  of  1875  opened  "  Temperance 
Coffee  Rooms"  on  Prairie  street.  These  rooms  were  for  three  years 
the  headquarters  of  the  temperance  work  of  Galesburg  and  vicinity. 
Prayer- meetings  were  held  here  each  Sunday  afternoon,  other  meet- 
ings and  sociables  during  the  week,  besides  much  individual  work 
among  drinking  men  and  their  families  being  done. 

In  December  of  1877,  through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Henry  A.  Reynolds 
and  some  noble  men  and  women  of  Galesburg  and  throughout  the 
county,  a  very  great  interest  in  the  temperance  cause  was  awakened. 

A  great  temperance  tidal  wave  seemed  to  pass  over  the  entire 
country  during  that  year  and  the  earlier  part  of  1878.  Everywhere 
temperance  meetings  were  held.  The  blue,  red  and  white  ribbon 
were  seen  attached  to  almost  every  coat  and  adorning  almost  every 
lady.  The  grand  wave  was  at  full  tide  in  this  county  during  this 
period.  The  intensest  enthusiasm  prevailed.  The  whole  heart  of  the 
community,  the  cultured  and  refined,  the  degraded  and  depraved,  rich 
and  poor,  one  and  all  were  actuated  and  moved  by  one  mighty  pulsa- 
tion of  common  interest  in  the  great  work  of  temperance  and  reform. 
The  rather  conservative  city  of  Galesburg  was  moved  as  it  had  never 
been  before.  The  clergymen  as  a  unit  entered  heart  and  soul  in  the 
work  and  with  glowing,  anxious  hearts,  winning  words  and  personal 
influence  assisted  in  the  labor  of  love.  Earnest  work  was  the  motto  of 
all.  Those  who  were  moved  by  tender,  loving  sympathy  in  their 
hearts  for  fallen  humanity,  as  well  as  tht>se  who  had  felt  the  pangs  of 
intemperance  in  their  own  experience,  worked  in  harmony  and  unity 
side  by  side.  All  minor  differences  arid  distinctions  were  lost  sight 
of,  and  on  every  hand  men  of  all  classes  met  as  brothers  laboring  in  a 
common  cause.  So  great  was  the  interest  and  so  general  that  within 
six  days  over  6,000  individuals  signed  the  pledge,  very  many  of  them 
coming  up  from  the  very  depths  of  intemperance  and  the  degradation 


474  IIISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

which  it  entails.     There  was  a  reform  club  organized  in  Galesburg 
which  numbered  almost  900  members. 

Noble,  earnest  Christian  women  were  the  prime  movers  in  this 
great  work.'  It  was  their  constant  pleadings,  their  prayers  and  work 
for  months  and  even  years  previous  that  started  this  grand  move  and 
kept  it  up  until  a  continent  felt  its  power.  Knox  county  can  boast  of 
true,  earnest  Christian  women,  those  who  in  the  face  of  obstacles 
which  would  have  intimidated  most  men  or  women  have  never  halted 
or  faltered  in  their  labor  of  love.  They  have  suffered  coldness,  in- 
difference and  even  reproach  from  those  they  had  reason  to  expect  bet- 
ter things.  Still  in  the  language  of  the  Apostle  Paul  they  have  said 
"None  of  these  things  move  me,"  and  have  earnestly  and  prayerfully 
labored  on. 

In  the  early  part  of  1878  Sheldon  W.  Allen  of  Galesburg  gave  the 
use  of  a- fine  large  room  on  the  ground  floor  in  his  building  on  Prairie 
street  to  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  for  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years,  the  only  proviso  being  that  it  shall  be  used  at  all 
times  for  the  principles  of  temperance  and  morality.  This  room, 
which  is  24  by  72  feet  in  size,  had  been  previously  leased  by  this 
society  and  used  for  three  or  four  years,  Mr.  Allen  donating  liueral- 
ly  toward  this.  That  Mr.  Allen  is  a' thorough  temperance  man  and 
that  he  cannot  be  drawn  away  from  his  convictions  and  principles 
of  temperance  by  pecuniary  inducements  is  evinced  by  his  generous 
actions  in  donating  this  room  when  he  could  have  rented  it  at  hand- 
some figures.  A  party  wanted  it  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  a 
billiard  saloon  and  offered  $800  a  year  for  it,  yet  he  firmly  refused 
him.  Three  men  were  sent  to  induce  Mr.  Allen  to  change  his  decis- 
ion, but  he  was  as  firm  as  an  adamantine  rock  in  his  determination 
not  to  permit  his  property  to  be  used  for  what  he  regarded  as  im- 
moral and  wrongful  purposes.  The  last  man  that  called  was  a  partic- 
ular friend  of  Mr.  Allen.  He  urged  the  folly  of  throwing  away  $800 
a  year,  and  brought  every  conceivable  argument  to  bear  upon  this 
strict  temperance  man,  and  when  through  received  the  following  de- 
termined answer:  "Go  down  town  and  bring  all  the  preachers  in  the 
city  up  to  plead  with  me,  anfl  yet  I  will  not  be  moved  in  my  purpose 
not  to  rent  my  room  for  such  uses."  When  we  reckon  the  amount  of 
this  donation  to  the  temperance  cause  we  find  it  assumes  vast  propor- 
tions. Basing  our  calculation  upon  the  room  renting  for  $500  per 
year,  which  he  has  been  offered  for  legitimate  and  unobjectionable  busi- 
ness purposes,  we  find  he  has  given  $12,500.  Counting  interest  at  8 
per  cent,  on  this  sum  we  find  the  amount  swells  to  $13,500.  This 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  475 

room  is  used  for  coffee  and  lunch  rooms.  Here  also  are  held  each 
mornine;;  prayer-meetings  by  the  ladies. 

The  clubs  that  were  formed  overMthe  county  at  this  time  and  since 
have  been  active  and  energetic  from  the  first.  Under  their  supervis- 
ion temperance  meetings  have  been  held  in  the  smaller  towns  and 
country  neighborhoods,  Messrs.  G.  V.  Dieterich,  George  Alden  and 
Eugene  Welch  of  the  Galesburg  Club  being  particularly  active  in  this 
work.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  these  meetings  many  temper- 
ance organizations  have  been  formed  and  many  drinking  men  have 
been  induced  to  sign  the  pledge,  and  the  red  ribbon  gleams  from 
many  button  holes,  lighting  homes  hitherto  dark  from  the  shadow  of 
the  gin  shop. 

The  Galesburg'Club  established  reading  rooms  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Prairie  streets,  and  to  this  building  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  has 
since  removed.  Quite  a  successful  temperance  movement  was  organ- 
ized in  Copley  and  Yictoria  townships  by  Mr.  J.  "W.  Temple,  present 
Supervisor  of  Copley,  in  the  fall  of  1877.  He  planned  and  put  into 
execution  what  he  calls  "The  County  District  Temperance  Organiza- 
tion." The  plan  includes  a  very  strong  pledge,  which  all  the  members 
sign.  Weekly  evening  meetings  in  the  district  school-house  are 
held,  where  the  programme  includes  music  and  literary  exercises  as 
well  as  temperance  speeches.  We  believe  that  every  school  district 
in  these  two  townships,  and  some  in  adjoining  ones,  are  now  organ- 
ized and  the  work  is  still  going  on. 

The  following  communication  from  J.  W.  Temple,  of  Copley  town- 
ship, to  Miss  Mary  Allen  West,  of  Galesburg,  gives  a  history  of  the 
progress  of  the  temperance  work  through  the  county  at  the  present 
time. 

SCHOOL  DISTRICT  TEMPERANCE  ORGANIZATION. 

Miss  WEST: — In  compliance  with  yonr  suggestion  I  will  write  you 
a  brief  sketch  of  our  progress  in  extending  our  new  organization. 
We  have  steadily  increased  the  rolls  of  members  in  every  society  and 
added  to  the  number  of  societies  since  I  wrote  you  last.  Our  own 
school  district  has  enrolled  about  140  members,  and  as  yet  not  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  pledge  has  violated  it,  as  far  as  we  have  heard,  al- 
though many  had  fallen  into  the  habit  of  drinking  before.  The  Yic- 
toria society  numbers  between  80  and  90  members.  At  the  Maxey 
church  we  have  organized  a  very  flourishing  society,  of  about  80  mem- 
bers, which  will  soon  be  largely  increased,  I  understand.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  religious  and  intelligent  communities  in  the  county,  and 
moreover  is  noted  for  their  excellent  choir, — and  their  singing  adds 


476  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

unusual  charms  to  the  meetings  of  the  society.  At  the  Hubbell 
school-house  (No.  16)  in  Victoria  we  have  a  flourishing  society;  and 
and  I  had  the  pleasure  recently  of  assisting  to  organize  a  very  prom- 
ising association  at  Truro  Corners  (the  Parker  school-house).  This 
is  a  live  community,  and  will  push  forward  any  work  they  undertake. 
Its  president,  Mr.  J.  W.  Parker,  is  a  gentleman  of  education  and 
energy,  whose  influence  for  good  in  that  community  will  be  felt  in 
this  movement.  We  have  about  400  names  enrolled  already  in  our 
organization,  which  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  I  cannot  urge  the  import- 
ance of  this  movement  too  strongly  on  the  people  of  the  county.  It 
seems  to  me,  from  the  experience  we  have  had  and  the  readiness  with 
which  the  people  fall  into  the  movement,  that  there  only  needs  some 
one  to  lead  off  in  every  town,  to  assist  in  their  organization,  to  soon 
have  societies  under  successful  operation  in  every  school  district  in 
the  county.  I  have  no  doubt,  with  a  success  no  greater  than  we  have 
made  thus  far  in  this  locality,  there  can  be  ten  thousand  names  en- 
rolled among  the  county  districts  :  even  iifty  to  each  school  district 
would  give  nearly  if  not  quite  that  number.  If,  as  is  generally  ad- 
mitted, the  hopes  and  the  glory  of  every  nation  rest  on  the  virtue 
and  intelligence  of  the  country  people,  certainly  any  movement  cal- 
culated to  advance  the  cause  ol  temperance  and  morality  in  the  rural 
districts  must  command  the  favorable  attention  of  all  who  wish  well 
to  their  country. 

I  especially  wish  to  commend  the  experiment  of  uniting  iyceum 
exercises  and  music  to  these  societies.  They  attract,  amuse,  and  in- 
struct the  young,  and  are  in  themselves  a  real  blessing  to  communi- 
ties that  lack  other  sources  of  interest.  Oar  school-houses  have  not 
sufficient  capacity  to  contain  the  crowds  who  flock  there  to  listen  to  and 
take  part  in  debates  and  other  exercises,  and  while,  of  course,  the  tem- 
perance reform  is  kept  prominently  in  view,  and  the  pledge  presented  at 
each  meeting,  and  badges  worn  by  the  members,  to  keep  the  object 
of  the  association  a  paramount  idea  at  all  times.  The  opportunities 
afforded  for  social  reunions  and  intellectual  improvement  would  in 
itself  well  pay  for  the  work  of  organizing  these  societies. 

Our  constitution  makes  it  our  duty  to  furnish  aid  to  any  commun- 
ity wishing  to  form  societies  under  this  form  of  organization ;  and  I 
will  cheerfully  give  what  assistance  I  can  in  furtherance  of  such  ob- 
ject, by  furnishing  copies  of  our  pledge  and  constitution,  etc.,  to  those 
who  wish  to  try  the  experiment.  The  field  is  a  large  one  :  who  will 
become  pioneers  in  this  work?  Can  we  not  make  such  a  success  in 
Knox  county  as  will  ensure  the  example  spreading  over  the  whole 
State?  The  experiment  is  well  worth  trying. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  477 

Ribbon  clubs  and  temperance  societies  have  been  formed  all  over 
the  county.  Flourishing  organizations  exist  at  Log  City  and  8oper- 
ville  school  districts,  Henderson  township,  and  in  many  other  places. 

Much  temperance  work  has  also  been  done  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  cities  and  towns.  Many  teachers  have  taken  the  Band  of  Hope 
pledge  to  their  schools,  and  in  some  instances  all  of  their  pupils  have 
signed  it.  This  pledge  is  as  follows: 

"Trusting  in  God  to  help  me  keep  this  pledge,  I  do  solemnly 
promise  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  bever- 
age, winejor  cider  included;  from  the  use  of  tobacco  in  all  its  forms, 
and  from  all  profanity." 

There  is  no  means  of  knowing  how  many  children  throughout  the 
county  are  thus  pledged,  but  the  number  must  be  very  large.  Many 
instances  could  be  related  showing  that  the  children  understand  their 
pledge  and  keep  it,  under  sore  temptations.  One  member  of  the 
Band,  while  visiting  in  England,  had  wine  urged  upon  him  by  his 
mother  and  other  friends,  under  circumstances  which  made  it  exceed- 
ingly hard  for  him  to  refuse;  but  he  remained  true  to  his  Band  of 
Hope  pledge.  Little  Percy  Smith,  when  dying  from  the  injuries 
received  from  a  railroad  train,  in  the  summer  of  1878,  was  urged  to 
to  take  brandy  to  strengthen  him,  but  steadily  refused,  saying,  "I 
am  a  Band  of  Hope  boy,  and  cannot  touch  it."  An  amusing  incident 
occurred  the  first  summer.  One  of  the  Band  boys  had  taken  the 
pledge  out  to  a  country  neighborhood  and  was  urging  a  young  friend 
to  sign  it.  "Just  wait  till  after  harvest,"  replied  the  boy,  "  and  then  I 
will  sign."  "Why  not  before?"  asked  his  friend.  "Well,  you  see,  in 
harvest  we  have  to  work  so  hard  that  we  can't  help  swearing."  At 
last,  however,  he  was  persuaded  to  sign,  and  report  says  that  he  did 
as  much  work  that  harvest,  and  did  it  as  well  as  ever  before,  arid 
without  a  single  oath. 

It  is  said  that  one  of  the  city  churches  was  induced  to  give  up  the 
use  of  fermented  wine  at  the  sacrament,  by  finding  that  a  boy  whom 
they  believed  to  be  truly  converted,  was  deterred  from  uniting  with 
the  church  because  he  felt  that  the  use  of  fermented  wine,  even  at 
the  table  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  would  be  a  violation  of  his  Band  of 
Hope  pledge. 

History  will  some  day  turn  to  Galesburg  as  the  starting  point  of 
the  new  system  of  temperance  work  among  children,  which  was 
inaugurated  by  Stephe  R.  Smith,  long  known  throughout  this  part  of 
the  State  as  a  journalist  of  some  repute.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  of 
Virginia,  was  prepared  for  college  at  William  and  Mary,  and  gradu- 
ated with  honor  at  a  leading  Northern  institution.  He  was  for  some 


478  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

time  a  newspaper  correspondent  at  Washington,  and  has  since  edited 
various  publications  in  this  county,  but  unfortunately  indulged  too 
freely  in  the  cup.  He  reformed,  and  recently  has  taken  the  platform 
for  temperance.  His  son  Percy  went  with  him,  and  intended  going 
to  Galva  on  June  16,  1878;  but  on  the  12th  he  was  thrown  from  the 
cars,  and  in  a  few  days  died  from  the  injury  received.  Before  his 
death  he  asked  his  father  to  take  his  blue  ribbon  and  his  little  sister 
Jessie,  and  go  to  the  children  with  temperance.  His  father  accepted 
the  mission  and  organized  temperance  societies  in  many  parts  of  Iowa 
and  Illinois,  and  perfected  a  system  of  juvenile  work  now  popular. 
The  sad  story  of  the  boy's  death,  associated  with  his  simple  temperance 
pledge,  seems  to  reach  the  children  better  than  the  old  way,  and  to 
make  an  impression  upon  the  youthful  mind  not  soon  forgotten. 
These  juvenile  organizations  bear  the  banner  of  the  dead  boy,  and  are 
known  as  "  Percy's  Band  of  Hope,"  distinguished  by  numbers  and 
pledge  cards,  for  each  State.  These  cards  are  embellished  by  a  litho- 
graph likeness  of  the  little  speaker,  and  contain  the  pledge  and  a 
brief  account  of  the  boy's  death.  Mr.  Smith  and  his  little  daughter 
organized  the  first  Percy  Band  in  Iowa,  at  Davenport,  Aug.  10,  1878, 
and  the  first  one  in  Illinois,  at  Coal  Yalley,  Aug.  7.  A  Band  was 
organized  Sept.  21,  at  Galesburg.  Master  Leonard  Camp  was  elected 
temporary  Chairman,  little  Lillie  A.  Johnson,  Secretary,  and  Miss 
Mary  Hibbard,  Treasurer.  Subsequently  Miss  Carrie  Elliot  was 
chosen  Matron.  On  Saturday  afternoon,  Oct.  12,  the  children  of 
Knoxville  were  organized  into  a  Band,  Mrs.  Waddle  being  chosen 
Matron,  Miss  Mary  Sanburn,  Secretary,  and  Miss  Minnie  Koons, 
leader  of  the  choir.  On  Monday  afternoon,  Oct.  14,  a  Percy  Band  of 
130  children  was  formed  at  Wataga,  with  Mrs.  Albert  Slater  as 
Matron,  Miss  Mary  Roberts,  Secretary,  and  Miss  Lillie  Driggs,  leader 
of  the  choir. 


HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  479 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TOWNSHIP  HISTORIES. 
INDIAN    POINT   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  finest  townships  in  Knox  county.  It  is  mostly 
prairie  land,  being  high,  undulating  and  fertile.  Yery  little  unim- 
proved or  waste  lands  are  within  its  boundaries.  Indian  creek  rises 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  courses  southwest  and  empties 
into  Cedar  Fork  of  Spoon  river.  The  latter  stream  enters  the  township 
at  section  30,  flows  south  and  makes  its  exit  on  the  southern  line  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  31.  The  streams  arising  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  township  meander  in  a  southwesterly  direction, 
swelling  Spoon  river. 

There  are  two  towns  within  the  borders  of  the  township, — Abing- 
don,  on  the  northern  line,  and  St.  Augustine,  almost  on  the  southern 
boundary.  These  are  connected  by  the  C.,  B.  &  Q  railroad. 

Indian  Point  township  took  its  name  from  a  body  of  timber  which 
extended  from  Cedar  Fork  to  section  16.  Along  the  edge  of  this 
timber  was  the  favorite  camping  ground  of  the  Indians,  the  remains 
of  whose  camps  were  extant  long  after  settlement  by  the  whites.  In 
consequence  of  these  remains  this  point  or  body  of  timber  took  the 
name  of  "  Indian  Point;  "  and  when,  on  Monday,  January  14,  1850, 
the  townships  of  the  county  were  christened,  the  name  "Indian  Point" 
very  naturally  suggested  itself  for  this  township,  and  ever  since  that 
time  "Indian  Point"  has  become  a  familiar  phrase  to  almost  every 
person  in  the  county. 

John  C.  Latimer,  who  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6 
in  1833,  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  white  settler,  at  least  to 
make  this  permanently  his  home.  Mr.  Latimer  was  born  in  Robinson 
county,  Tennessee,  August  18,  1812.  He  came  to  this  county  with 
his  father,  Joseph  Latimer,  in  1831.  John  C.  Latimer  still  resides  on 
the  same  farm  he  first  settled,  in  a  commodious  and  convenient  farm- 
house, near  where  the  old  log-cabin  was  first  erected. 

Others  soon  followed  Mr.  Latimer  into  this  naturally  favored  town- 
ship.    Among  them  were  Stephen  Howard,  John  H.   Lomax,  John 
Howard,  Sr.,  Rev.  John  Crawford,  "William  Stewart,  Henry  Russell, 
27 


Daniel  Meek,  John  Dowdy,  Manyweather  Brown,  Anthony  Bowers, 
and  Alexander  Latimer,  some  of  whom  figured  quite  prominently  in 
the  early  history  of  Knox  county.  Not  one  of  the  above-named 
pioneers,  except  John  C.  Latimer,  reside  in  the  township;  and  all  have 
crossed  the  Jordan  of  death,  save  Alexander  Latimer,  Henry  Russell, 
and  Manyweather  Brown.  John  C.  Latimer  seems  to  have  been  spe- 
cially favored;  for,  although  the  oldest  settler,  he  and  his  good  wife 
live  in  peace  and  plenty,  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  the  hard  toil  of  their 
earlier  years;  and  now,  as  they  traverse  the  autumn  of  life,  it  is  with 
sadness  and  pleasure  commingled  that  they  reflect  upon  the  trials  and 
joys,  die  sufferings  and  pleasures,  the  sorrows  and  happiness  of  their 
pioneer  days  in  this  township. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Ann  Frances  Lomax, 
daughter  of  John  H.  andXancy  Lomax,  who  was  born  about  the  25th 
of  October,  1835.  The  first  death  was  in  1S33,  that  of  Mr.  Hibbard, 
an  elderly  gentleman,  and  father  of  Widow  Robinson,  at  whose  house 
he  died.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Dennis  Clark,  the  present 
County  Judge,  in  the  winter  of  1S37-8,  in  a  little  log  school-house  on 
section  16.  The  present  schools  of  the  township  are  excellently  man- 
aged. There  are  three  churches,  two  Christian  and  one  Catholic. 
The  following  gentlemen  have  represented  the  township  in  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  from  year  to  year,  since  1S53:  Daniel  Meek,  John  C. 
Latimer,  James  W.  Butler,  Patrick  Smith,  T.  L.  Frazier,  N.  R.  Cash- 
man,  William  Campbell,  H.  Crisman  (by  appointment  to  fill  the 
unexpired  term  of  William  Campbell),  and  J.  W.  Butler,  the  present 
Svpervisor. 


CECAJE  TOWXSHTP. 


This  township  is  10  north,  range  1  east,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settled  townships  in  the  county.  It  is  said  that  Rev.  Hiram  Palmer 
settled  on  section  1  in  1828.  Abraham  D.  Swartz  came  to  the  town- 
ship in  1829.  Jonathan  Latimer  came  in  1832  and  settled  on  section 
28.  He  erected  a  little  log  cabin,  and  not  being  able  to  construct  a 
door  to  it  for  some  time,  they  filled  a  bed-tick  with  straw,  and  hung 
it  up  in  the  doorway  to  keep  out  the  cold.  Wolves  frequently  came 
prowling  around  and  threatening  an  invasion  of  the  house.  When 
her  husband  was  away  from  home  Mrs.  Latimer  would  keep  up  a  fire 
all  night  to  prevent  the  wolves  from  entering  the  house.  These  pests 
of  a  new  country  would  often  come  to  the  doorway  and  press  against 
the  bed,  crowding  it  in;  but  when  they  saw  the  fire  would  retreat. 
Mrs.  Latimer  says  they  have  done  this  many  nights,  but  the  bright 
fire  kept  them  at  bay.  Mrs.  Latimer  has  often  taken  the  products  of 


HIGH  SCHOOL.  KXOXYILLE. 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  483 

her  loom  on  horseback  to  Knoxville,  and  exchanged  them  for  family 
supplies.  Mrs.  Catharine  Reed,  widow  of  John  Reed,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 17  in  1836.  They  located  on  the  very  ground  the  Indians  camped 
on  before  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  used  water  from  the  same  spring. 
Mrs.  Reed  was  born  in  Scotland,  in  1790,  and  came  to  America  in 
1796.  She  at  present  resides  with  her  son-in-law,  J.  W.  Kays,  of  this 
township.  One  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  township  is  Reuben  Castle, 
who  came  in  1834  and  settled  on  section  12.  The  country  was  in  its 
native  state,  except  here  and  there  a  cabin,  and  a  field  improved,  until 
1844;  and  while  prairie  fires  ran  over  the  country  all  the  grass  and 
brush  were  annually  burned  off.  As  soon  as  these  fires  were  stopped 
the  timber  began  to  grow;  and  now  much  of  it  has  attained  lofty  pro- 
portions, and  will  make  from  four  to  six  rails  to  the  cut.  Mr.  Castle 
says  that  panthers,  wolves,  and  other  animals  would  prowl  around, 
destroying  stock  and  annoying  the  settlers.  William  Bevans,  in  1834, 
was  carrying  some  soft  soap  to  his  home  from  where  he  was  work- 
ing, and  was  attacked  by  three  black  wolves.  In  defending  himself 
with  his  axe  he  spilled  his  soap;  and  while  the  wolves  were  devouring 
it  he  fled  and  reached  home  in  safety. 

The  first  child  born  in  this  township  was  Helen  E.  Swartz,  daughter 
of  A.  D.  Swartz,  born  in  November,  1829.  The  first  marriage  was 
that  of  U.  D.  Coy  and  Susie  Latimer,  in  December,  1833.  The  first 
death  was  Miss  Olive  Strange,  who  died  in  1834.  The  first  sermon 
was  preached  at  the  residence  of  A.  D.  Swartz,  by  Rev.  Hiram 
Palmer. 

GALESBURG    TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  finest  bodies  of  land  in  Knox  county.  It  con- 
tains more  miles  of  railroad  than  any  other  township  in  the  county. 
The  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Galesburg  cover  nine  sections. 
Gaddial  Scott  broke  the  first  land  in  the  township.  He,  with  Edward 
Morse,  were  the  first  settlers.  Mr.  Scott  settled  on  section  19  in  1834. 
Mr.  Morse  settled  on  section  3.  As  the  history  of  the  city  of  Gales- 
burg  mostly  includes  the  history  of  the  township,  we  will  not  repeat 
it,  but  refer  the  reader  to  that  portion  of  this  work. 

Galesburg  township,  including  the  city  of  Galesburg,  contains 
18,318  acres  of  improved,  and  1,658  acres  of  unimproved  lands. 
Value  of  land  outside  of  city,  $557,117.  In  1878  6,649  acres  of  corn 
were  raised,  51  acres  of  wheat,  and  1,309  of  oats.  There  are.  3,839 
acres  devoted  to  meadow,  371  to  orchard,  and  there  are  338  acres  of 
woodland  in  this  township.  The  total  valuation  of  the  town  lots  in 
the  city  is  $2,059,710.  There  are  owned  in  the  township  1,245  horses, 


4:84:  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

valued  at  $56,205;  cattle  1,827,  valued  at  $27,888;  mules  52,  valued  at 
$2,475;  sheep  356,  valued  at  $686;  hogs  3,774,  valued  at  $8,672;  car- 
riages and  wagons  739,  valued  at  $32,608;  piano-fortes  209,  valued  at 
$18,730.  Total  value  of  its  agricultural  tools  and  .machinery  is 
$6,054.  The  total  valuation  of  personal  property  of  the  township  is 
$1,367,970. 

HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  the  first  in  the  county  to  have  the  home  of  a 
white  man  located  within  its  boundaries.  Here,  in  February  of  1828, 
Daniel  and  Alexander  Robertson  settled.  Many  of  the  first  inci- 
dences of  the  county  occurred  in  this  township,  and,  as  a  greater  por- 
tion of  the  first  chapter  of  this  wrork  is  located  here,  and  many  other 
historical  items  given  all  through  the  book,  we  refrain  from  repeat- 
ing. Here,  on  sections  23  and  26,  the  Indians  had  their  corn-fields 
and  cultivated  the  soil  for  years. 

In  an  early  day,  on  section  30,  near  the  creek,  a  well  was  dug. 
On  arriving  at  a  depth  of  60  feet  the  workmen  came  to  what  seemed 
to  be  an  Indian  camping-ground.  Ashes,  stumps,  and  general  rub- 
bish were  there  as  fresh  as  though  the  fires  had  just  gone  out.  A  red 
cedar  log  was  tJso  found. 

H.  M.  Sisson,  of  this  township,  has  done  much  to  better  the  class 
of  stock,  and  deserves  credit  not  only  from  the  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship, but  of  the  county.  He  has,  perhaps,  the  oldest  horse  in  the 
county.  It  has  been  in  his  family  for  thirty- six  years,  and  he  has 
plowed  with  it  each  year  for  thirty  years. 

This  township  has  a  fine  body  of  timber  known  as  Henderson  Grove. 
A  beautiful  stream  of  water  passes  through  this  delightful  grove,  which 
takes  a  southwesterly  course,  and,  after  receiving  several  branches, 
enters  into  the  Mississippi.  The  timber  in  this  grove  is  large  and 
lofty,  and  occupies  an  area  of  several  square  miles.  The  prairie 
around  is  undulating,  very  rich  and  dry.  Along  the  edges  of  the 
timber  the  first  pioneers  settled,  and  here,  too,  in  Log  City  the  Gales- 
burg  colony  made  their  temporary  quarters. 

RIO  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  in  the  extreme  northwest  part  of  the  county, 
and  for  agricultural  purposes  is  not  surpassed  by  many  townships  in 
the  whole  Northwest. 

In  the  spring  of  1830  Joseph  Kowe  located  on  section  33,  being 
the  first  settler  in  the  township.  He  was  soon  followed  by  Reese 
Jones  and  Joseph  Hailiday,  the  former  locating  on  the  northwest  cor- 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  485 

tier  of  section  6,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  corner  of  the  county. 
Soon  thereafter  came  Abe  Jones,  and  in  1832  John  Cresswell  settled 
on  section  27,  near  Fort  Aggie,  which  was  situated  within  forty  rods 
of  the  southwest  corner  of  the  same  section.  This  fort  was  built  dur- 
ing the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1832  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Cress- 
well's  wife.  It  stood  unmolested  until  1836,  when  Joseph  Hahn 
tore  it  down  and  constructed  a  barn  out  of  the  logs,  near  where  the 
fort  stood,  for  the  purpose  of  tramping  out  wheat  with  horses,  as  was 
often  done  in  pioneer  days  when  the  present  mode  of  threshing  was 
unknown. 

In  1836  came  Nelson  and  Lewis  Coe,  and  John  "Wooley.  Wooley 
had  come  into  Knox  township  in  1832,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
Luther  Fitch  came  in  1840.  After  that  period  accessions  to  the  popu- 
lation of  Rio  were  numerous  until  now  it  numbers  about  1,200. 

The  township  received  its  name  in  this  wise:  About  1851  a  meet- 
ing was  held  by  request  of  the  County  Court  to  select  a  name  for  the 
township.  In  connection  with  this  meeting  a  proposition  was  made 
to  lay  off  a  village  plat  on  the  school  section.  While  this  was  being 
discussed,  some  one  made  a  motion  to  lay  off  the  proposed  town  along 
the  slough  east  of  the  road  and  north  of  the  barn  of  E.  A.  Bartlett,  for 
the  reason  that  the  land  was  good  for  nothing  else.  This  motion  pre- 
vailed, which,  as  it  was  intended,  killed  the  project  altogether.  Sev- 
eral names  for  the  township  were  proposed.  The  Mexican  war  had 
just  closed,  and  the  Rio  Grande  river  as  the  boundary  line  of  the 
United  States  and  Mexico  was  in  the  mouth  of  every  war  man  in  op- 
position to  Rio  Nueces  river  as  claimed  by  the  Mexicans.  Thus  at 
this  meeting  Rio  Grande  had  a  majority  of  admirers;  and  besides, 
there  being  many  streams  in  the  township,  it  would  very  appropriate- 
ly admit  of  the  name,  the  Spanish  word  rio  meaning  river.  No  reso- 
lution however  wras  passed  in  regard  to  selecting  a  name,  as  quite  a 
number  thought  the  matter  had  better  be  left  with  the  county  author- 
ities. Lewis  Coe  was  opposed  to  passing  over  the  question  so  in- 
differently, as  through  his  instrumentality  the  meeting  had  been 
called.  He  accordingly  took  it  upon  himself  to  attend  the  meeting 
of  the  Court  to  suggest  a  name.  He  could  see  no  good  reason  for  the 
"Grande"  part  of  the  name,  and  therefore  only  presented  the  word 
"Rio"  as  suitable.  This  was  accepted  and  adopted,  and  thus  ever 
since  the  township  has  worn  the  beautiful  Spanish  name. 

There  are  four  churches  in  Rio  township.  One  union  of  Congrega- 
tional and  Methodist  Episcopal,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Regular  Baptist 
and  Protestant  Methodist. 


4:86  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

CHESTNUT  TOWNSHIP. 

Spoon  river  enters  this  township  near  the  center  of  section  24  and 
flows  west  one  mile,  and  south  one  mile,  west  again  a  mile  and  a  half, 
then  south,  making  its  exit  near  the  center  of  section  34.  For  agricul- 
tural purposes  Chestnut  ranks  among  the  best  townships  in  Knox 
county.  The  village  of  Hermon  is  in  this  township  near  its  western 
line. 

In  1833  Anson  Dolf  broke  ground  and  sowed  wheat  on  section  17, 
but  did  not  make  a  permanent  settlement  here  until  the  spring  of 
1834.  That  year  John  Terry  came  and  settled  on  section  16.  He 
was  from  Greenbriar  county,  Virginia.  William  McFarland  came  in 
1839.  He  came  from  Loudon  county,  Ya.  Both  these  pioneers  now 
reside  in  Abingdon.  John  Terry  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  performed  the  first  marriage  ceremony,  by  uniting  a  Mr.  Gray  to 
to  a  Miss  Cope,  both  coming  from  a  distance  riding  the  same  horse. 
The  first  child  born  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaver,  on  section 
17,  in  1835.  The  first  death  was  that  of  Jacob  Harford. 

ORANGE    TOWNSHIP. 

Orange  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Knox,  on  the  east  by 
Haw  Creek,  south  by  Chestnut  and  on  the  west  by  Cedar.  It  is  well 
divided  between  prairie  and  timber  lands,  and  is  one  of  the  very  best 
townships  of  land  in  the  county.  It  was  settled  at  an  early  date. 
Joseph  Wallace  was  the  first  white  man  to  make  his  home  here.  He 
settled  on  section  15  in  1830.  James  Ferguson  settled  on  section 
11  the  following  year,  and  Samuel  Mather  on  section  14  in  1832. 
The  first  birth  was  Cynthia  Ferguson,  daughter  of  James  and  Martha 
Ferguson.  She  was  born  in  1833.  The  first  death  was  a  Mr. 
McCramer,  who  died  in  1833,  on  section  15.  James  Ferguson  was 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  being  elected  in  1833.  The  first  school- 
house  was  erected  on  section  14  in  1836.  The  first  teacher  was  Thomas 
Ellison.  The  first  church  was  organized  by  the  Methodists,  on  sec- 
tion 22,  and  known  as  Orange  Chapel.  The  first  sermon  that  was 
preached  in  the  township  was  by  Jacob  Gum,  the  old  pioneer  preacher 
of  the  county,  at  the  residence  of  James  Ferguson.  The  first  mar- 
riage ceremony  was  a  double  wedding.  Alexander  Robertson  was- 
united  to  JNarcissa  Ferguson  and  David  Fuqua  to  Lydia  Bowmar. 

KNOX    TOWNSHIP. 

In  this  township  the  first  town  in  the  county  was  laid  oif.  Adjoin- 
ing Knoxville  is  the  finely  equipped  county  poor  farm,  the  buildings 
of  which  are  excelled  in  all  their  appointments  by  none  in  the  State. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  487 

The  township  has  timber  land  distributed  very  freely  over  it.  Here 
some  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county  located,  the  present  site  of 
Knoxville  being  first  settled  by  Parry  Morris.  John  Montgomery,  who 
settled  on  section  30,  was  among  the  first  settlers.  He  has  gone  from 
this  place  to  Rushville,  Schuyler  county,  to  have  his  milling  done. 
The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  by  Elder  Jacob  Gum, 
the  first  preacher  in  Knox  county.  The  first  death  occurring  was  that 
of  a  child  of  a  Mr.  Taber.  David  Huggins  of  this  township  made 
the  first  cheese  that  was  ever  manufactured  in  the  county.  This  he 
carried  to  Galena,  and  sold  for  7J  cents  a  pound.  The  first  church 
organized  in  the  township  was  in  1835,  and  by  the  following  six  per- 
sons from  three  different  denominations,  but  seemingly  inclining  to 
the  Presbyterian  faith,  as  they  called  their  church  the  "  Old  School 
Presbyterian:"  David  Huggins  and  wife,  Mrs.  Jackson  and  daughter, 
M.  Owen  and  Mrs.  J.  G.  Sanburn. 

Knox  township  contains  20,857  acres  of  improved,  and  950  of  un- 
improved lands,  the  total  valuation  of  which  is  $365,340.  In  1878 
there  were  5,433  acres  devoted  to  corn,  244  acres  to  wheat,  979  to  oats. 
Its  meadow  lands  embrace  an  area  of  2,449  acres;  its  orchards  256 
acres;  its  woodlands  2,199.  Its  town  lots  are  valued  at  $14,865.  The 
township  contains  882  horses,  valued  at  $36,359;  cattle  2,151,  valued 
at  $32,403;  mules  55,  valued  at  $2,300;  sheep  447,  valued  at  $936; 
hogs  4,139,  valued  at  $7,359;  carriages  and  wagons  375,  valued  at  $11,- 
717;  piano-fortes  37,  valued  at  $2,912.  Total  value  of  its  agricultural 
tools  and  machinery,  $6,497.  Total  valuation  of  personal  property  in 
the  township  is  $436,659. 

SPAETA    TOWNSHIP. 

Ancient  Sparta,  after  which  this  township  was  probably  named, 
existed  before  the  Christian  era  800  years,  and  was  the  capital  of 
Laconia,  and  the  rival  of  Athens  in  the  history  of  ancient 
Greece.  Sparta  has  been  handed  down  through  all  history  as  a 
synonym  of  simplicity  of  personal  habit,  domestic  economy  and 
courage.  Mr.  Amos  Wilmot  is  accredited  with  suggesting  the  name 
of  Sparta  for  the  township  at  its  organization.  Mr.  Wilmot  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  March  3,  1802,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the 
township.  After  a  prosperous  life  of  76  years,  and  with  a  hope  of  a 
happy  immortality,  he  died  at  his  home  Aug.  28,  1878. 

Hezekiah  Burford  settled  on  section  23  in  1834.  He  is  now  in 
Monmouth,  Oregon.  Cyrus  Bobbins,  from  New  York,  settled  on 
section  5  in  1836.  His  two  brothers  Levy  and  Reuben  settled  on 
section  5  the  same  year.  These  brothers  planted  out  a  nursery,  from 


4:88  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

which  they  established  large  fruit  orchards  and   shady  groves,  which 
have  ever  since  been  known  as  "  Bobbins'  Grove." 

Asaph  DeLong  and  Luman  Field,  from  Yermont,  and  Wm.  M. 
Heath  from  New  York,  settled  on  section  31  in  1836.  Julius  DeLong 
came  from  Yermont  in  January,  1838,  and  settled  on  the  south  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  31,  the  present  home  of  his  son, 
Hon.  M.  P.  DeLong,  who  has  represented  his  township  at  different 
times  in  various  offices  from  the  very  first  organization.  He  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Knox  County  Agricultural  Society  for  fif- 
teen years;  was  its  president  three  years  during  that  time;  has  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  terms  of  four  years  each,  and  is  now  in 
the  fourth  term;  was  elected  and  served  as  Supervisor  of  his  township 
in  187J:,  when  the  farmers  were  organizing  into  farmers'  clubs  and 
granges  throughout  the  Northwest,  which  in  time  became  national, 
for  the  purpose  of  counter-balancing  the  influence  of  the  giant 
monopolies  of  the  railroads  which  existed  at  that  time.  We  will 
refer  to  these  organizations  again  farther  along  in  the  history  of  this 
township.  The  prairie  fires  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  township 
were  something  to  be  dreaded.  The  broad,  wide-spreading  prairies  for 
untold  years  had  lain  beneath  the  sun  and  the  showers,  gathering 
richness,  until  the  vegetable  growth  was  something  marvelous,  and 
the  tall  native  grasses  would  in  places  hide  man  and  beast.  And 
when  a  fire  chanced  to  start  in  this  waving  ocean  of  dried  and  inflam- 
mable material,  it  was  a  sure  messenger  of  death  to  every  living  thing 
or  creature  in  its  relentless  course,  unless  due  precaution  had  been 
previously  exercised  to  guard  against  it.  The  roar  of  the  flames 
when  driven  by  a  strong  wind  could  be  heard  two  and  three  miles 
away,  as  was  the  case  one  night  when  these  early  settlers  were 
awakened  by  Miss  Maria  Field,  daughter  of  Luman  Field,  and  sister 
of  the  late  Hon.  Loyal  C.  Field,  of  Gale&burg.  She,  living  with  her 
parents  near  where  Center  Point  now  is,  awakened  about  midnight, 
and  discovering  the  danger  of  the  settlement,  ran  from  house  to  house, 
and  gave  the  alarm.  A  fire  had  started  at  Red  Oak,  in  Henry  Co., 
111.,  and  now  was  rushing  southward,  two  miles  wide,  before  a  furious 
wind  from  the  north,  with  a  terrible  roar  that  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  those  who  heard  it.  Fortunately  the  citizens  in  this  township  be- 
ing forewarned,  were  fore-armed  and  prepared  to  give  battle  when 
the  fire  came.  Trenches  and  "  back  fire  "  and  wet  blankets  were  used 
to  save  the  buildings,  fences  and  stocks;  and  even  then  the  heavy 
wind  would  carry  wisps  of  burning  grass  so  far  that  a  continual  effort 
was  required  until  the  billow  of  fire  had  passed. 

Section  30   was  appropriated  in  the  usual  legal  way  by  Richard 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  489 

Joseph  and  William  Armstrong,  S.   S.  Enssell,  and  Stephen  Smith. 

Section  19  was  taken  and  improved  by  Thomas  and  George  W. 
Faulkner,  Morvan  Baker,  and  An  son  Howe. 

James  and  Abram  Neely  came  from  Cayuga,  New  York,  the  latter 
in  1836,  and  made  him  a  home  on  section  8.  He  now  lives  in 
Missouri.  The  former  made  a  home  on  section  30,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  Part  of  section  8  was  afterwards  occupied  by  T.  G.  Hadley, 
who  originally  came  from  "  way  down"  in  Maine.  Also  on  section  8 
may  be  found  G.  S.  Hawkins,  who  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  in 
Henderson,  also  A.  S.  Fitch,  who,  with  many  others  from  this  loyal 
township,  was  one  of  u  the  soldiers  in  blue"  during  the  civil  war. 
Section  8  also  includes  the  premium  farm  owned  by  A.  N.  Phelps, 
Esq.,  and  contains  200  acres  without  a  foot  of  waste  land.  This  farm 
was  granted  the  first  premium  by  the  Illinois  State  Agricultural 
Society  in  1868,  and  again  in  1870.  It  had  been  awarded  the  first 
premium  by  the  Knox  County  Agricultural  Society  previously  for 
five  successive  years. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  born  in  Westfield,  Mass.,  September  9,  1819.  He 
came,  with  his  mother  and  his  two  sisters,  to  Galesburg  in  1836.  The 
amount  of  his  worldly  possessions  at  that  time  was  enough  to  buy  a 
box  stove  and  a  cow,  valued  at  $30.  The  eldest  daughter  became  Mrs. 
G.  Avery,  of  Galesburg,  and  the  youngest  the  wife  of  B.  Kilbourn, 
of  Wisconsin.  The  mother  died  at  Galesburg,  November  23,  1855. 
The  father,  Aaron  Noble  Phelps.  had  died  previous  to  the  family's 
moving  west,  at  Westfield,  Mass.,  in  March,  1830.  He  and  his  wife 
(Miss  Clarissa  Root)  were  married  in  1814.  Their  only  son,  A.  N. 
Phelps,  and  Miss  Sarah  J.  Adams  were  married  March  29,  1847,  and 
moved  to  their  present  home  in  1856,  which  has  since  taken  the  pre- 
miums already  mentioned. 

Johnson  Babcock  was  born  in  1770,  in  Rensselaer  county,  New 
York.  Miss  Zilpha  Green  was  born  near  Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 
These  two  were  united  in  marriage  in  1796.  Ransom  Babcock,  their 
son,  was  born  September  20,  1822,  and  in  1839  he  came  from  Onon- 
daga  county,  New  York,  to  Knox  county,  arriving  at  Galesburg  the 
12th  of  July;  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Miller,  September  1,  1842. 
Mrs.  Babcock  was  born  January  7,  1825,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James 
H.  and  Hannah  (Preston)  Miller,  originally  from  New  England,  who 
came  from  Michigan  to  Knox  county  in  1838. 

William  S.  Patterson,  on  section  18,  is  one  of  the  most  extensive 
farmers  in  the  township.  His  single  shipments  of  cattle  and  hogs 
have  at  times  amounted  to  $30,000  or  $40,000,  especially  during  the 
civil  war,  when  the  price  of  live  cattle  was  eight  cents  per  pound,  and 


490  HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

live  hogs  ten  and  twelve  cents  per  pound.  He  introduced  many 
choice  breeds  of  cattle  and  hogs.  One  car-load  of  short-horns  were 
purchased  by  him  in  Kentucky  and  brought  home  in  1871.  "William 
S.  Patterson  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  December  13,  1825,  and  at 
Henderson,  111.,  September  30,  1834,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Matilda  Miller,  whose  parents  were  James  H.  and  Hannah 
(Preston)  Miller,  natives  of  New  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  S.  Pat- 
terson moved  to  their  present  home  in  1855. 

William  Williamson,  one  of  the  township  commissioners  for  1878, 
has  also  introduced  the  short-horn  cattle  on  his  farm.  His  residence 
is  located  on  section  21. 

Mr.  Robson,  the  present  supervisor,  owns  500  acres  of  land.  The 
Robson  Bros,  have  been  extensive  shippers  of  stock.  William  Rob- 
son  came  to  his  present  home  in  Sparta  township  in  1863,  and  he  has 
made  single  shipments  from  Wataga  station  amounting  to  $35,000. 
He  has  also  introduced  short-horn  cattle,  Poland  China  and  Berkshire 
hogs. 

Niles  Bros.,  whose  residences  are  located  on  sections  21  and  19, 
are  from  Chatham,  Columbia  county,  New  York.  They  were  pro- 
prietors of  the  Wataga  mill  for  seven  years  before  turning  their  atten- 
tion to  farming.  They  introduced  the  short-horn  cattle  on  their  farms 
in  the  spring  of  1874 — 30  head  that  year — at  a  cost  of  from  $100  to 
$500  each. 

Henry  Rommel's  farms  are  located  on  section  28. 

Mons  Olson's  home  is  located  south  of  Wataga,  on  sections  28  and 
33,  and  what  is  known  as  the  Mound,  which  is  one  of  those  beautiful 
elevations  that  occur  occasionally  in  this  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 

Ed.  Kennedy  and  Thomas  O'Connor  are  prominent  real-estate  hold- 
ers in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township. 

Anson  Rowe,  born  in  Vermont,  carne  to  Center  Point  with  his 
family  in  1838,  and  settled  on  section  19.  His  son,  Lorenzo  Rowe, 
moved  on  his  farm,  section  19.  in  1850. 

Eber  Goddard  came  from  Massachusetts  at  a  later  day,  and  settled 
on  section  4. 

C.  C.  West  came  from  New  York  in  1837,  and  has  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 3. 

B.  Pickrel,  whose  birth-place  was  in  Virginia,  came  to  the  county 
in  1837,  and  to  Sparta  township  in  1867. 

One  of  the  institutions  of  the  township  is  the  Wataga  Nursery,  tem- 
porarily begun  by  O.  W.  Hoif  in  1864,  and  permanently  established 
in  1869,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  16,  one  block  south  of  the 
Wataga  Mills,  by  Hoif  &  Cooper,  whose  term  of  partnership  was  for 


HISTOKY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  491 

five  years,  since  which  time  O.  W.  HofF  has  owned  and  conducted  it. 
Mr.  H.  has  been  in  the  business  since  January,  1858,  working  at  first 
with  T.  K.  Phoenix,  at  the  Bloomington  Nursery.  He  came  from 
his  native  place,  Greenbush,  Rensselaer  county,  New7  York,  in  1855. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1853.  Thomas  H.  Taylor  was 
elected  Supervisor,  and  was  re-elected  in  1851.  Mr.  Taylor  was  born 
July  14,  1815,  on  the  Isle  of  Wight;  came  to  New  York  in  1823,  and 
to  Sparta  township  in  1846;  hauled  the  lumber  for  his  house  from 
La  Salle,  111.,  80  miles;  shipped  the  first  load  of  pork  and  wool 
through  the  Illinois  canal;  was  appointed  Postmaster  under  Buchanan, 
and  resigned  after  holding  the  office  three  years;  is  now  living  on  sec- 
tion 14. 

Peter  Davis  was  elected  Supervisor  in  1855,  without  opposition. 
Mr.  Davis  was  born  in  1801,  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Knox  county 
in  1834;  died  at  his  home,  in  Sparta  township,  March  15,  1871. 

J.  W.  Holyoke  was  elected  Supervisor  in  1856,  and  was  re-elected 
for  nine  successive  years;  then  he  was  elected  Representative;  then 
he  was  elected  Supervisor  four  successive  years;  after  an  interval  of 
four  years  was  again  elected  Supervisor  in  1875,  which  office  he  occu- 
pied for  three  years. 

John  Grey  was  Supervisor  in  1865,  and  Abram  Ebright  in  1866. 

H.  P.  Wood  was  elected  three  terms, — 1871-2-3. 

In  1872-3  the  farmers  began  to  organize  throughout  the  States  into 
clubs  and  granges.  "The  Sparta  Farmers'  Club"  was  organized  in 
the  Town  Hall,  March  1,  1873;  adopted  a  constitution  that  was  fur- 
nished in  printed  form  to  local  clubs,  and  the  following  objects  were 
embodied  in  Article  II:  "Its  objects  shall  be  improvement  in  the 
theory  and  practice  of  agriculture  and  horticulture;  to  promote  the 
moral,  intellectual,  social,  and  pecuniary  welfare  of  its  members;  and 
by  active  and  cordial  co-operation  with  other  clubs,  and  with  its  county 
committee,  to  assist  in  carrying  to  a  successful  issue  the  objects  of  the 
State  Association."  Whatever  they  might  be  was  not  known  to  the 
general  membership, — perhaps  not  to  any  in  the  local  clubs;  and  it  was 
generally  thought  that,  to  be  consistent  with  the  expressed  objects  of 
the  clubs,  none  but  agriculturists  and  horticulturists  should  be  mem- 
bers. This  caused  a  division  of  sentiment;  for  the  merchants  and 
lawyers  claimed  they  should  be  made  welcome,  as  "all  their  interests 
were  in  farms."  The  result  was  that  at  the  first  annual  re-election  of 
officers  the  County  Farmers'  Association  was  captured  by  the  poli- 
ticians, and  a  professional  lawyer  elected  Supreme  Judge.  This 
diverted  the  attention  of  the  people  from  the  primary  and  meritorious 


492  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

and  expressed  objects  of  the  organizations;  and  they  practically  ceased 
to  exist. 

M.  P.  De  Long,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Knox  county,  and  a  very 
worthy  farmer,  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Sparta  township  in  1874. 

The  Town  Hall  was  built  in  1867. 

The  first  coal  banks  opened  in  the  township  were  near  where 
Charles  "W.  Rhodes  now  lives,  sections  21  and  22.  Levy  James,  A. 
A.  Spooner,  Lomas  &  Babcock,  and  others,  took  part  in  opening 
banks,  until  in  1855-6  there  were  about  40  banks;  30  of  them  near 
Wataga,  and  managed  chiefly  by  Hqlyoke  and  Dolan.  Also  Taylor 
and  Parkinson  had  quite  a  number  of  banks,  at  different  times. 
About  1856  there  were  employed  250  men ;  and  probably  100,000 
bushels  of  the  "  Black  Diamonds  "  were  put  into  the  market  annually 
from  the  deep  ravine  that  runs  east  from  the  village.  Of  late  there 
has  not  been  so  much  mining  in  the  coal  fields  at  this  point.  There 
have  been  two  shafts  sunk  near  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  on  the  west  side, 
both  of  them  about  80  feet  deep.  The  one  near  the  village,  by  the 
Illinois  Carbon  Coal  Company,  changed  hands  before  completed,  and 
has  not  been  worked.  The  Sparta  Steam  Shaft  is  about  -|  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  village,  on  the  east  side.  The  shaft  has  been  estab- 
lished about  7  years,  and  yields  a  good  quality  of  coal.  This  is  run 
at  present  by  Peter  .Dolan,  who  paid  out  for  mining,  during  the 
month  of  September,  1878,  $1,200.  Banks  have  been  opened  on  sec- 
tion 28,  by  H.  Rommel  and  Oliver  Stream,  south  of  the  village. 
About  one  mile  east  of  the  village  there  are  banks  worked  by  Robert 
Campbell,  Andrew  Johnson,  Henry  Bellamy,  Peter  Knight,  Milo 
Tompkins,  Robert  Thompson,  Ed.  McDermot,  Andrew  Danielson, 
Lewis  Nodine,  James  Taylor,  and  two  or  three  others,  whose  names 
we  do  not  have.  Price  of  coal  at  the  banks  at  the  present  time  is  5£ 
cents  per  bushel  of  80  Ibs.  There  have  been  but  few  accidents,  compara- 
tively, in  the  mines  in  Wataga  or  adjoining  territory.  Emanuel 
Harris  lost  his  life  by  the  bank  caving  in.  Wm.  Hitchey  was  fatally 
injured,  May  18,  1857,  in  the  air  shaft,  by  the  falling  of  clay.  He 
lived  but  three  or  four  days.  Paul  Convery,  Nov.  23,  1859,  lost  his 
life  by  the  bank  caving  in.  Peter  Cling,  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  17, 
1875,  fell  from  the  top  of  a  shaft  down  some  71  feet.  He  lived,  but 
had  to  have  one  leg,  the  left,  amputated.  A  visitor  from  the  East  was 
down  the  Sparta  Steam  Shaft,  when  the  platform  started  upward,  and 
his  head  was  caught  between  that  and  the  wall  of  the  shaft.  The 
result  was,  he  nearly  lost  his  scalp  and  skull,  but  lived  to  report  to 
his  friends. 


,  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  495 

ONTARIO    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  named  Ontario  at  a  meeting  of  its  citizens  in 
1850,  being  assembled  for  that  purpose,  by  the  order  of  the  Commis- 
sioners appointed  by  the  County  Court.  Many  of  them  were  formerly 
from  the  State  of  New  York,  and  they  named  the  township  after  the 
beautiful  lake  which  forms  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary  of  that 
State.  The  first  improvements  in  this  township  were  made  by  Alex- 
ander Williams,  in  1833,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30; 
which  consisted  in  breaking  and  fencing  20  acres.  This  property  was 
purchased  by  Isaac  Wetmore,  in  1836,  who  lived  at  that  time  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Rio  township.  G.  W.  Melton  settled  on  section  31,  that  same 
year.  A  cabin  previously  erected  on  this  quarter  section,  was  the 
first  building  in  the  township.  Both  these  gentlemen  are  still  living 
on  the  same  farms,  and  have  proven  themselves  first-class  farmers,  as 
well  as  good  citizens,  as  have  also  many  others  in  that  vicinity. 

As  an  agricultural  township,  Ontario  is  one  of  the  very  finest  in 
the  State.  Its  groves  and  orchards,  its  dwellings,  barns  and  out- 
buildings are  among  the  very  best ;  and  its  fine  stone  bridges  are 
unsurpassed.  This  township  is  without  a  parallel,  in  the  regularity 
of  its  roads,  although  its  highways  are  all  parallel,  or  cross  each 
other  at  right  angles,  and  its  roads  are  all  on  section  lines,  except  oner 
a  half  mile  in  length,  crossing  the  center  of  section  13.  The  first 
settlers  were  largely  from  Oneida  county,  New  York,  among  whom 
were  the  "Wetmores,  Chapmans,  Cranes,  Camps,  Mosher,  Hollister, 
Savage,  Powell,  and  others.  Among  the  early  officers  of  the  town- 
ship were  Wikoffs,  Hammonds,  Brott,  Butler,  Haskins  and  others. 
Before  it  was  organized,  April  3,  1853,  Rio  township  was  united  with 
it,  as  a  voting  precinct.  The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  precinct 
was  Royal  Hammond.  The  election  was  held  in  what  is  now  Rio 
township.  A  warm  time  was  had,  and  the  merits  of  the  Abolition 
candidate  hotly  discussed.  However,  he  was  elected,  and  after  the 
first  case,  which  proved  to  be  a  dog  case, — Thomas  v.  Maxwell , — in 
which  the  plaintiff  was  awarded  the  verdict,  the  Justice  was  declared 
"  white"  by  his  opponents.  The  first  child  born  in  this  township  was 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Melton,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Melton;  and 
is  now  Mrs.  Ralph  Yoris,  of  Oneida.  The  first  school-house  was  built 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32,  in  1839.  Ontario  township 
was  organized,  and  the  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the  school- 
house  on  section  32,  April  5,  ,1853.  I.  M.  Wetmore  was  moderator 
an  I  W.  J.  Savage  clerk.  After  adopting  the  order  of  business  for 
annual  meetings  and  the  usual  prelemminary  work  was  disposed  of, 
the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  as  the  first  officers  of  the  town- 


496  HISTORY   OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

ship:  Supervisor,  Edward  Crane;  Town  Clerk,  Wm.  J.  Savage; 
Assessor,  John  Bnrt;  Collector,  E.  C.  Brott;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  T. 
F.  P.  Wetmore;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  G.  W.  Melton,  James 
Hammond  and  John  Powell;  Constables,  E.  C.  Brott  and  J.  W. 
Crane;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Ezra  Chapman  and  S.  E.  Mosher. 
The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  as  Supervisors  of  Ontario 
township,  since  1853:  Ed.  Crane,  the  year  1853;  James  Hammond, 
1854-5-6-7;  W.  B.  LeBaron,  1858;  James  Hammond,  1859;  W.  B.  Le 
Baron,  1860-1-2-3-4;  A.  S.  Curtis,  1865;  Orin  Beadle,  1866-7-8-9 
70-1;  A.  S.  Curtis,  1872;  O.  B.  Beadle,  1873;  Ed.  Crane,  1874;  A. 
S.  Curtis,  1875-6;  Geo.  L.  Stephenson,  1877-8.  The  present  officers 
of  the  township  are:  Supervisor,  G.  L.  Stephenson;  Town  Clerk,  O. 
P.  Cooley;  Assessor,  B.  S.  "West;  Collector,  L.  Burt;  Commissioners 
of  Highways,  J.  C.  Burt,  1ST.  Fay  and  Wm.  Smith;  Constables,  F.  M. 
Doolittle  and  O.  Powell;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  E.  Shedd  and  D.  K. 
Drenkel. 

Religious  services  of  some  kind  were  maintained  by  the  early  set- 
tlers in  this  neighborhood  from  the  very  first.  After  the  school-house 
on  section  32  was  built,  preaching  was  kept  up  by  ministers  of  differ- 
ent denominations,  with  considerable  regularity.  Revs.  Waters, 
Bartlett,  Bremer,  Moore  and  Gale  were  among  the  ministers  who 
preached  the  gospel  here  then.  The  first  church  organization  was 
effected  by  the  Presbyterians,  in  1840,  Rev.  J.  G.  Wright  officiating, 
at  Henderson.  The  services  alternated  between  Henderson  village 
and  the  school-house,  in  Ontario,  then  called  the  Camp  school-house. 
This  church  is  now  extinct.  There  are  now  three  church  edifices  in 
Ontario  township  outside  of  Oneida. 

Several  immigrants  hailing  from  New  York  State  about  1837 
camped  near  the  southwest  corner  of  Ontario  township,  by  a  creek, 
during  the  winter.  They  split  some  rails,  and  in  the  spring  launched 
out  to  the  eastward  on  the  paririe,  put  up  a  rail  pen  and  moved  in, 
and  lived  there  during  that  summer,  but  erected  a  log  cabin  into 
which  they  removed  before  winter  set  in. 

MAQUON   TOWNSHIP. 

When  the  red  men  roamed  unmolested  over  this  beautiful  county 
their  principal  village  was  in  this  township,  on  Spoon  river.  As 
they  were  driven  westward  by  the  advance  of  civilization,  a  Mr.  Pal- 
mer, a  bee-hunter,  came  to  the  township  and  stopped  at  their  vacated 
village.  He  arrived  in  1828,  but  made  no  improvementin  the  way  of 
fencing,  or  preparing  a  permanent  home;  and  as  it  was  not  his  inten- 
tion to  remain,  he  could  not  be  termed  a  settler.  He  stayed  here  bu 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  497 

a  short  time,  when  he  removed  farther  west.  Interesting  remains  of 
this  Indian  village  and  of  their  burying  ground  are  found.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  their  trails,  as  marked  on  the  map  in  this  work,  lead  from 
near  the  town  of  Maquon. 

James  Millan  settled  on  section  25  in  1830.  Among  other  early  set- 
tlers were  Wm.  Darnell,  Wm.  Farmer  and  Mark  and  Thomas  Thurman. 
The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  Mark  Thurman.  The  first  death  was 
that  of  a  little  daughter  of  Mark  Thurman,  named  Rebecca,  who  was 
also  the  first  child  born  in  the  township.  The  first  marriage  was  that 
of  Elisha  Thurman  to  Miss  Anna  Hall.  Although  they  went  to 
Fulton  county  to  have  the  ceremony  performed,  yet  they  resided  in 
this  township  at  the  time.  The  first  school-house  was  erected  on  sec- 
tion 34  in  1834.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Benjamin  Brooks. 
In  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  on  section  4,  is  situated  the  town 
of  Maquon.  Spoon  river  passes  diagonally  across  the  township  in  a 
southwestern  direction.  The  township  contains  a  good  proportion  of 
prairie  and  timber  lands. 

HAW  CKEEK  TOWNSHIP. 

The  prairie  and  timber  land  of  this  township  is  finely  proportioned. 
Spoon  river  enters  at  section  1,  flowing  south  makes  its  exit  at  section 
35.  The  0.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad  makes  its  entrance  at  section  T,  running 
southeast,  converges  with  the  river.  The  town  of  Gilson  is  in  the 
township.  This  was  the  second  township  settled  in  the  county,  PJen- 
derson  being  the  first.  In  1829  Parnach  Owen,  then  a  young  man 
living  with  his  widowed  mother  in  Ohio,  had  a  strong  desire  to  go 
westward.  He  was  strongly  urged  to  remain  in  the  bounds  of  civili- 
zation, but  without  avail.  His  mother,  seeing  his  determination  to 
emigrate  to  a  new  country,  concluded  to  accompany  him.  Accord- 
ingly she  with  her  two  daughters  prepared  for  this  western  journey. 
Knox  county  was  their  destination,  and  in  September  of  that  year  they 
arrived  in  this  township,  where,  on  section  18,  they  erected  their  log 
cabin.  When  we  reflect  that  the  first  white  persons  inhabiting  this 
vast  region  of  country  were  a  widow  lady  and  her  children,  it  would 
seem  that  she  possessed  bravery  unequaled,  patience  untiring,  and  a 
devotion  and  love  for  her  son  that  would  permit  no  separation  but 
that  of  death.  Could  we  give  a  detailed  account  of  the  life  of  this 
noble  woman,  of  the  trials  and  hardships  and  sufferings  endured,  it 
would  be  read  with  great  interest.  Mrs.  Owen  and  family  moved  in- 
to Knoxville  soon  after  that  city  was  laid  off,  her  son  doing  the  sur- 
veying. Parnach  Owen  took  an  important  part  in  organizing  the 
county.  He  was  a  land  dealer  and  speculator,  and  we  are  told  that 


498  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

be  has  owned  more  land  in  Knox  county  than  any  other  man.  He 
died  in  Iowa,  Mrs.  Owen  in  Knoxville,  and  the  two  daughters  are 
still  living.  One  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Eice,  of-Lewistown;  the  other  the 
widow  of  the  late  John  G.  Sanburn  and  residing  in  Knoxville. 

James  Nevitt  came  to  the  township  in  the  early  part  of  1832.  The 
first  child  born  in  the  township  was  his  son,  Charles  Nevitt,  in  1832. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  Eleanor  Jarnagan.  in  the  winter  of  1834. 
The  first  school-house  was  built  on  section  8  in  1836,  and  the  first 
school  was  taught  by  James  or  Susan  Dempsey.  The  celebrated  Peter 
Cartwright  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  township  about  1831. 
Linneus  Eichmond  and  W.  W.  Dickerson  came  into  the  township  at 
an  early  day.  Mr.  Dickerson  came  in  1827.  He  remembers  hav- 
ing to  go  to  Chicago  for  salt  one  winter,  to  Peoria  to  mill,  and  many 
other  inconveniences.  Walter  Bell,  an  aged  resident  of  the  township, 
came  into  the  county  25  years  ago.  He  was  85  years  old  Aug.  2,  1878. 
He  is  one  of  the  few  surviving  veterans  of  the  war  of  1812.  He  also 
served  in  the  regular  army.  He  rode  on  the  first  horse  car  and  the  first 
steam  car  ever  run  in  the  United  States,  and  saw  the  first  steamboat 
run  on  Chesapeake  bay.  Mr.  Bell  enjoys  good  health,  is  able  to  be  up 
and  around,  and  will  probably  live  several  years  longer. 

PERSIFEK  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township,  which  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Copley,  on  the 
east  by  Truro,  on  the  south  by  Haw  Creek  and  on  the  west  by  Knox, 
is  largely  composed  of  timber  land.  There  are  some  as  fine  farms,  and 
wealthy,  enterprising  farmers  in  this  township  as  can  be  found  in  the 
State. 

B,.  C.  Benson  was  the  first  man  married  in  the  township.  He 
wedded  the  only  young  lady  in  the  township  that  was  old  enough  at 
that  time  to  be  a  bride.  She  was  Miss  S.  J.  Bradford,  daughter  ol 
Charles  Bradford.  Benson  came  to  the  township  in  1835,  and  was 
married  January  5,  1837.  After  his  arrival  he  took  a  claim  of  160 
acres,  and'after  building  a  cabin  and  breaking  six  acres,  sold  it  for 
$400  and  a  horse.  He  then  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
resides  with  the  same  money,  and  a  squatter's  cabin  for  $4.50,  which 
he  moved  upon  his  farm.  He  daubed  the  stick  chimney  with  blacl 
mud  or  soil,  and  the  first  rain  that  came  washed  the  chimney  down. 
For  another  chimney  Mr.  Benson  hollowed  out  a  large  sycamore  tree 
some  seven  feet  long  and  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  with  skids  rolled 
it  up  and  set  it  on  end  upon  the  jamb  of  the  fire-place.  This  made  a 
good  chimney  and  was  used  for  a  long  time.  The  floor  of  this  rude 
cabin  was  made  of  lin  puncheons;  the  door  was  made  of  walnut  boards 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  499 

fastened  to  battens  with  wooden  pins;  the  hinges  were  of  wood,  one 
piece  set  into  an  auger  hole  in  the  door  jamb  and  the  other  pinned  to 
the  door  so  as  to  connect  with  the  other  piece.  The  latch  was  also 
made  of  wood  with  a  buckskin  string  hanging  out,  inviting  neighbors 
and  weary  travelers  to  enter.  This  is  but  a  fair  sample  cf  many  of 
the  abodes  of  the  early  settlers  of  Persifer. 

Mr.  Benson  planted  two  cotton-wood  trees  in  front  of  his  house  39 
years  ago.  These  are  large  stately  trees  at  present.  The  life  of  Mr. 
Benson  is  but  a  sample  of  that  of  many  pioneers  of  Knox  county; 
and  we  feel  it  due  to  posterity  to  relate  a  more  detailed  description  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  lived, — of  the  hardships  and  trials  and  suffer- 
ings encountered  during  his  early  life  in  Persifer  township.  When 
he  came  to  the  township  he  was  exceedingly  poor;  he,  however, 
had  a  gun  and  an  old  horse;  with  these,  and  two  willing  hands  he 
started  out  to  make  a  farm.  He  did  not  have  even  any  grain  to  live 
on,  but  subsisted  mostly  on  game.  His  first  task  was  to  fence  in  a  small 
yard;  so  with  ax,  maul  and  wedge  he  went  to  the  timber.  He  could 
cut  the  trees  and  make  about  200  rails  per  day,  and  frequently  in  the 
evening  kill  a  deer.  They  were  seldom  out  of  venison  and  wild 
honey.  Deer  were  plentiful  at  that  time.  Mr.  Benson  tells  us  the 
largest  number  he  ever  saw  in  one  day  was  75,  and  the  largest  num- 
ber he  ever  shot  in  one  day  was  25.  The  most  he  ever  killed  and  got 
in  one  day  was  three.  Once  he  killed  two  at  one  shot.  The  largest 
number  of  bee-trees  found  in  one  day  was  six.  The  heaviest  ladened 
tree  he  ever  found  was  a  sycamore  on  Spoon  river.  From  this  tree 
he  secured  a  common  tub  full,  two  pails  and  several  sugar-troughs 
full.  The  tree  was  thin- shelled,  and  when  it  fell  it  split  wide  open. 
The  honey  ran  out  in  a  large  stream  upon  the  ground.  After  he  had 
filled  all  of  his  vessels  he  stood  in  honey  several  inches  deep!  He 
finally  managed  to  get  some  meal,  when  the  family  feasted  upon  mush 
and  milk,  venison  and  wild  honey  for  some  time. 

By  the  second  year  he  had  a  small  piece  of  land  ready  to  plant  in 
corn.  He  took  his  old  horse  and  laid  it  off.  His  wife  followed  and 
•  dropped  the  corn,  and  he  covered  it  with  a  plow.  They  had  a  large 
dog,  which  they  left  at  the  house  to  take  charge  of  their  child.  Snakes 
and  wolves,  and  other  dangerous  animals  were  numerous,  but  the 
faithful  dog  would  let  nothing  have  his  charge;  and  when  the  child 
would  trj7  to  crawl  away,  would  drag  it  back  into  the  house. 

The  first  Sabbath  school  of  Persifer  township  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Charles  Bradford  in  1838,  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Miles.  The  lesson  was 
ibout  the  three  Hebrew  children.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by 
28 


500  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

« 

Rev.  S.  S.  Miles,  June,  1836,  in  same  house.      The  first  school-house 
was  built  in  1841.     John  Mclntosh  was  teacher. 

Hon.  R.  W.  Miles  now  represents  the  township  in  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  has  filled  the  office  for  eighteen  years.  He  is  chair- 
man of  that  honorable  body,  John  W.  Manley,  James  M.  Maxey,  John 
Biarererstaff,  James  Dawsett  and  R.  C.  Benson  have  served  as  members 

<">» 

of  this  Board, — the  latter  by  appointment  to  fill  the  vacancy  made 
by  the  resignation  of  R.  W.  Miles. 

A  tribe  of  Indians  settled  or  located  on  Court  creek,  Persifer  town- 
ship, whose  custom  was  to  make  sugar  from  the  maple  trees.  They 
used  brass  kettles  in  which  to  boil  the  sap.  It  seems  one  spring,  after 
they  had  made  considerable  sugar,  they  were  compelled  to  leave. 
Among  the  Indians  was  a  squaw  and  her  son  called  "  Bill."  This 
woman  had  accumulated  great  wealth.  Not  being  able  to  carry  all  her 
money,  she  filled  one  of  her  kettles  with  gold  and  silver  and  buried 
it  on  the  bank  of  the  creek.  She  was  afraid  of  the  whites;  so  after 
reaching  her  destination  in  the  West  she  sent  her  son  back  after  her 
money.  Bill  made  extensive  searches  up  and  down  the  creek,  bu 
failed  to  find  it,  and  the  treasure  is  supposed  to  be  still  buried  some- 
where on  Court  creek.  On  the  Taylor  farm,  in  1841,  a  cellar  was 
being  dug,  when  at  a  depth  of  about  four  feet  three  bars  of  copper 
were  found.  These  had  been  forged  out  by  hand.  A  well  was  sunk, 
when  down  about  22  feet  the  remains  of  a  camp-fire  were  found.  Char- 
coal and  rubbish  were  discovered,  which  plainly  proved  that  at  one 
time,  within  the  life  of  man  here,  that  was  the  surface. 

COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 

» 

There  was  raised  in  this  township  last  year  (1877)  7,695  acres  of 
corn,  which  yielded  199,203  bushels.  But  187  acres  of  wheat  were 
sown,  which  produced  a  crop  of  2,434  bushels;  1,136  acres  were 
devoted  to  oats,  with  a  yield  of  29,810  bushels.  There  were  308  acres 
of  rye,  from  which  were  harvested  5,433  bushels.  On  the  whole,  in 
the  production  of  these  cereals,  Copley  ranks  favorably  with  any  other 
township  in  Knox  county.  Its  lands  are  mostly  prairie.  There  are, 
however,  some  fine  tracts  of  timber  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
township.  It  is  supposed  that  Larkin  Robinson  was  the  first  pioneer, 
he  having  settled  on  section  18,  in  1837.  John  McDowell  settled  on 
section  16,  the  following  year.  He  afterwards  removed  to  section  14, 
where  he  died  in  1867.  His  son,  John  McDowell,  Jr.,  resides  in  the 
township,  at  present.  A  son  of  Matthew  Herbert  was  the  first  child 
born  in  Copley. 

The  number  of  acres  of  improved  land  in  this  township  is  21,360; 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  501 

of  unimproved  lands  1,183;  total  valuation  of  both  $399,214.  Of 
corn  grown  in  1878  there  were  8,229  acres;  wheat,  234  acres;  oats, 
1,523  acres.  Of  meadow  there  are  2,311  acres;  of  orchard,  184  acres; 
>f  woodland,  1,866  acres.  Value  of  town  lots,  $7,920.  There  are  781 
lorses  in  this  township,  valued  at  $29,501;  cattle,  1,680,  valued  at 
$22,401;  of  mules  there  are  21,  valued  at  $1,065;  sheep,  666,  valued 
at  $1,162;  hogs,  3,180,  valued  at  $7,931;  carriages  and  wagons,  303, 
/alued  at  $6,263;  piano-fortes,  3,  valued  at  $190.  Total  value  of 
farming  implements  and  machinery  is  $6,843.  Total  value  of  per- 
sonal property  in  the  township  is  $130,988. 

WALNUT   GROVE   TOWNSHIP. 

John  Thompson  was  the  first  permanent  settler.  He  was  originally 
rom  Pennsylvania,  but  removed  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  July,  1836, 
and  settled  in  Knox  county,  on  section  16,  the  present  site  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Altona.  Previous  to  this  Jones  and  DePIart  settled  on 
section  21,  but  were  scared  away  by  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1832. 
Mr.  Thompson's  nearest  neighbor  lived  at  Fraker's  Grove,  eleven 
miles  distant. 

During  the  years  1836-7  a  band  of  Indians,  about  30  in  number, 
camped  for  a  short  time  just  west  of  Mr.  John  Thompson's  residence, 
and  near  the  present  high-school  building  of  Altona.  An  old  Indian 
and  his  squaw  remained  long  after  the  body  of  Indians  left,  and  most 
excellent  neighbors  they  were. 

John  Thompson,  Jr.,  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  this  township. 
The  second  child  was  Helen  Maria  Ward,  now  Mrs.  A.  P.  Stephens, 
of  Creston,  Iowa.  In  1838,  Mr.  Ward  made  the  first  wagon  tracks 
ever  made  between  Walnut  Grove  and  Yictoria. 

At  one  time  Walnut  Grove  township  was  the  home  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  Mormons.  It  was  revealed  to  Joe  Smith,  the  prophet,  that  a 
branch  church  should  be  established,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this 
beautiful  land  should  yield  up  a  portion  of  their  increase  to  the  build- 

Iing  of  a  temple,  sacred  to  the  Mormon  religion.  While  the  great 
head  of  the  church  was  at  Nauvoo,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  it  was 
intended  that  a  branch  church  should  be  established  here,  and  a 
society  of  about  100  members  was  organized.  The  citizens  generally 
were  very  much  opposed  to  this  plan,  and  a  very  strong  intimation, 
backed  up  by  the  most  resolute  and  hardy  land  proprietors,  to  the 
effect  that  the  property  of  the  Mormons  and  the  temple  of  the 
prophet  would  not  in  an  emergency  be  protected  by  them,  resulted 
in  a  new  "  revelation,"  commanding  them  all  to  leave  their  homes  and 
go  to  Hancock  county  where  the  main  body  of  Mormons  had  settled. 


502  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

This  they  all  strictly  obeyed,  many  of  them  making  great  sacrifices  in 
so  doing. 

Amos  Ward  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  the  township.  He  held 
the  office  for  a  long  term  of  years,  when  it  was  much  more  trouble- 
some than  remunerative.  A  little  drawer  in  a  book-case  served  as  a 
deposit  for  all  the  mail,  for  ten  years. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  about  the  year  1841.  It  was  con- 
structed of  logs,  and  was  16x16  feet.  Mary  Frail,  now  Mrs.  Tupper, 
of  Altona,  was  the  first  female  teacher,  and  Eugeite  Gross,  who  sub- 
sequently has  figured  quite  prominently  in  the  Legislature  of  this 
State,  the  first  male  teacher.  The  character  of  the  school  was  good. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  was  Simeon  L.  Collison,  who 
resides  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  He  came  from  England 
to  the  United  States  in  1830,  and  to  Knox  county  in  1838.  About 
the  first  lawsuit  in  the  neighborhood  was  for  the  ownership  of  a  tree. 
The  contestants  were  so  fierce  as  to  come  to  blows.  The  case  was 
tried  before  a  jury,  in  a  log  cabin.  After  all  the  evidences  were 
taken,  the  jury  retired  to  a  small  rail  pen,  to  decide  upon  the  merits 
of  the  question. 

SALEM   TOWNSHIP. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  this  excellent  township  were  Solomon 
Sherwood,  Henry  Dalton,  Alexander  Taylor,  Felix  Thurman, 
Avery  Dalton,  Benona  Hawkins,  John  Darnell,  Sala  Blakeslee, 
William  Kent,  John  Thurman,  and  John  Haskins.  Taylor  arrived 
first,  and  settled  on  section  5.  The  first  birth  was  Laura,  daughter  of 
John  Haskins,  in  1835.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Avery  Dalton, 
to  Delilah  Dalton.  The  first  death  was  Anderson  Corbine,  in  the 
summer  of  1835.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Henry 
Summers,  on  section  13,  on  the  4th  of  November,  1836.  Emeline 
Shinn  was  the  first  to  die  in  the  township,  on  the  9th  of  August, 
1839.  The  first  postoffice  was  established  at  a  place  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  township,  called  Middle  Grove.  The  first  school  was 
taught  by  Abid  Drew,  on  section  13,  in  1838.  The  first  Justice  of 
the  Peace  was  William  Davis.  There  are  three  towns  in  this  town- 
ship, and  more  miles  of  railroad  than  in  any  other  township  in  the 
county  except  Galesburg.  The  first  frame  building  in  Salem  town- 
ship was  erected  by  Sala  Blakeslee,  in  1837.  It  was  a  barn,  30  by  40 
feet  in  size;  and  burned  down  the  same  year.  Mr.  Blakeslee  also 
brought  the  first  timothy  seed  into  the  township,  in  1834.  On  his 
farm  are  ten  chestnut  trees,  growing  from  seeds  planted  by  him,  in 
1810.  Thev  will  now  measure  two  feet  in  diameter.  He  also  has  a 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  503 

rail  fence,  which  is  lemarkable  for  its  perfect  state  of  preservation. 
In  32  rods,  which  was  built  in  1844,  there  are  not  more  than  five  rails 
but  what  are  sound  and  good  yet.  It  has  never  been  re-set.  He 
claims  that  the  rails  do  not  rot,  for  the  reason  that  they  were  cut  in 
August,  and  the  fence  laid  while  the  moon  was  in  its  last  quarter.  He 
has  logs  in  a  corn-crib  that  were  cut  in  1829,  and  gate  posts  that  were 
cut  in  1832. 

This  is  one  of  the  corner  townships  of  the  county,  and  joins  Fulton 
county  on  the  south  and  Peoria  on  the  east.  The  soil  is  fertile  and 
the  landscape  beautiful.  Indeed,  one  of  the  finest  views  in  Knox 
county  is  obtainable  from  Summit  in  this  township. 

ELBA    TOWNSHIP. 

In  the  year  1835  or  '36  John  King  erected  a  cabin  on  section  2  of 
this  township.  This  was  the  first  attempt  known  to  settle  this  section 
of  beautiful  country.  In  1836  came  Darius  Miller  and  his  brother, 
who  was  familiarly  known  among  the  pioneers  as  King  Miller.  Soon 
followed  John  Thurman,  Jacob  Kightlinger,  L.  A.  Jones  and  J.  H. 
Nicholson. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  Moses  Smith  to 
Miss  Tabitha  George,  by  Jacob  Kightlinger.  The  first  death  occurring 
was  that  of  John  King,  the  first  settler,  who  died  in  1836,  the  year 
after  his  arrival.  The  first  birth  was  Tabitha  Smith,  on  section  35. 
Jacob  Kightlinger  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  commission 
was  dated  August,  1839.  Here  lived  the  Rev.  John  Cross,  who 
figured  so  prominently  in  the  management  of  the  Underground 
Railroad,  and  of  whom  soiiie  quite  interesting  sketches  may  be  found 
in  the  chapter  on  that  road  in  this  book.  It  is  said  he  preached  the 
first  sermon  at  the  house  of  John  Tucker  on  section  1,  in  the  year 
1841,  but  we  find  Rev.  S.  S.  Miles  preached  in  April,  1839,  two  years 
before  Mr.  Cross  preached  in  this  township.  From  the  year  1837  to 
1850  there  had  been  a  gradual  increase  of  population.  During  these 
years  they  began  to  think  of  the  need  of  some  educational  facilities, 
and  in  1842  a  school-house  was  built.  Religious  services  were  held 
in  the  school-house  soon  after  its  erection,  the  first  being  by  the 
United  Brethren  denomination,  with  Mr.  Cady  as  leader  and  preacher. 

In  1867  a  Good  Templars'  lodge  was  'organized,  which  met  for 
some  time  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  Jerman,  then  occupied  by  Mr. 
John  Lewis.  The  society  flourished,  and  in  1869  built  the  Good 
Templars1  Hall,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  school-house.  It  was 
a  one-story  wooden  structure;  and  as  the  members  of  the  order  be- 


504  HISTORY    OF  KNOX   COUNTY. 

came  scattered,  and  the  lodge  discouraged,  it  was  sold  in  1876,  and 
removed  by  Mr.  Jerome  Ctirtiss  and  used  as  a  dwelling. 

A  post-office  was  established  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township, 
section  15,  in  April,  1870,  under  the  name  of  "  Spoon  River."  In 
January,  1871,  the  name  was  changed  to  Elba  Centre.  Miss  Rebecca 
Boyce  was  selected  as  postmistress,  and  has  retained  the  position  to 
the  present  time. 

In  the  spring  of  1872,  the  old  school-house  was  remodeled  and  mod- 
ernized, and  in  the  following  year  a  hall  was  built  opposite  in  which 
to  transact  township  business. 

Two  churches  were  built  in  1874, — one  by  the  Methodists  a  mile 
west  of  the  Centre  corners,  the  other  by  the  Presbyterians  a  mile  to 
the  north  of  the  same  pomt.  The  first  was  dedicated  in  June  by 
President  Evans  of  Hedding  College,  Abingdon,  and  the  latter  in 
September  by  a  minister  from  Galesburg. 

TRURO    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  contains  a  greater  number  of  miles  of  Spoon  river 
than  any  other  township  in  the  county.  That  river  touches  17 
sections,  which  is,  seemingly,  as  many  as  is  possible  for  the  same 
number  of  miles  of  a  stream  to  cross  in  running  through  a  township. 
The  first  settler  in  Truro  was  John  Dill,  who  came  to  the  township 
in  1832,  and  erected  his  cabin  on  section  19.  Malon  Winans,  United 
States'  Mail  Carrier,  was  the  first  person  meeting  with  death  in  this 
township.  He  lived  in  Lewistown,  Fulton  county,  and  was  making 
his  first  trip  with  the  mail.  O.  M.  Ross,  who  came  into  Fulton 
county  in  1822,  carried  the  mail  between  Springfield  and  Monrnouth 
for  some  years,  or  rather  it  was  carried  by  his  son,  Harvey  L.,  who, 
when  he  began  in  1832,  was  but  15  years  of  age.  In  1834  Mr. 
Ross  let  out  a  part  of  the  route,  from  Lewistown  to  Monmouth,  to  a 
relative  of  his,  Malon  Winans.  Mr.  Winans  had  a  son  whom  he  in- 
tended to  put  upon  the  route,  but  concluded  to  go  over  it  himself  first 
that  he  might  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  stopping-places. 
But  his  first  trip  was  his  last,  for  in  attempting  to  swim  Spoon  river 
with  the  mail-bag  strapped  to  his  back,  he  was  drowned. 

The  first  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  the  township  was  by 
Rev.  J.  Cummings  in  1833,  when  he  united  Jake  Ryan  and  Miss 
Stambaugh.  The  first  birth  was  Andrew  Dill,  in  1833.  The  first 
sermon  was  preached  at  the  residence  of  Widow  Lambert  on  section 
31,  in  1834,  by  Rev.  John  Cummings.  A  ferry  was  established  on 
Spoon  river  at  section  30,  in  1834,  by  John  Coleman. 

On  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  31,  Truro  township,  on  the 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  507 

land  afterward  owned  by  Charles  Bradford,  a  number  of  Indian  graves 
were  found  when  the  first  white  settlers  came  there.  The  corpses 
had  been  buried  in  the  forks  of  the  trees  ten  to  fifteen  feet  above  the 
ground.  Logs  had  been  split  in  halves  and  excavated  for  coffins;  the 
forks  of  the  trees  were  cut  away  with  their  tomahawks  sufficiently  to 
let  them  in,  and  the  rude  coffins  there  rested  with  their  skeleton  con- 
tents, until  about  1836  the  whites  took  them  down  and  buried  them  in 
the  earth. 

VICTORIA   TOWNSHIP. 

Victoria  township  lies  in  the  northeast  part  of  Knox  county,  and 
was  named  in  honor  of  Queen  Yictoria.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by 
Stark  county,  south  by  Truro  township,  on  the  west  by  Copley  town- 
ship, and  on  the  north  by  Lynn  township.  It  is  well  interspersed 
with  timber  and  prairie,  rock  is  found  in  large  quantities  good  for 
building  purposes,  and  coal  is  abundant.  The  whole  township  is  un- 
derlaid with  coal,  yet  the  land  is  good  and  rich,  producing  abundant 
crops.  In  her  mineral  resources  she  has  a  mine  which  when  worked 
will  produce  abundant  remuneration  to  the  laborer. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  this  township  was  in  1835,  by  Edward 
Brown,  John  Essex  and  Mr.  Frazier.  They  were  soon  followed  by 
John  Smith,  Wm.  Overlander,  Moses  Robinson,  Moody  Robinson, 
Archibald  Robinson,  Charles  Bostic,  John  Arnold,  Passons  Aldrige,  H. 
Shurtliff,  and  Conrad  Smith,  who  settled  on  section  30  in  1838.  He 
died  about  ten  years  ago  leaving  a  large  family  to  mourn  his  loss.  This 
family  consisted  of  8  boys  and  5  girls.  Some  15  to  20  years  ago  these 
children  were  scattered  into  the  following  States  and  Territories:  Illi- 
nois, California,  Oregon,  Nevada,  Washington  and  Utah.  They 
have  all,  however,  gathered  back  into  Knox  county  save  two,  one  of 
whom  lives  just  over  the  line  in  Stark  county,  the  other  in  the  edge  of 
Peoria  county.  So  near  together  are  they  living  that  all  of  them  can 
be  reached  in  one  day  by  one  person.  It  is  seldom  that  a  large  family 
so  widely  scattered  afterward  settle  down  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  Moody  Robinson,  born  November  16, 1836,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township.  She  is  now  the  wife  of 
Manford  Mosier.  Mrs.  Frazier  died  in  1837,  being  the  first  death  in 
the  township.  The  first  marriage  was  Peter  Sornberger  to  Miss  Phebe 
Wilbur,  in  1838.  She  is  now  living  with  her  son,Briggs  Sornberger, 
in  the  bounds  of  the  township.  G.  F.  Reynolds  built  the  first  house 
on  the  prairie  in  1837,  near  the  present  site  of  Yictoria:  both  he  and 
his  aged  companion  are  still  living.  Passons  Aldrige  was  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  he  being  elected  in  1837.  Charles  B  >stic,  a 


508 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Methodist  local  preacher,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  house  of 
Moses  Robinson  in  1836.  Salem  school-house  was  the  first  seat  of 
learning;  it  was  about  one 'mile  northwest  of  the  present  site,  and  was 
built  in  1837.  G.  F.  Reynolds,  E.  Smith,  S.  Locke,  Rev.  J.  J.  Hed- 
strom,  Isaiah  Berry,  Peter  Yan  Buren,  Alexander,  Peter  and  Anson 
Sornberger,  M.  C.  Hubbell,  Edward  Boyer,  the  Shurtliffs,  Smiths  and 
Olmsteds,  with  others,  were  among  the  early  settlers. 

The  town  was  first  organized  under  the  township  organization  law, 
April  5,  1853,  when  J.  L.  Jarnagan  was  elected  Supervisor;  Moses 
Robinson  and  John  P.  Smith,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  C.  A.  Shurtliff 
and  Seneca  Mosier,  Constables;  C.  A.  Shurtliff, Collector;  B.  Youngs, 
Assessor;  J.  F.  Hubbell,  Clerk;  J.  W.  Mosier,  Peter  Van  Buren  and 
A.  B.  Coddling,  Commissioners  of  Highways. 

The  first  church  was  built  in  the  village  in  1851;  it  was  the  Con- 
gregational, with  S.  G.  Wright  as  its  pastor.  The  next  church  was 
the  Swede  Methodist  Episcopal,  which  was  built  in  1854.  This  church 
also  has  a  branch  society  six  miles  southeast,  yet  in  the  township,  that 
is  served  by  the  same  minister  that  preaches  in  the  village.  The  next 
church  in  Victoria  was  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  which  was  organized 
about  1841.  Besides  these  there  is  now  a  Free  Methodist  church,  six 
miles  southeast  of  the  village,  in  Victoria  township.  The  Mormons 
once  had  an  organization  in  the  south  part  of  the  township,  with  some 
18  members.  This  church  is  scattered;  yet  there  are  quite  a  number 
that  hold  to  the  faith,  but  have  no  church  organization,  having  re- 
moved their  membership  elsewhere.  The  Second  Adventists  have 
had  an  organization  in  this  township,  but  they  have  principally 
moved  away. 

LYNN  TOWNSHIP. 

Lynn  township  has  some  features  peculiar  to  itself.  For  instance, 
it  is  without  a  church,  town  or  postoffice  within  its  limits,  which  can 
be  said  of  no  other  township  in  the  county.  But  with  all  the  incon- 
veniences and  want  of  high  moral  sentiment  such  a  statement  would 
generally  imply,  we  find  Lynn  favored  with  postoffices  at  convenient 
and  accessible  points,  and  her  people  are  not  excelled  in  moral  tone 
by  those  of  any  other  section  in  the  county.  Indeed  their  reputation 
in  this  direction  has  justly  attained  so  high  a  standard  that  we  shall 
class  this  one  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  township.  Substantia- 
ting this  is  the  highly  commendable  statement  that  no  person  has  ever 
been  fined  in  the  township  for  the  violation  of  law;  neither  was  there 
ever  an  indictment  found,  or  suit  brought  in  the  Circuit  Court  against 
any  citizen  of  Lynn  for  a  criminal  offense.  Her  people,  however,  en- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  509 

joy  the  elevating;  influences  of  the  churches  in  the  surrounding  towns, 
some  of  which  are  accessible  to  all  parts  of  the  township.  The  school 
buildings  and  the  character  of  the  schools  of  this  township  are  second 
to  none  in  Knox  county.  The  soil  of  the  township  is  fertile,  well 
drained  and  supplied  with  timber,  a  beautiful  grove  being  in  its  midst. 
On  the  southern  edge  of  this  grove,  in  the  spring  of  1830,  Michael 
Fraker  located,  being  the  first  settler  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county.  His  original  cabin,  and  the  oldest  house  now  standing  in  the 
county,  erected  in  1830,  is  occupied  by  R.  Harrison.  This  same  log 
house,  when  owned  by  Alden  Bennett,  was  about  twelve  years  ago 
adorned  with  blinds  by  E.  Child,  of  Oneida,  and  to-day  is  one  of  the 
substantial  farm  houses  of  Lynn  township.  It  was  erected  by  Mr. 
Fraker  on  section  23,  but  at  present  stands  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  section  16. 

Mr.  Fraker  was  a  regular  pioneer  genius,  always  ready  to  adapt 
himself  to  any  unfavorable  surroundings.  His  genius  was  displayed, 
shortly  after  his  arrival,  in  constructing  a  hand  mill  to  grind  his 
neighbors'  and  his  own  grain.  The  burrs  were  about  two  feet  in  di- 
ameter, and  were  made  out  of  stone  called  hard-head.  Such  stones  are 
occasionally  found  singly  scattered  over  the  country.  This  mill 
proved  a  blessing,  for  when  the  water  mills  through  that  part  of 
country  failed,  the  neighbors  went  to  the  Fraker  mill,  which  stood  in 
the  living  room  of  the  family.  Mr.  Edward  Sellon  tells  us  that 
many  are  the  times  that  he  has  gone  there  to  grind  corn  and  buck- 
wheat for  food  for  his  family.  Two  persons  could  grind  one-half  a 
bushel  of  wheat  on  this  mill  in  an  hour,  or  one  bushel  of  corn  or  buck- 
wheat in  the  same  time.  William  Dun  bar  purchased  the  original 
burrs,  as  he  kept  a  public  house  requiring  a  large  amount  of  flour 
and  meal.  Sometimes  25  to  30  men,  who  were  looking  for  land, 
would  be  there  over  night.  "Washington  Dunbar  was  the  principal 
miller.  Being  unable  to  bolt  the  flour  or  meal,  Mrs.  Dunbar  used 
sieves  of  two  grades  before  preparing  to  cook  either.  Before  purchas- 
ing the  old  Fraker  mill,  however,  they  made  a  mortar  mill  by  boring, 
chopping  and  burning  into  the  top  of  a  burr-oak  stump  which  stood 
some  20  rods  from  their  house.  This  by  use  became  as  hard  and 
smooth  as  a  stone.  A  spring  pole  with  pestle  attached  to  break  the 
grain  was  even  a  much  harder  and  slower  process  than  the  hand  mill 
afforded;  besides,  it  was  not  nearly  so  good. 

In  1830,  when  the  county  was  organized  through  the  interposition 
and  influence  of  Riggs  Pennington,  the  two  townships  adjoining 
Lynn  and  Victoria  township  in  Stark  county  were  included  within 
the  boundaries  of  this  county.  La  Fayette  was,  during  its  early  his- 


510  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

tory,  in  Knox  county.  At  the  session  of -the  Legislature  of  1836-7, 
an  act  "  for  the  formation  of  the  county  of  Coffee  "  was  passed  and 
approved.  This  new  county  was  to  comprise  nine  townships,  six  of 
which  were  to  be  taken  from  Putnam,  one  from  Henry  and  two  from 
Knox.  The  two  townships  taken  from  this  county  were  to  be  the  two 
referred  to  above,  and  which  were  subsequently  taken.  The  formation 
of  Coffee  county  was,  however,  defeated  by  the  voters  of  Knox  county. 
A  more  vigorous  attempt  to  form  Coffee  county  was  made  in  1838, 
but  proved  futile.  In  1839,  after  great  difficulty  and  a  close  contest, 
Stark  county  was  organized  and  townships  12  and  13  north,  5  east, 
were  taken  from  Knox  and  added  to,  or  aided  in  forming  Stark 
county. 

The  first  couple  of  Lynn  township  to  be  united  in  marriage  were 
William  Hitchcock  and  Julia  Fraker.  They  were  married  in  Knox- 
ville.  The  second  marriage,  or  the  first  performed  marriage  cere- 
mony in  the  settlement,  was  that  of  Peter  Miner  and  Matilda  Smith, 
by  Esquire  Fitch.  At  the  appointed  time  the  parties  arrived  at  the 
cabin  of  the  'Squire,  also  some  young  companions  of  the  groom  to  wit- 
ness the  ceremony.  The  happy  pair  placed  themselves  in  position, 
when  'Squire  Fitch  in  a  dignified  manner  began  the  ceremony.  When 
about  half  through,  Mr.  Miner  suddenly  interrupted  him  by  exclaim- 
ing, "Hold  on,  'Squire,"  at  the  same  time  drawing  a  paper  from  his 
pocket  and  handing  it  to  him,  saying,  with  a  broad  grin  on  his  coun- 
tenance, "  I  reckon,  'Squire,  you  would  like  to  see  this  'ere  paper  be- 
fore you  go  any  further,"  handing  him  their  license.  Mr.  Fitch,  evi^ 
dently  embarrassed,  hastily  exclaimed,  "  Why,  yes  lyes!  "  and  com- 
menced reading  the  document  aloud.  He  commenced  at  the  begin- 
ning again  to  tie  the  knot,  when,  just  as  the  happy  pair  were  pro- 
nounced man  and  wife,  down  came  one  of  the  'Squire's  large  turkey 
gobblers  through  the  old  stick  chimney  into  the  room!  The  newly 
made  benedict  seized  the  turkey,  claiming  it  as  a  gift  sent  from  above 
especially  for  the  occasion.  This  couple  in  after  years  proved  to  be 
among  the  most  worthy  and  respectable  of  the  community. 

In  1851  the  streams  of  Lynn  were  higher  than  were  ever  known 
before  or  since.  Especially  was  this  so  of  Walnut  creek.  At  the 
Gibbs  saw-mill,  located  on  this  creek,  the  water  rose  to  the  eaves  of 
the  building,  sweeping  away  lumber,  logs  and  fences,  although  the 
mill  and  dam  withstood  the  fury  of  the  current.  Every  seventh  year, 
for  a  long  period,  was  noted  as  being  a  wet  season.  Especially  were 
the  years  1844, 1851  and  1858  noticeable  for  this.  During  the  winter 
of  1855-6  apple  and  other  fruit  trees,  together  with  the  osage,  were 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COTJNTY.  511 

greatly  injured  by  the  severe  cold  weather.  The  osage  was  killed 
down  to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  ground. 

There  is  a  good  Town  Hall  in  the  center  of  the  township,  open  and 
free  for  all  moral  public  gatherings.  Since  1855  the  township  has 
given  a  Republican  majority. 

When  the  last  draft  during  the  rebellion  was  ordered,  Lynn  had 
only  90  men  subject  to  military  service,  but  furnished  its  quota  of 
21  men. 


512  HISTOKY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

BLOODED  STOCK. 

If  there  is  one  interest  of  greater  importance  to  the  farmers  of 
Knox  county  than  any  other  it  is  that  of  stock-raising.  Many  have 
realized  this,  and  have  turned  their  attention  largely  to  this  branch 
of  agriculture;  and  the  result  is  that  Knox  county  can  boast  of  the 
finest  stock,  especially  of  cattle,  of  any  county  in  the  State.  While 
this  chapter  is  headed  as  if  to  treat  on  stock  indiscriminately,  yet  as 
cattle  are  receiving,  and  have  received,  more  attention  than  any  other 
class  of  domestic  animals,  we  shall  devote  most  of  the  space  to  cattle. 
As  thoroughbred  stock  was  introduced  into  Knox  county  at  a  very 
early  day,  as  early  indeed  as  in  almost  any  part  of  the  State,  we  will 
speak  of  the  first  introduction  of  such  stock  into  Illinois.  The  first, 
perhaps,  that  were  brought  into  the  State  were  by  James  N.  Brown, 
in  1834,  when  he  arrived  in  Sangamon  county  with  the  progenitors  of 
his  afterwards  famed  herd  of  "Island  Grove."  Some  grades  of  the 
"Patton"  stock  are  said  to  have  been  found  in  Madison  and  in  some 
other  southern  counties,  even  earlier.  G.  W.  Fagg,  of  Perry  county, 
advertised  a  short-horn  bull  in  the  Union  Agriculturist  in  1841. 
The  Prairie  Farmer  notices  the  Devons  of  James  McConnell,  near 
Springfield,  in  1843.  A  letter  of  Gov.  Lincoln,  of  Massachusetts,  to 
Gov.  Reynolds,  of  Illinois,  published  in  the  Union  Agriculturist  for 
1841,  shows  that  the  former  sent  some  crosses  of  Ayrshire  and  short- 
horn cattle  to  a  son  in  Alton  that  year,  which  was,  perhaps,  the  first 
introduction  of  Ayrshire  blood  even  in  "a  diluted  state.  The  Prairie 
Fanner,  in  1844,  chronicles  the  arrival  at  Chicago  of  an  imported 
short-horn  for  Bronson  Murray,  of  La'^Salle  county.  By  the  time  of 
holding  the  first  State  Fair  at  Springfield,  in  1851,  the  short-horn  ap- 
peared in  very  respectable  numbers,  and  Devons,  although  not  much 
shown,  were  said  by  the  Prairie  Fanner  to  be  already  found  in 
quantity  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  In  1857  the  formation  of 
the  Illinois  Stock  Importing  Association,  and  their  importations  and 
sales,  amongtother  animals,  of  twenty-seven  short-horns,  increased  the 
interest  in  breeding. 

The  first  thoroughbred  cattle  brought  into  Knox  county  was  by 
Israel  Marshall,  in  1846,  at  which  time  he  brought  some  Durhams 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  513 

from  Kentucky  into  Cedar  township.  This  did  much  to  improve 
the  native  stock  at  that  time,  Mr.  Marshall  yet  lives  in  Cedar,  a  very 
old  man,  being  over  90  years  old.  He  has  lived  to  see  a  vast  im- 
provement in  the  stock  of  the  county.  ~No  special  interest  was  taken 
in  thoroughbred 4cattle  for  several  years'after  they^were  introduced  by 
Mr.  Marshall.  Some  short-horns  were  brought  here  in  1860  by  Peter 
Godfrey,  who  is  the  first  man  from  Knox  county  to  have  a  record  of 
thoroughbred  stock  made  in  the  "American  Herd  Book."  In  1862 
the  nucleus  of  Mrs.  E.  J.  By  ram's  herd  were  brought  here  from  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  A.  J.  Dunlap,  of  Galesburg  township,  brought  some  to 
the  county  about  the  same  time.  From  that  time  to  1870  great  in- 
terest was  taken  in  improving  the  cattle  stock  of  this  county,  and 
many  small  purchases  were  made  from  Byram,  Dunlap,  and  also  from 
the  best  herds  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  by  other  gentlemen  in  the 
county,  many  of  which  have  grown  to  be  large  and  worthy  herds.  A 
large  number  of  short-horns  were  shipped  from  Kentucky  to  Gales- 
burg  in  the  years  1872-3  and  1874,  and  sold  at  public  auction.  The 
people  in  general  were  alive  to  the  importance  of  improving  their 
stock,  and  consequently  these  shipments  proved  to  be  very  remunera- 
tive to  the  interested  parties,  and  highly  beneficial  to  the  stock-raisers 
of  the  county.  The  result  of  these  importations  and  a  scientific 
knowledge  of  breeding  and  the  expenditure  of  vast  sums  of  money 
and  close  attention,  has  placed  Knox  county  in  the  very  front  rank  of 
the  counties  of  Illinois  in  the  raising  of  fine  cattle.  The  final  grand 
result  of  all  this  outlay  of  time,  labor  and  money  is  that  dealers  and 
purchasers  of  blooded  cattle  are  coining  to  this  county  to  buy  them, 
instead  of  going  to  Kentucky.  As  a  proof  of  this  statement,  we  need 
but  to  refer  to  the  shipments  made  by  one  gentleman  engaged  in  rais- 
ing thoroughbred  cattle.  Mr.  J.  S.  Latiiner,  proprietor  of  Cedar 
Farm,  Cedar  township,  has  shipped  to  the  "West,  principally  to  Chey- 
enne, Wyoming  Territory,  over  500  bulls  and  80  cows  and  heifers 
during  the  last  five  years.  The  shipments  made  thus  far  this  year 
number  175  cattle. 

Recently  there  has  been  introduced  into  Knox  county  the  Holstein 
breed  of  cattle,  which  will,  no  doubt,  raise  still  higher  the  standard  of 
the  cattle  stock.  Samuel  Chapman  &  Son,  of  Ontario  township, 
brought  their  fine  herd  of  Holstein  in  the  spring  of  1876.  It  con- 
sisted of  Siegel  (male),  No.  124;  Camper  Down,  No.  103,  and  Lady 
Young,  females.  The  last  was  imported  too  late  to  appear  in  volume 
2,  American  Herd  Book,  but  will  be  recorded  in  the  succeeding  vol- 
ume. "W.  "W.  Green,  of  Maquon,  brought  his  herd  of  this  class  a  few 
months  prior  to  Chapman. 


514:  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Sheep  were  not  very  extensively  raised  in  the  primitive  days,  when 
wolves  were  plentiful  in  these  parts.  The  first  flock  of  sheep,  per- 
haps, that  were  brought  into  Knox  county  were  brought  from  Ken- 
tucky by  Rev.  H.  H.  Kellogg  and  Olmsted  Ferris  in  1842.  This 
flock  numbered  about  1,500  head.  Dexter  Farr  and  Weston  Ferris 
drove  them  from  Kentucky  to  this  county.  Calvin  A.  Cole  took  the 
first  load  of  wool  sheared  from  these  sheep — consequently  the  first 
from  this  county — to  Chicago  in  June,  1843.  On  his  return  Mr.  Cole 
brought  a  load  of  leather  made  in  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  from 
hides  sent  there  by  Olmsted  Ferris  the  year  before.  The  next  year 
Cole  took  another  load  of  wool  to  Chicago,  and  brought  back  the  cloth 
made  of  the  wool  carried  the  year  previous.  This  cloth  was  also 
made  at  Herkimer.  In  184-5  Mr.  Ferris  imported  six  full-blood 
Merino  bucks  from  Yermont,  which  were  the  first  Merinos  brought 
to  the  county. 

The  improvement  in  the  hog  stock  of  the  county  is,  perhaps,  more 
noticeable  than  that  of  any  other  class  of  domesticated  animals.  Since 
the  arrival  of  Daniel  Robertson  and  his  brother,  in  1828,  with  80 
head  of  hogs  bred  and  raised  entirely  in  the  timber,  and  almost  alto- 
gether upon  the  roots  and  acorns  of  the  native  forests,  there  has  been 
untold  numbers  of  these  animals  raised  in  Knox  county.  It  would 
take  millions  to  record  their  number.  Then,  and  for  many  years 
afterwards,  it  seemed  to  have  made  no  difference  with  the  farmers  in 
regard  to  the  breed  of  hogs.  They  reasoned  that  a  hog  was  a  hog, 
and  that  one  was  as  good  as  another,  and  made  no  effort  to  better  their 
stock.  The  first  effort,  perhaps,  ever  made  in  the  county  to  improve 
this  stock  was  about  thirty  years  ago,  by  Asa  Haynes,  of  Orange 
township,  when  he  brought  some  Poland  Chinas  from  Ohio.  This 
breed,  with  theBerkshires  and  Chester  "Whites,  comprise  the  principal 
breeds  raised  in  Knox  county. 

In  aggregate  value  the  horses  of  the  county  are  worth  more  than 
the  combined  aggregated  value  of  all  other  domestic  animals.  Much 
interest  is  now  being  manifested  in  the  improvement  of  the  farm 
horse  stock  as  well  as  the  roadsters.  W.  K.  Scott,  of  Abingdon,  has 
evinced  no  little  interest  in  this  work.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
celebrated  Laurent,  an  imported  French  Boulonais  stallion,  which  was 
brought  to  the  county  in  1870.  Many  other  fine  blooded  animals 
have  been  brought  to  the  county  by  various  parties  from  time  to  time, 
all  of  which  have  done  much  to  better  the  horse  stock.  Among  them 
none  have  done  more  than  0.  E.  Cranston,  who  is  well  posted  in  horse 
flesh,  as  is  attested  by  his  stable  of  fine  Clydesdales. 

The  following  is  almost  a  complete  list  of  breeders  of  thoroughbred 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  515 

stock  in  this  county:  J.  S.  Latimer,  farm  near  Abingdon,  short-horn 
cattle,  Berkshire  and  Poland  China  hogs;  Samuel  Chapman  &  Son, 
Ontario  township,  Holstein  cattle;  J.  Branard  &  Son,  Ontario  town- 
ship, short-horn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs;  J.  Alex.  Finley,  short- 
horn cattle,  postoffice,  Oneida;  G.  S.  Gates,  Ontario  township,  Poland 
China  hogs;  I.  M.  Wetmore  &  Son,  Ontario  township,  short-horn 
cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs;  G.  "W.  Dunlap  &  Brothers,  section  19, 
Cedar  township,  short-horn  cattle;  H.  M.  &  W.  P.  Sisson,  Henderson 
township,  short-horn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  Among  others 
are  Niles  Brothers,  Robison  Brothers,  Robert  Deatherage,  Dowdy  & 
Son,  Samuel  Morse,  William  Maxey,  Godfrey  &  Grice,  "W.  H.  Heller, 
A.  G.  Dunlap,  Mrs.  By  ram,  Mr.  Woodmansee,  W.  II.  Green. 


516  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

FKOST   MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

J.  P.  Frost  first  came  to  Henderson,  Knox  county,  July  7,  1837", 
among  the  pioneers  who  came  to  build  up  Knox  College;  and  like 
Mr.  G.  "W.  Brown,  he  commenced  with  a  small  field  of  operation, 
which  has  since  grown  to  gigantic  proportions.  He  first  put  up  a 
saw-mill  in  Henderson  Grove,  and  after  running  it  about  six  years, 
he  took  a  farm,  and  while  working  that,  he  did  what  machine  work 
was  to  be  done  in  Galesburg  and  vicinity.  He  put  in  the  engine  and 
work  at  the  old  brick  grist-mill  on  Broad  street, — the  first  work  of 
the  kind  in  the  place.  In  1855-56  he  erected  a  small  shop  in  Gales- 
burg,  on  the  north  side  of  Simmons  street,  between  Cedar  and  West 
streets,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  S.  Bellows  and  Andrew 
Harrington,  under  the  name  of  "  J.  P.  Frost  &  Co." 

After  running  for  six  or  eight  years  under  the  above  name,  they  re- 
organized into  a  joint-stock  company  under  the  name  and  style  of 
"Frost  Manufacturing  Company,"  L.  C.  Field  president,  and  H.  M. 
Hale  secretary.  Messrs.  Bellows  and  Field  have  died  within  a  few 
years,  and  Messrs.  R.  H.  and  C.  M.  Avery  have  bought  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Field.  J.  P.  Frost  is  now  president,  T.  !N.  Ayres  secretary, 
and  R.  H.  Avery  treasurer. 

This  company  has  been  the  leading  one  in  Western  Illinois  in  all 
kinds  of  iron  work  connected  with  steam-engines,  mills  and  heavy 
machinery,  having  a  foundry  60  by  120  feet  in  size,  wood  shop  for 
patterns  and  wood  work  40  by  100  feet,  a  machine-shop  and  engine 
room,  blacksmith  shop,  ware-house,  and  two  buildings,  each  two 
stories  high,  containing  patterns.  It  is  scarcely  worth  while  to  detail 
the  extent  of  this  pattern  work,  for  it  covers  almost  everything  from 
a  150-horse-power  engine  down  to  the  smallest  casting.  Time  would 
fail  us  to  tell  of  the  pulleys,  cog-wheels,  shafting,  rollers,  pinions, 
boxes,  engine  beds,  fly-wheels,  castings  for  buildings,  hoisting  appar- 
atus for  coal  mines,  etc..  and  castings  for  sugar  mills,  hay-presses,  stalk- 
cutters,  etc.,  which  the  company  has  patterns  for,  and  are  prepared  to 
make  on  the  shortest  notice.  Of  course  they  also  manufacture  and 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  519 

repair  boilers,  and  deal  in  and  repair  gas  and  steam  pipe,  and  the 
fixtures  connected  with  them.  But  the  most  important  branch  of 
this  establishment  is  the  department  for  the  manufacture  of  corn- 
stalk-cutters and  corn -planters.  The  Spiral-knife  Stalk-cutter  was  in- 
vented by  R.  H.  &  C.  M.  A  very,  who  commenced  their  manufacture 
at  Galesburg  in  1872.  They  were  afterwards  made  for  a  number  of 
years  by  Geo.  W.  Brown,  but  are  now  manufactured  extensively  by  the 
Frost  Company.  These  cutters  find  their  way  into  fields  all  over  the 
Northwest,  and  the  demand  for  them  is  rapidly  increasing,  which  is 
the  best  of  evidence  of  their  superiority.  Their  manufacture  is  be- 
coming one  of  the  large  business  interests  of  Knox  county. 

The  various  buildings  of  this  extensive  concern,  which  are  well 
represented  in  the  accompanying  engraving,  occupy  the  south  half  of 
the  square  bounded  by  Main,  Simmons,  Cedar  and  "West  streets,  Gales- 


burg. 


THE  STEEL    PLOW. 


It  is  but  justice  to  this  county  to  perpetuate  in  history  the  fact  that 
it  furnished  the  first  steel  plow  in  America,  thus  imparting  unappre- 
ciated pleasure  to  the  present  tillers  of  this  soil  and  increasing  the  ma- 
terial wealth  of  the  Mississippi  valley  alone  many  millions  of  dollars 
yearly;  for  now  the  same  team  power  will  plow  more  land  in  one  day 
and  do  it  better,  than  in  two  days  prior  to  1842.  Then,  except  along 
some  water  courses  and  strips  of  sandy  land,  all  plowmen  had  to  stop 
about  every  10  rods  and  scrape  the  soil  off  the  moldboard,  which  would 
pack  so  quickly  again  as  to  make  very  bad  and  very  slow  work. 

On  moving  to  Galesburg  among  entire  strangers,  in  1837,  H.  H. 
May  began  experiments  at  once  in  trying  to  make  a  plow  that  would 
scour  bright.  In  this,  one  disappointment  followed  another,  and 
sneers  followed  jeers.  A  prominent  man  called  Mr.  May  a  fool  pub- 
licly for  "trying  to  do  an  impossibility."  Nearly  every  man  sup- 
posed it  impossible  ever  to  make  a  plow  that  would  scour  bright; in 
this  adhesive  soil.  But  some  gave  noble  encouragements  for  trying 
it.  Several  offered  Mr.  May  $100  each  for  such  a  plow;  and  Maj. 
Butler  offered  to  give  him  his  choice  among  30  excellent  horses  for 
such  a  plow.  A  plate  of  wrought  iron  cut  in  the  shape  of  a  diamond, 
and  stocked  like  a  shovel  plow,  did  scour  bright,  when  set  very  square 
to  the  ground,  but  when  turned  back  to  an  angle  suitable  for  turning 
the  soil,  it  would  not  scour.  But  after  five  years  of  discouraging  ex- 
periments, on  May  6th,  1842,  Mr.  May  noticed  that  the  cavities 
in  fine  steel  were  many  times  less  than  in  cast  or  wrought  iron, 
and  concluded  at  once  to  try  fine  steel  for  plows,  and  within  two  days 
29 


520  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

he  had  a  plow  running,  made  of  one  of  Win.  Rowland's  best  saw-mill 
saw  plates,  and  it  would  scour  bright  in  any  soil,  which  made  that  day 
one  of  great  rejoicing  in  Galesburg.  H.  II.  May's  first  application 
for  letters  patent  for  this  invention  was  filed  Aug.  20,  ]  842.  It  was 
rejected  Sept.  8,  1842,  for  want  of  novelty.  Being  sure  the  act- 
ing Commissioner  understood  the  word  "'  novel "  in  the  law  to  mean 
wonderful  or  strange,  Mr.  May  argued  in  several  letters  that  "  novel  " 
there  means  new,  or  not  so  used  before,  and  quoted  the  action  of  his 
predecessors  in  granting  patents  for  substituting  one  material  for  an- 
other; and  he  finally  invited  Mr.  May  to  make  a  new  application, 
which  he  did.  But  a  new  Commissioner  rejected  that  also  Aug.  19, 
1844,  and  in -nearly  the  same  words  as  his  predecessor,  and  he  said 
May  could  appeal;  but  the  severe  and  protracted  sickness  of  Mr.  May 
forbade  his  appeal,  and  also  impelled  him  under  decided  medical  ad- 
vice to  sell  out  bis  plow  factory. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  H.  H.  May  was  the  original 
inventor  of  the  steel  plow.     This  question  was  well  ventilated  during 
the  famous  trade-mark  suit  between  Deere  &  Co.  and  the  Moline 
Plow  Company  during  the  years  from  1867  to  1871  inclusive,  when 
the  case  was  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.     Justice 
Sidney  Breese,  in  summing  up  the  evidence,  refers  especially  to  that 
given  by  Robert  N.  Tate,  a  former  partner  of  Deere,  and  of  whom  the 
Judge  says:     "  We  should  judge  from  his  testimony  that  he  was   a 
man  of  some  mechanical  skill,  and  well  informed  generally,  and  par- 
ticularly upon  the  subject  of  plows.     He  says  the  history  of  this  plow 
goes  back  to  1841."     In  rehearsing  some  of  the  historical  evidence 
submitted  by  Mr.  Tate  the  Judge  says:     "A  person  by  the  name  of 
Hitchcock  commenced  what  he  called  the  diamond  plow,  in  Prince- 
ton, Bureau  county;  afterwards  May,  of  Galesburg,   manufactured  a 
plow,  in  shape  nearly  the  form   that  is  manufactured  now.     This  is 
the  earliest  he  recollects  of  seeing  a  steel  moldboard.     The  share  and 
moldboard  were  combined  at  that  time,  and  May  was  the  first  man 
that  laid  any  claim  to  the  improved  steel  plow."     In  speaking  of  the 
improvements  of  the  steel  plow  the  Judge  deduces  from  the  evidence 
still  further  facts  that  go  to  show  the  perfectness  of  the  plow  invented 
by  H.  H.  May.     He  refers  to  this  point  in  the  following  language: 
"  There  is  no  improvement  on  the  May  steel  plow  as  made  in  1843,  or 
later,  perhaps,  up  to  this  time.     In  the  plow  afterward  made  at  Pal- 
estine, in  Lee  county,  by  a  person  named  Doan ;  afterward  at  Grand  De 
Tour  by  W.   Denney  and  Deere  and  Andrus;  afterward  in  Moline 
by  Deere,  Tate  and  Gould,  in  the  fall  of  1848;  afterwards  by  Buford 
&  Tate  in  1856,  the  working  models  are  all  copied  strictly  after  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  521 

May  plow.  I  essentially  consider  May  the  sole  constructor  in  form  of 
the  western  steel  plow."  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  beyond  a  shadow 
of  doubt  to  H.  PI.  May,  of  Galesburg,  the  honor,  the  credit  belongs 
for  giving  to  the  world  this  most  useful  of  all  agricultural  imple- 
ments. 

THE  NOVELTY  MACHINE  WORKS. 

During  the  year  1857  Mr.  G.  D.  Colton  purchased  the  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Cherry  and  Depot  streets  and  proceeded  to  erect  thereon  a 
large  frame  building  for  a  planing  mill  and  sash  factory.  In  1864 
an  additional  building  was  erected  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
hay  presses,  to  whicli  Mr.  C.  for  a  time  devoted  some  attention.  He 
had  just  finished  paying  for  his  property,  and  started  upon  what 
augured  a  successful  career,  when  the  tire  fiend  made  its  unwelcome 
advent,  Nov.  17, 1864,  and  leveled  the  buildings  to  the  ground.  There 
being  no  insurance  on  the  property,  the  loss,  which  was  about  $10,000, 
was  total.  Not  to  be  discouraged  by  this  dire  calamity,  Mr.  Col  ton 
started  to  rebuild  on  the  same  site  with  no  capital  except  his  trade  and 
a  good  name;  and  by  March  1,  1865,  he  had  completed  a  new  building 
more  ample  and  better  adapted  to  his  business.  In  September,  1865, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  S.  Cheeney  and  Win.  P.  Frailey,  and 
added  a  foundry  and  machine  shop.  The  new  firm  took  the  name  of 
G.  D.  Colton  &  Co.,  and  denominated  their  manufactory  "  The 
Novelty  Machine  Works."  In  the  spring  of  186T  Mr.  C.  S.  Colton 
became  a  partner,  succeeding  Mr.  Cheeney  and  Mr.  Frailey. 

The  manufactory  was  started  in  1865  with  a  capital  of  $7,500. 
Fourteen  hands  were  employed  the  first  year,  and  the  current  busi- 
ness amounted  to  $21,400.  The  amount  of  capital  now  employed  is 
over  $35,000;  from  forty  to  fifty  men  are  worked,  and  the  average  an- 
nual product  exceeds  $60,000.  The  establishment  makes  all  kinds  of 
machinery  and  does  an  extensive  foundry  and  repairing  business;  and 
the  work  is  uniformly  considered  first-class. 

BROWN'S  CORN-PLANTER  WORKS. 

These  works  have  attained  a  magnitude  that  claims  for  them  more 
than  local  importance.  The  most  extensive  and  important  business 
interest  of  Knox  county,  and  even  in  the  west,  is  that  connected  with 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  Brown's  corn-planter.  This  is  also  the 
largest  establishment  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  corn-planters  ex- 
isting in  any  quarter  of  the  globe,  and,  like  almost  all  worthy  and  ex- 
tensive enterprises,  has  grown  to  its  present  vast  proportions  from  a 
little  beginning. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


George  W.  Brown,*  the  inventor  of  the  corn-planter,  is  a  practical 
mechanic;  and  when  the  invention  was  conceived  in  his  mincl,  he  was 
working  at  his  trade, — that  of  carpenter, — going  home  to  his  farm, 
between  jobs,  to  cultivate  his  crops;  and  while  there  he  was  called  upon 
by  his  neighbors  to  make  and  repair  the  rude  farm  implements  used 
prior  to  1850.  Being  both  a  mechanic  and  a  farmer,  his  mind  was 
directed  to  improvements  in  farming  machinery.  He  studied  a  great 
deal  and  made  many  plans  and  models.  John  S.  Winter,  Esq.,  remem- 
bers being  at  his  house  in  1846,  near  Tylerville,  a  small  log  building. 
He  found  Mr.  Brown  barefoot,  his  only  clothing  a  straw  hat,  shirt  and 
jeans  pants,  literally  in  a  "  brown"  study  upon  farm  implements. 
Among  the  implements  used  were  cultivators,  and  in  1848  Mr. 
Brown  conceived  the  plan  of  turning  a  cultivator  into  a  corn-planter. 
His  first  idea  was  to  drop  three  rows  at  once,  placing  the  shovels  of 
the  cultivator  as  wide  apart  as  he  wished  to  have  the  corn  rows,  and 
boxes  of  corn  on  the  beams  back  of  the  shovels,  so  fixed  that  the 
centre  of  each  box  would  be  over  the  middle  of  the  furrows  made  by 
the  shovels.  A  slide  was  so  adjusted  that  by  moving  it  there  would 
be  an  aperture  at  the  centre  of  the  bottom  of  each  box  large  enough 
for  three  to  five  kernels  of  corn  to  slip  through,  which  would  of 
course  fall  into  the  middle  of  each  furrow  behind  the  shovel.  This 
slide  was  to  be  operated  by  a  man  walking  behind  the  machine.  He 
attached  heavy  wheels  to  the  cultivator  back  of  the  boxes,  which  were 
made  of  sections  sawed  off  from  logs,  and  which  would  roll  the  ground 
after  the  corn  was  dropped  in,  filling  and  leveling  the  furrow. 

Out  of  these  simple  experiments  upon  a  cultivator  came  the  per- 
fected corn-planter,  with  which  two  men  and  a  team  can  plant  from  16 
to  20  acres  of  corn  in  a  day.  Mr.  Brown  had  a  strong  brain,  a  strong 
arm  and  a  strong  purpose  to  aid  him;  the  latter  was  to  invent  and 
construct  the  best  corn-planter  that  the  ingenuity  and  muscle  of  man 
could  make  out  of  wood  and  iron.  He  had  little  or  no  capital  in 
money,  but  he  had  a  better  capital  than  that  of  gold,  silver  or  cur- 
rency, in  the  qualities  we  have  just  mentioned.  He  had  a  wonderful 
degree  of  faith  in  the  ultimate  embodiment,  in  a  machine  of  his  idea, 
of  a  perfect  planter.  Whether  or  not  he  thought  he  should  achieve 
this  idea  in  two  or  three  years,  we  cannot  say;  but  he  had  the  patience 
possessed  always  by  all  great  inventors,  to  labor  and  to  wait. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  Mr.  Brown  made  the  first  complete  corn- 
planter  of  the  present  style,  and  planted  corn  with  it  the  following 
May.      Prior  to  that  he  was  experimenting,  but  it  was  his  corn- 
planter  drop  attached  to  a  cultivator,  already  described.     In  1852,  he 
*  See  Biographical  Sketch. 


HISTORY    OF    K.NOX    COUNTY.  525 

planted  with  his  improved  machine  16  acres  for  himself  and  8  acres 
for  Alfred  Brown.  That  same  spring  he  commenced  the  manufacture 
often  machines,  but  on  account  of  poverty  and  embarrassments,  com- 
pleted only  one.  About  this  time  he  determined  to  stake  all  he  pos- 
sessed upon  the  success  of  his  invention.  He  had  already  sold  every- 
thing about  the  place,  including  his  last  horse,  to  furnish  means  to 
secure  his  patents.  He  then  sold  his  little  farm  for  what  he  could 
get,  went  deeply  into  debt  for  more  money,  and  took  the  chances  of 
success.  Times  were  hard,  and  the  facilities  for  manufacturing  poor. 
He  had  no  such  machinery  as  he  now  has;  but  everything  had  to  be 
done  by  hand.  Yery  soon  he  was  so  much  involved  that,  had  he  been 
called  upon  to  pay,  he  would  not  have  been  worth  a  dollar.  But  he 
was  an  upright  man,  had  a  good  name,  was  full  of  enthusiasm  for  his 
new  invention,  and  his  largest  creditors  were  willing  to  give  him  a 
fair  trial.  But  he  frequently  was  obliged  to  pay  exorbitant  rates  of 
interest,  sometimes  from  one  to  two  per  cent,  a  month,  and  once  three 
per  cent,  for  one  month,  and  a  short  month  at  that.  He  commenced 
manufacturing  at  Shanghai,  and  in  1853  completed  twelve  machines, 
one  of  which  that  season  planted  three  hundred  acres  of  corn.  In 
1854  he  made  a  hundred  machines,  and  in  1855  he  made  three  hun- 
dred machines,  after  which  he  removed  to  Galesburg.  In  1856  he 
made  six  hundred  machines,  and  in  1857  he  made  a  thousand 
machines.  It  is  not  necessary  to  give  the  number  of  machines,  in 
detail,  manufactured  since  that  time.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  lat- 
terly Mr.  Brown  manufactures  eight  thousand  machines  per  annum, 
which  find  a  ready  sale. 

These  machines  are  now  operated  in  all  of  the  United  States  where 
corn  is  raised, — on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  slopes,  as  well  as  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  Applications  have  come  for  them  from  Europe; 
they  have  been  sent  to  Brazil  and  the  Argentine  Republic;  and  a  short 
time  ago  an  order  was  made  from  Japan,  by  the  government  authority, 
which  was  filled. 

Like  all  great  discoveries  and  inventions,  Mr.  Brown  experienced  great 
trouble  in  having  the  new  mode  of  planting  corn  accepted.  So  great 
was  the  expense  of  introducing  his  machines,  that  alter  ten  years  of 
manufacturing  in  Galesburg  he  was  not  "worth  a  dollar;  and  at  the 
same  time  his  business  was  so  extensive  that  he  paid  nearly  $6,000  a 
year  to  the  government,  as  income  tax;  and  at  present,  his  city,  county 
and  State  taxes  are  about  $5,000  per  annum.  The  war  closed;  the 
.boys  had  come  from  tented  fields  to  work  upon  the  farm;  the  corn- 
planter  had  become  generally  appreciated;  orders  came  in  from  all 


526  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

directions,  and  the  road  to  prosperity  and  wealth  seemed  open  and 
smooth. 

But  new  obstacles  now  appeared.  It  had  become  known  that  the 
corn-planter  was  a  success,  and  so  valuable  that  men  in  different  parts 
of  the  country  commenced  its  manufacture.  After  considerable  delay 
and  a  desire  to  compromise  with  those  infringing  upon  his  patents, 
and  meeting  with  refusals,  he  commenced  proceedings  in  the  federal 
courts  against  them.  In  May,  1874,  after  hearing  all  the  evidence 
and  arguments,  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  the  highest 
tribunal  on  this  continent,  declared  that  George  "W.  Brown  was  the 
inventor  of  the  corn-planter.  This  entitled  him  to  a  royalty  upon  all 
such  machines  made  by  others.  During  July  of  the  present  year  the 
IT.  S.  Circuit  Court  rendered  a  decision  in  his  favor,  against  the 
Keystone  Manufacturing  Company  of  Rock  Falls,  to  an  amount  involv- 
ing about  $200,000. 

During  the  last  twelve  years  Mr.  Brown  has  employed  from  130  to 
230  men,  paying  out  in  wages  alone  per  annum  from  $50,000  to 
$100,000.  The  shops  consume  nearly  2,000  tons  of  coal  annually,  500 
tons  of  castings,  250  tons  of  wrought  iron  and  steel,  15  tons  of  paints 
and  oils,  and  500,000  feet  of  lumber. 

For  his  remarkable  success  Mr.  Brown  is  largely  indebted  to  the 
efficient  corps  of  assistants  he  has  called  around  him.  His  fine  judg- 
ment led  him  to  select  men  eminently  qualified  for  the  important 
positions  assigned  them.  Among  these  are  Isaac  S.  Perkins,  the  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  outside  business;  Loren  Stevens,  one  of  the  chiefs 
in  the  office,  and  M.  D.  Hebbard  and  Adam  Dick,  under  wThose  imme- 
diate supervision  are  the  shops. 

The  various  buildings,  as  shown  in  the  accompanying  engraving, 
"are  all  of  modern  and  substantial  style  of  architecture.  In  their  con- 
struction no  means  are  spared  to  make  them  both  durable  and  elegant, 
and  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  are  to  be  found  no  factories 
superior  in  these  respects  to  those  of  G.  W.  Brown.  The  buildings 
comprise  wood-working  department,  machine  shops,  blacksmith  shops, 
pattern  rooms,  construction  department,  painting  and  finishing  rooms, 
storage  departments  or  ware-rooms,  and  at  present  there  is  just 
finished  another  building  containing  more  commodious  ware- 
rooms.  This  building,  which  is  60  by  120  feet,  is  of  the  same  archi- 
tectural style  and  height  as  the  main  structure.  All  buildings 
together  contain  about  100,000  square  feet  of  flooring.  These  build- 
ings involved  an  expenditure  of  about  $150,000,  and  in  addition  to 
this  vast  amount  there  is  about  $50,000  invested  in  tools  and 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  529 

machinery.     In  addition,  about  $200,000  cash  capital  is  required  to 
carry  on  the  business. 

Mr.  JRrown  has  constructed  a  railroad,  for  his  own  private  use,  from 
the  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  road  to  his  shops, 
a  distance  of  2,000  feet,  by  which  he  is  enabled  to  have  the  cars  run 
down  to  his  storage  rooms,  and  there  load  them  in  that  manner,  avoid- 
ing handling  the  planters  many  times,  and  also  saving  most  of  the 
time  that  it  would  consume  to  take  teams  and  draw  the  machines  to 
the  cars;  and  although  the  construction  of  the  railroad  has  now  in- 
volved considerable  expense,  it  will  in  time  prove  itself  a  very  saving 
expenditure. 

BROOM    FACTORY. 

Aaron  Boyer,  who  has  for  28  years  been  blind,  after  having  been 
some  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brooms,  started  business  in 
Galesburg,  in  the  year  1867,  with  $5  worth  of  stock.  He  purchased 
two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Prairie  and  Berrien  streets,  on  which  he 
erected  a  two-story  frame  building,  60  by  90  feet.  This  building  is 
supplied  with  the  most  approved  modern  machinery,  including  steam 
motive  power,  and  every  appliance  for  expeditious  and  perfect  work. 
One  of  the  most  important  pieces  of  machinery  in  the  manufactory  is 
the  Adjustable  Lever  Broom  Press,  an  invention  of  Mr.  Boyer's  own 
fertile  brain,  and  a  very  ingenious  and  nicely  constructed  piece  of 
mechanism,  perfectly  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  designed, 
which  he  has  had  patented,  and  has  sold  a  large  number  of  them  to 
manufacturers  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  When  his  solicitor 
sent  his  application  to  the  Commissioner  of  Patents  he  incidentally 
remarked  that  it  was  the  invention  of  a  blind  man,  to  which  a  reply 
was  sent  from  the  Patent  Office  that  it  was  the  first  instance  on  record 
of  a  man  devoid  of  sight  inventing  a  piece  of  machinery. 

Under  the  careful  management  of  Mr.  B.,  his  business  has  gradually 
grown  from  the  small  beginning  until  he  now  employs  some  twenty- 
live  men,  who  with  the  aid  of  the  superior  facilities  at  hand  manu- 
facture 9,000  dozen  brooms  per  year.  He  makes  every  style  and  grade 
of  brooms  and  corn  brushes;  and  so  carefully  is  every  part  of  the  work 
performed  that  his  goods  are  equal  in  quality  to  any  made  in  'this 
country,  and  find  a  market  in  several  States.  Until  very  recently  Mr. 
B.  has  been  his  own  traveling  man,  and  done  all  of  his  own  selling. 
Although  the  proprietor  is  deprived  of  the  inestimable  blessing  of 
vision,  his  place  is  a  model  of  order  and  system,  and  is  a  speaking 
monument  of  the  possibilities  of  human  energy  and  enterprise,  in  the 
absence  of  man's  chief  source  of  knowledge  and  pleasure,  heaven's 
sunlight. 


530  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

HEMSTREET    CARRIAGE    MANUFACTORY. 

We  believe  we  are  right  in  saying  that  the  carriage  manufactory  of 
the  above  named  gentleman  is  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  city  of 
Galesburg.  It  was  first  started  in  1862  by  P.  P.  Hemstreet,  who,  being 
a  workman  of  large  experience,  soon  began  to  turn  out  of  his  then 
small  shops  work  of  a  first-class  character.  Thus  he  continued,  gradu- 
ally increasing  his  business,  until  orders  accumulated  so  fast  that  sin- 
gle-handed he  was  unable  to  fill  them,  mostly  for  want  of  capital.  But 
his  resources  have  grown,  and  he  now  manufactures  very  extensively. 

MARBLE    WORKS. 

Mr.  James  A.  Judson  established  his  marble  works  in  Galesburg  in 
1859,  which  he  conducted  successfully  to  1869,  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  one  of  the  few  successful  marble  dealers  of  his  day.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  business  by  John  Greenwood,  who  continued  in  a 
small  way  for  two  years.  He  then  gave  way  to  A.  W.  Anderson,  who 
at  one  time  was  engaged  in  the  business  in  Galesburg,  but  not  meet- 
ing with  the  desired  success,  moved  his  works  to  Monmouth.  He  re- 
turned to  Galesburg  in  1872,  and  established  his  works  in  the  old  Jud- 
son stand,  where  he  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  up  to  June  of 
the  present  year,  when  he  gave  up  the  business  entirely,  which  now 
leaves  G.  A.  Stevens'  works  the  only  one  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Stevens,  for  three  years,  was  Mr.  Anderson's  salesman.  .  He  es- 
tablished his  works  in  May,  1877,  but  has  lately  moved  to  the  old  Jud- 
son  stand  on  Prairie  street.  'Although  Mr.  Stevens  has  not  been  en- 
gaged in  the  business  for  himself  quite  eighteen  months,  yet  his  suc- 
cess is  apparent.  Notwithstanding  the  present  hard  times,  he  has  sold 
this  year  to  the  amount  of  over  $30,000.  His  sales  of  fine  monuments 
is  unsurpassed  in  the  history  of  the  marble  trade  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  Among  the  number  of  fine  monuments  from  his  works  is 
one  for  Mrs.  Sarah  Laferty,  of  Moumouth, — a  beautiful  monument  of 
Scotch  granite;  when  completed  will  be  unsurpassed  by  any  work  of 
the  kind  west  of  Chicago;  standing  over  18  feet  high,  and  costing 
over  $4,000. 

MAY    BROS.,    WIND-MILLS. 

S.  W.  May,  the  patentee  of  May  Bros.,  celebrated  wind-mills,  is 
well  known,  by  reputation  at  least,  by  a  majority  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county.  Not  to  have  heard  of  S.  W.  May,  or  the  farming  or  manu- 
facturing operations  of  himself  and  brother,  is  to  confess  ignorance  on 
a  point  few  desire  to  acknowledge.  S.  W.  May  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  having  been  born  in  the  county  of  Genesee,  in  the  year  1838. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  531 

His  parents  were  H.  II.  and  D.  D.  May,  likewise  natives  of  New 
York,  who  were  possessed  of  an  ordinary  amount  of  this  world's  goods. 
His  parents  settled  in  Galesburg,  in  the  year  1839,  and  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  enjo}Ted  the  advantages  offered  in  the  Academy  and  Knox 
College,  where  he  received  a  liberal  education.  He  passed  his  early 
life  with  his  parents,  until  of  age.  At  a  very  early  age  he  manifested 
a  business-like  disposition,  "  teaming  it"  from  Galesburg  to  Peoria, 
occasionally  making  trips  to  Oquawka,  as  that  was  then  the  only  mode 
of  carrying  on  an  inland  commercial  trade,  in  connection  with  the 
steamboat  transportation  of  the  day.  While  yet  a  small  boy  he  was 
engaged  in  peddling  his  father's  plows,  in  various  parts  of  the  State, 
which  were  the  first  steel  scouring  plows  made  in  this  country.  A 
few  years  later  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  near  the  center  of 
Rio  township,  began  farming  and  raising  broom  corn  quite  extensively, 
having  annually  from  two  to  four  hundred  acres,  in  which  he  was  emi- 
nently successful.  During  the  summer  of  1871  he  invented  what  is 
now  universally  known  as  the  "May  wind-mill."  for  pumping  purposes; 
and  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1871  made  at  his  farm-shop  over 
2,000  of  these  mills  and  put  them  into  successful  operation.  During  the 
winter  of  the  same  year  a  partnership  was  made  with  Candee  &  Co., 
of  Oneida,  111.,  to  manufacture  his  mills.  Soon  after,  another  part- 
nership was  effected  with  Kelson  &  Co.,  of  Bushnell,  111.,  for  the  same 
purpose.  These  partnerships  existed  near  two  years.  The  business 
was  then  permanently  located  in  Galesburg,  the  inventor  and  patentee 
taken  in  as  partner, — his  brother,  H.  L.  May, — and  to-day  May  Bros.' 
celebrated  mills  are  running  in  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union,  also 
in  Canada  and  Russia ;  the  business  being  now  exclusively  carried  on 
by  H.  L.  May,  the  present  capacity  for  manufacturing  being  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  State. 

CHEESE    FACTORIES. 

A.  J.  Miller  began  cheese-making  in  Ontario  township,  about 
1871,  with  about  100  cows.  The  business  being  new  to  that  locality, 
but  little  interest  was  taken  in  it.  Each  year  it  has  grown  gradually, 
until  several  new  factories  have  started.  There  are  at  present  30  men 
furnishing  milk  for  this  factory.  A  daily  average  of  16  cheeses,  of  45 
pounds  each,  are  made,  and  100  pounds  of  butter.  To  the  present 
year  full  cream  cheese  were  made. 

The  "  Ontario  Cheese  Company  "  was  organized  in  the  spring  of 
1877.  The  following  persons  compose  the  company:  Ezra  Shedd, 
F.  M.  Doolittle,  C.  C.  Moore,  L.  G.  Wetmore,  Joseph  Fisher  and 
"W.  G.  Mosher  ;  with  E.  Shedd  President,  C.  C.  Moore  Yice 


532 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


President,  and  W.  J.  Mosher  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  E.  Shedd, 
C.  C.  Moore  and  F.  M.  Doolittle,  Executive  Committee.  They 
entered  into  an  agreement  to  run  not  less  than  three  years,  and  rented 
the  building  formerly  used  by  Samuel  Chapman  for  the  same  pur- 
pose; bought  the  tools  and  fixtures.  They  use  the  milk  from  about 
125  cows,  most  of  the  time.  The  total  amount  of  milk  used  for  the 
season  was  about  380,000  gallons;  cheese  made  for  the  season,  38,000 
Ibs.  The  venture  was  considered  quite  successful,  and  began  its 
second  year  with  an  increased  patronage.  Owing  to  the  depressions 
in  prices,  it  is  not  as  profitable  as  in  former  years.  The  present  indi- 
cations are  that  it  will  become  an  important  branch  of  industry,  and 
cheese  factories  spring  up  all  over  the  country. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  533 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  printing-press  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  potent 
agencies  in  molding  the  destinies  of  any  community,  and  perhaps 
among  those  least  appreciated  by  the  people  called  upon  to  sustain 

them.     The  advance   guards   of  civilization    who   first   setttled  this 

• 

county  had  no  daily  papers ;  and  even  weeklies  were  like  "•  angels' 
visits,  few  and  far  between,"  for  mails  were  irregular  and  unfrequent, 
being  carried  on  horse-back,  and  sometimes  not  carried  at  all. 
Although  the  first  settler  came  in  1828,  there  was  no  attempt  to 
establish  a  local  paper  in  the  county,  until  1849, — nearly  20  years 
after  the  county  was  organized.  Until  that  time  there  were  no  papers 
taken  by  the  people,  save  perhaps  a  few  copies  of  some  religious 
papers  and  an  occasional  copy  of  some  Eastern  journal.  Mr.  William 
Sanburn,  brother  of  John  G.  Sanburn,  who  for  long  years  was  post- 
master at  Knoxville,  then  the  principal  point  in  the  county,  tells  us 
he  has  opened  the  mail  bag  many  a  time  when  five  or  six  letters  and 
a  paper  were  the  full  amount  of  mail  it  contained;  this,  too,  when 
almost  the  entire  county  received  their  mail  at  that  office,  and  which 
only  came  once  a  week,  and  often  at  longer  intervals.  At  present 
there  are  fourteen  regular  publications  in  the  county.  During  the 
years  from  the  time  the  first  paper  was  struck  oif,  until  1878,  the 
newspaper  enterprises  are  numbered  by  the  score.  At  regular  periods 
newspaper  publications  have  been  introduced  to  the  public  in  various 
parts  of  the  county,  and  almost  as  regularly  have  their  demise  been 
announced  by  some  of  the  fraternity.  Among  the  many  editors  who 
drove  the  quill  for  these  publications,  were  some  talented,  graphic  and 
cultured  writer?,  some  of  whom  wielded  a  salutary  influence  in  the 
community,  while  others  won  reputations  not  enviable.  Perhaps  no 
time  in  the  history  of  the  press  of  the  county  did  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  various  papers  represent  men  so  young  in  years  as  now.  Among 
these  editors,  some  of  whom  have  not  even  attained  that  age  which 
gives  them  the  right  of  suffrage  at  the  polls,  are  some  shrewd  busi- 
ness managers,  pleasing  writers  and  high  moral  characters.  May  the 
present  press  receive  the  support,  moral  and  financial,  to  which  it  is 
justly  entitled.  "While  our  hearts  are  enveloped  with  "  best  wishes  " 
for  the  Knox  county  press,  yet  we  shrink  from  a  wish  as  boundless  as 


534  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  sanguine  expectation  expressed  in  the  introductory  of  one  of 
the  earlier  papers.  The  editor  says,  and  apparently  with  unshaken 
confidence  in  the  verity  of  his  prophetic  statement,  "Our  circle  at 
present  is  small,  like  that  of  a  pebble  dropped  in  the  ocean;  but  it  will 
gradually  and  silently  expand  in  every  direction,  until  it  reaches  the 
far-oif  boundaries  of  civilization." 

NEWSPAPERS     OF     GALESBURG. 

For  sketches  of  the  early  papers  we  quote  from  Sellon's  history  of 
Galesburg,  pablished  in  1857.  The  first  newspaper  published  in 
Galesburg  or  in  Knox  county  was  called  the  "  Knox  Intelligencer" 
and  was  edited  and  pointed  by  Rev.  C.  R.  Fisk.  It  was  first  issued  on 
or  about  the  first  of  January,  1849.  The  Intelligencer  was  neutral 
in  politics,  and  lived  about  two  years.  The  office  was  first  located 
over  L.  Sanderson's  store,  but  was  subsequently  removed  to  a  building 
erected  by  Mr.  Fisk,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Public  Square. 

Near  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year,  1849,  if  we  recollect  rightly, 
the  "North-  Western  Gazetteer"  was  started,  under  the  editorial  and 
typographical  management  of  Southwick  Davis.  For  a  considerable 
time  after  its  establishment  the  Gazetter  and  the  Knox  Intelligencer 
were  eagerly  sought  after  by  the  citizens  of  Galesburg  and  vicinity, 
on  account  of  the  College  controversy  carried  on  through  their  col- 
umns. The  Gazetteer  was  also  neutral  in  politics,  but  in  religious 
matters  it  favored  Congregationalism,  while  the  Intelligencer  favored 
Presbyterianism.  The  Gazetteer  was  published  about  two  years,  we 
believe,  though  it  may  have  existed  for  a  longer  period. 

Some  time  in  1850,  if  we  are  correctly  informed,  the  News-Letter 
made  its  appearance,  under  the  editorial  management  of  W.  S.  Gale, 
Dr.  James  Bunce  and  G.  C.  Lanphere.  This  paper  took  the  place  of  the 
Knox  Intelligencer.  The  News-Letter  was  an  able  advocate  of  local 
measures  in  which  the  people  of  Galesburg  and  vicinity  were  then 
deeply  interested.  It  had  a  wide  circulation  among  the  friends  of 
the  Central  Military  Tract  railroad  then  projected.  Some  of  the  best 
written  articles  upon  the  subject  of  railroads  which  were  published  in 
the  West  during  that  period, jfirst  appeared  in  the  editorial  columns  of 
the  News-Letter.  The  office  was  over  the  furniture  rooms  of  W.  J- 
"Woods,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Square. 

At  a  subsequent  period,  in  1852  we  think,  the  News-Letter  passed 
into  the  hands  of  S.  G.  Cowan,  who  issued  it  under  the  title  of  the 
News-Letter  and  Henry  County  News.  This  title  was  given  it  to 
please  its  Henry  county  patrons,  who  were  quite  numerous.  This 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  535 

was  also  a  neutral  paper,  though  during  the  latter  part  of  its  existence 
it  was  somewhat  Free-Soilish. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  the  News-Letter  office  passed  into  the  hands  of 
J.  "W.  Lane,  and  the  first  political  paper  ever  published  in  the  town 
made  its  appearance  under  the  title  of  the  Western  Freeman.  It  was 
an  anti-slavery  paper.  This  paper  lived  only  two  months.  The 
office  of  the  Western  Freeman  passed  into  the  hands  of  South  wick 
Davis  and  William  H.  Holcomb,  and  on  the  5th  day  of  January,  1854, 
the  Galesburg  Free  Democrat  made  its  first  appearance.  This  paper 
then  was,  and  has  ever  since  continued,  an  anti-slavery  journal.  On 
the  30th  of  November,  1854,  the  establishment  passed  into  the  hands 
of  William  J.  Woods,  and  B.  F.  Haskins  became  the  editor.  On 
the  8th  of  March,  1865,  Mr.  Haskins  retired  from  the  paper  and 
C.  J.  Sellon  became  editor.  On  the  26th  of  July,  1855,  the 
office  passed  into  the  hands  of  S.  W.  Brown,  R.  H.  Whiting 
and  D.  H.  Frisbie.  Mr.  Sellon  still  continued  to  act  as  editor. 
On  the  1st  of  November,  1855,  the  management  of  the  office 
passed  into  the  hands  of  S.  D.  McDonald.  December  11,  1855, 
the  office  again  passed  into  the  hands  of  W.  J.  Woods,  and  shortly 
afterwards  Mr.  Sellon  resumed  his  post  of  editor.  On  the  18th  of 
August,  1856,  Mr.  Woods  made  a  sale  of  the  office  to  J.  II.  Sherman, 
who  owned  and  edited  the  paper  until  about  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  Messrs.  Bailey  &  McClelland  became  proprietors,  and  the  name 
was  changed  to  Free  Press.  November  20,  1872,  Gen.  M.  S.  Barnes 
bought  the  institution,  and  continues  to  run  it.  With  the  exception 
of  a  few  weeks  he  has  issued  two  editions, — a  daily  and  a  weekly.  His 
son  W.  Bennett  has  the  business  charge  of  the  daily.  It  is  now  De- 
mocratic in  politics.  Gen.  Barnes  has  had  forty  years'  experience  in 
the  newspaper  business, — twelve  years  of  wliich  was  in  connection 
with  a  large  daily  in  Chicago,  and  five  years  he  edited  the  Dub'iique 
Times,  when  it  was  the  most  influential  Republican  paper  in  the 
State  of  Iowa.  He  also  started  the  first  daily  in  the  Northwest  out- 
side of  Chicago,  the  Milwaukee  Sentinel  in  1843.  He  raised  a 
regiment  of  soldiers,  while  at  Rock  Island  during  the  war,  served 
three  years  in  the  aymy  and  was  brevetted  Brigadier  General, 

Knox  County  Observer. — This  paper  was  published  by  Louis  V. 
Taft,  in  1865;  had  but  a  short  life. 

The  Liberal. — This  paper  was  edited  by  Steve  R.  Smith,  and  was 
started  in  1867  at  Galesburg  as  a  weekly.  It  went  bodly  into  the 
fight  for  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Knoxville  to  Galesburg. 
About  the  year  1870  he  discontinued  the  paper  and  sold  the  material 
of  the  office  to  Prior  &  Emerick. 


536  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  Register. — In  1866  this  paper  made  its  appearance.  It  was 
started  by  Steve  R.  Smith,  Win.  J.'Mourer  and  ILD.  Babcock.  After 
several  changes  it  was  bought  by  E.  F.  Phelps  in  1872,  and  shortly 
afterwards  was  merged  into  the  Republican  Register. 

The  Republican.. — This  paper  was  started  by  C.  E.  Oarr  and  J.  M. 
Prior  in  1872,  and  was  sold  to  S.  W.  Grubb  in  1872,  when  it  consolid- 
ated with  the  Register  and  formed  the  Republican-Register. 

Sidewalkings  was  a  publication  in  a  magazine  form,  and  ap- 
peared occasionally,  as  its  editor,  Stephen.  R.  Smith,  thought  its  influ- 
ence was  demanded.  The  first  number  appeared  December  13,  1873. 
It  soon  became  popular  as  a  sensational  publication,  and  even  pos- 
sessed some  literary  ability,  but  evidently  was  not  just  the  thing,  and 
it  soon  disappeared  to  be  resurrected  no  more. 

The  Galesburg  Republic  was  commenced  Jan.  1, 1873,  by  Judson 
Graves,  of  Kirkwood.  It  ran  as  a  semi-weekly  for  three  months,  and 
at  the  end  of  two  years  its  name  was  changed  to  The  Plaindealer.  It 
is  a  weekly;  is  independent  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  two  pages 
of  excellent  miscellaneous  reading  in  each  number.  Mr.  Graves  is 
now  passing  the  meridian  of  life,  and  has  been  in  the  printing  and 
newspaper  business  ever  since  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age. 

Galesburg  Review. — In  the  fall  of  1877  the  Oolville  Brothers  com- 
menced the  issue  of  the  Galesburg  Re^ew^  a  weekly,  Republican  in 
politics  and  of  high  literary  taste  in  its  miscellany.  In  the  spring  of 
1878  it  was  changed  to  a  monthly,  and  is  now  purely  a  literary  peri- 
odical. 

Knoxiana. — The  students  of  Knox  College  have  published  small 
literary  periodicals.  The  Knoxiana  was  commenced  in  1850,  and 
for  five  years  was  published  by  the  "  Knoxiana  Publication  Com- 
pany," and  after  that  by  the  Adelphi  society.  The  Oak  Leaf  was 
commenced  in  1856,  by  the  Gnothautii  association.  Both  these  pub- 
lications were  discontinued. 

The  Hemlandet,  a  Swedish  Lutheran  paper,  first  appeared  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1855,  edited  by  Rev.  T.  K.  Hasselquist.  At  that  time  it  was 
the  only  Swedish  newspaper  in  the  United  States.  After  a  time  it 
was  removed  to  Chicago,  where  now,  at  85  Jackson  street,  it  is  pub- 
lished by  Enander  &  Bohman. 

The  Republican- Register. — This,  the  recognized  leading  journal  of 
the  county,  is  a  six-column  quarto  sheet,  published  both  daily  and 
weekly.  The  Republican-Register  is  the  result  of  the  consolidation 
of  the  Register  and  the  Republican,  both  Galesburg  papers.  The 
former  was  established  in  1866,  the  latter  in  1870.  The  union  was 
consummated  in  December  of  1872.  A  company  had  been  formed 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  537 

styled  the  Galesburg  Printing  Company,  for  the  especial  purpose  of 
becoming  the  owner  of  the  above  named  papers.  Geo.  V.  Dieterick 
is  president  and  S.  W.  Grubb  secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  com- 
pany. The  editorial  management  of  the  paper  is  under  the  control  of 
Z.  Beatty,  and  its  business  interests  managed  by  S.  W.  Grubb,  both 
of  whom  are  practical  printers  of  many  years  experience.  The  paper 
is  uncompromisingly  Republican  in  politics.  In  its  management  is 
displayed  considerable  enterprise,  tact,  energy  and  superior  business 
ability.  The  local  columns  of  the  paper  are  generally  full,  well  ar- 
ranged and  embrace  all  the  happenings  of  the  city  and  indeed  of  the 
entire  county.  Its  list  of  regular  correspondents  in  various  parts  of 
the  county  contribute  well  prepared  articles  of  the  news  of  their  dis- 
tricts each  week.  It  has  the  largest  circulation  of  any  publication  in 
the  county. 

KNOXVILLE    PAPERS. 

The  Knoxmlle  Journal — The  first  number  of  this  excellent  paper 
appeared  October  5,  1849.     It  was  a  six  column  folio,  and  was  edited 
and  published  by  John  S.  Winter,  the  present  efficient  County  Clerk, 
and  David  Collins,  under  the  firm  name  of  Winter  &  Collins.     The 
first  page  was  devoted  Eto  poetry  and    stories;    the  second   page   to 
editorials,  sandwiched  with  local  and  foreign  news;    the  third  page 
to  advertisements;    and    the   fourth  to  miscellany.     There  were   no 
columns   especially  devoted   to  "Locals."     Indeed,   the   local   news 
recorded,  occupied  but  a  small  portion  of  the  paper.     One  feature 
worthy  of  mention  was  its  telegraphic  dispatches,  which  appeared 
each  week.     Mr.  Winter  had  telegrams  sent  to  Peoria  and  brought 
from  there  by  mail,  which  gave  his  readers  news  of  a  later  date  than 
they  could  get  from  the  Chicago  papers.     He  published  these  tele- 
grams when  no  paper  in  Peoria  had  any  telegraphic  news.     At  that 
time,   magazines,  periodicals  and  general  literary  publications  were 
not  so  numerous  as  at  present,  nor  were  there  many  that  found  their 
way  into  the  homes  of  the  citizens  of  Knox  county.      This  paper, 
therefore,  supplied  this  want,  and  did  it  well ;  for  we  find  the  stories 
and   general   literary   articles  of  a  superior  class.     They  would  add 
merit  and  give   increased  interest  to  any  of  the  publications  now 
issued.     The  journal  was  neutral  on  both  politics  and  religion.     In 
referring  to  this,  in  their  introductory,  they  say:    "We  do  not  wish  it 
to  be  understood  that  we  are  without  either  political  or  religious  sen- 
timents.    Far  from  it.     One  of  us  professes  the  Democratic  creed,  and 
the  other,  with  equal  ardor,   embraces  Whig  doctrines  and  Whig 
principles.     A  house  divided  against  itself,  must  stand  on  neutral 


538  HISTORY    OF    KXOX    COUNTY. 

grounds."  From  the  first,  the  paper  flourished.  It  had  on  its  list, 
as  original  subscribers,  2-10  names.  So  prosperous  was  it.  that  in  nine 
months  their  list  increased  to  1,200.  The  advertising  patronage  had 
also  kept  pace  with  their  growing  subscription  list,  thus  necessitating 
an  enlargement,  which  was  made  July  9th,  1850.  It  then  appeared 
as  a  seven  column  paper.  Prosperity  still  attended  it,  and  again, 
May  6, 1851,  another  column  was  added  to  each  page.  Collins  retired 
from  the  firm,  January  13,  1852,  leaving  Winter  sole  editor  and  pro- 
prietor. The  Journal  was  a  financial  success.  It  has  no  parallel  in 
the  rapidity  of  its  growth,  in  this  county,  save  in  that  of  the  Knox 
Republican.  It  ran  up  its  subscription  list  to  1,800,  at  one  time,  and 
hundreds  of  dollars  of  advertisements  were  turned  away.  The  for- 
eign advertising  patronage  was  large,  mostly  of  patent  medicines. 
Contrary  to  the  present  custom,  Mr.  Winter  received  double  price 
for  such  notices.  There  are  many  quaint  advertisements  in  this 
pioneer  sheet.  The  following  poetical  notice  from  a  postmaster,  of  an 
absconding  subscriber,  was  received  by  the  editor  in  November,  1853: 

FRENCH  GROVE,  ILL.,  Nov.  22. 
JOHN  S .  WESTER,  Dear  Sir: 

Orin  Hotchkiss,  a  subscriber  to  your  paper 

Has  cut  a  caper, 

And  has  become  Homo  Libur. 

In  plain  parlance,  he  has  gone  away, 

And  nothing  left  his  debts  to  pay ; 

Not  e'en  a  pig  or  chick  to  pay  his  hostage ; 

So  you  have  lost  the  paper,  and  I  the  postage. 

AMOS  WHETTMORE. 

There  was  a  feature  of  the  Journal  that  especially  deserves  com- 
mendation. This  is  the  earnestness  and  ability  with  which  it  advo- 
cated the  building  of  a  Railroad.  Commencing  with  the  first  num- 
ber, it  ceased  only  when  the  Peoria  and  Oquawka  Railroad  was  com- 
pleted and  trains  regularly  running.  We  have  seen  but  few  journals 
which  advocated  any  measure  with  the  force,  persistency  and  ability 
that  the  Journal  did  the  building  of  a  railroad. 

Owing  to  ill  health,  Mr.  Winter  sold  the  Journal  to  John  Regan, 
the  present  publisher  of  the  Maquon  Times  and  the  Elmwood  Mes- 
senger. This  sale  was  made  March  2,  1855.  The  paper  remained 
neutral  but  a  short  time  after  the  transfer,  when  it  espoused  the 
Democratic  cause,  and  after  a  short  and  less  prosperous  career,  its 
publication  was  discontinued. 

The  Knox  Republican. — The  Knox  Republican  is  another  enter- 
prise inaugurated  and  conducted  by  John  S.  Winter;  and  in  his 
introductory,  he  gives  the  following  reasons  for  starting  the  paper. 
We  quote: 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  539 

"  Seven  years  ago,  we  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Knoxville 
Journal,  then  until  very  recently,  a  neutral  paper.  Our  object  then 
was  to  present  to  the  citizens  of  Kuox  county  a  medium  for  obtaining 
the  latest  news,  a  medium  of  home  communication,  a  paper  peculiarly 
devoted  to  the  dissemination  of  home  intelligence,  and  one  upon 
which  men  of  all  parties  could  rely  for  facts,  as  uninfluenced  by  party 
motives  or  party  power.  How  far  we  succeeded,  we  leave  to  the 
judgment  of  the  public,  feeling  satisfied  with  the  success  of  our  enter- 
prise, as  it  was  conceded  that  we  had  a  larger  subscription  list  than 
any  paper  in  the  State,  outside  of  Chicago  and  Alton.  On  account  of 
ill  health,  we  disposed  of  the  Journal,  and  hoped  that  our  connection 
with  the  press  had  ceased  forever.  But  a  change  has  come  over  the 
spirit  of  our  dreams.  The  outrages  committed  in  Kansas,  and  the 
long  train  of  evils  which  have  arisen  from  the  passage  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Act,  and  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise — that  ruth- 
less act  of  a  sacrilegious  Senator,  the  prominent  feature  of  the  present 
corrupt  Administration, — have  rendered  the  publication  of  a  Repub- 
lican paper  in  our  town  a  matter  of  importance,  and  the  change 
recently  made  in  the  character  of  the  Knoxville  Journal,  from  neu- 
trality to  open  hostility  to  all  that  we  hold  dear  in  political  principles, 
its  open  advocacy  of  the  policy  of  the  present  Administration,  even  to 
the  sanction  of  the  policy  pursued  in  Kansas,  excusing  the  acts  of  the 
Border  Ruffians,  called  for  the  immediate  establishment  of  an  opposi- 
tion paper;  and  having  been  chosen  to  conduct  it  until  a  suitable  per- 
son could  be  obtained  to  take  charge  of  it,  we  take  pleasure  in  pre- 
senting the  first  number  of  the  Kxox  REPUBLICAN  to  the  public." 

The  first  number  appeared  on  Wednesday,  October  8, 1856.  It  was 
a  seven-column  folio,  neatly  printed  and  ably  conducted.  Mr.  Winter 
wielded  an  able  pen,  and  soon  made  his  paper  one  of  great  influence 
in  this  section  of  the  State.  The  paper  having  been  started  as  a  cam- 
paign sheet,  two  weeks  prior  to  the  Presidential  election  of  1856,  but 
having  been  successful,  two  weeks  after  the  election  it  was  found  to 
have  1,200  paying  subscribers,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  S. 
Winter,  John  Winter  and  R.  M.  Winans.  The  enterprise  ever  dis- 
played in  the  management  of  this  paper  is  illustrated  in  the  following 
circumstance  connected  with  its  history.  During  its  first  year,  and 
before  everything  had  got  to  running  smoothly,  it  was  found  on  one 
occasion,  they  had  not  sufficient  paper  on  which  to  print  their  large 
edition.  Mr.  Winter  hitched  up  a  horse,  after  breakfast,  drove  to 
Peoria,  procured  the  paper  and  drove  back  to  Kuoxville,  in  time  for 
supper  that  evening. 

On  April  7th,  1S5S,  John  S.  Winter  &  Co.  retired  from  the  manage- 
30 


540  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

ment  of  the  Republican,  and  Beatty  &  Robinson  became  the  editors 
and  publishers.  It  is  claimed  that  this  paper  was  the.  first  to  bring 
out  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  Presidency  in  1860.  It 
was  ably  conducted  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  electing  the 
Republican  ticket  that  year.  Mr.  Beatty  retired  from  the  firm,  leav- 
ing W.  T.  Robinson  publisher  and  sole  proprietor,  who,  after  a  time 
sold  out  to  F.  A.  Lanstrum  in  1875.  (Shortly  afterwards  it  fell  into 
the  hands  of  its  present  editor  and  publisher,  O.  L.  Campbell.  At 
that  time  it  was  an  eight-column  folio,  but  it  has  since  been  enlarged 
and  donned  in  a  new  dress  and  now  appears  as  a  six-column  quarto? 
and  one  of  the  neatest  sheets  issued  in  this  part  of  the  State.  It  is 
favored  with  the  largest  advertising  patronage  of  any  paper  in  the 
county,  or  perhaps  with  one  exception.  Mr.  Campbell  was  raised  in 
the  Republican  office  and  although  young  has  had  long  experience  in 
journalism,  and  extended  dealings  with  the  reading  public  of  Knox- 
ville  and  vicinity  and  apparently  knows  the  kind  of  a  paper  they  de- 
mand. 

The  Diocese. — This  is  a  religious  monthly,  published  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  Episcopal  church.  It  is  the  diocesan  journal  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Illinois,  and  is  edited  by  Charles  W.  Leffingwell,  A.  M.,  B. 
D.,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  St.  Mary's  School,  Knoxville,  and  is  printed  by 
the  Galesburg  Printing  Company.  Typographically  this  is  one  of 
the  neatest  and  most  tasty  publications  issued  from  any  establishment 
in  this  part  of  the  State.  Indeed,  it  compares  favorably  with  any 
journal,  religious  or  secular,  produced  by  the  press  of  this  country. 
Its  editorials  are  carefully  and  ably  prepared,  and  its  columns  are 
scholarly  and  dogmatical,  numbering  among  its  contributors  many 
of  the  most  noted  Episcopal  writers  of  the  State. 

Zion's  Banner  is  a  Swedish  Lutheran  journal,  published  semi- 
monthly at  Knoxville,  111.,  and  is,  as  its  name  indicates,  a  denomina- 
tional paper.  Its  size  is  twenty-two  by  thirty-one  inches,  six  columns, 
folio  form.  It  was  first  published  in  Galesburg,  July  12,  1871.  It 
now  has  a  circulation  of  1,340  copies,  and  is  edited  by  Rev.  C.  Ander- 
son. 

ABINGKDON  PAPERS. 

Abingdon  Messenger. — This  paper  was  published  by  Chambers  & 
White  and  edited  by  O.  White.  It  was  established  about  1856  and 
run  about  two  years.  This  was  the  first  paper  published  in  Abing- 
don. 

The  Nonpariel. — The  Nonpareil  was  published  by  D.  H.  Elliot 
and  lived  only  about  a  year. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  541 

The  Reporter. — The  next  paper  that  appeared  in  Abingdon  was 
The  Reporter,  conducted  by  C.  C.  Button.  This  paper  bore  date  of 
1861-2. 

The  Educational  Magazine. — This  was  a  monthly  of  32  pages, 
published  in  pamphlet  form  during  the  year  1864-5.  It  was  pub- 
lished at  Abingdon  in  the  interest  of  Abingdon  College,  by  J.  W. 
Butler. 

The  Gazette. — This  publication  was  an  enterprise  of  E.  E.  Ches- 
ney. 

The  Knox  County  Democrat. — This  paper  had  a  longer  run  than 
any  other  publication  issued  at  Abingdon.  W.  H.  Heaton  started  it 
in  1869  or  1870  and  run  it  for  six  years,  when  it  was  sold  and  merged 
into  The  Knoxonian. 

Abingdon  Leader. — This  was  an  ably  conducted  paper.  It  was 
originally  established  in  Monmouth  by  T.  S.  Clarke,  as  The  Mon- 
mouth  Leader.  After  his  death  it  was  conducted  by  S.  J.  Clarke, 
and  in  1874  moved  by  him  to  Abingdon  where  he,  with  J.  S.  Badger, 
established  the  Abingdon  Leader.  It  lived  but  about  a  year. 

The  Knoxonian. — This  was  the  out-growth  of  the  Knox  County 
Democrat.  It  was  conducted  by  Henry  C.  Allen  till  the  summer  of 
the  present  year,  when  he  moved  the  office  to  Augusta,  111.,  where  he 
conducts  The  Augusta  Herald. 

The  Abingdon  Express. — Abingdon  has  had  many  newspapers 
during  the  last* two  decades.  An  initiatory  sheet  would  make  its  ap- 
pearance with  almost  startling  announcements  of  what  its  future 
course  should  be,  but  alas!  ere  time  had  unfolded  itself  into  any  con- 
siderable period,  the  pretentious  paper  had  neither  present  nor  future. 
With  the  Abingdon  Express  a  different  course  was  pursued,  and 
naturally  a  diverse  result  has  followed.  Its  first  number  was  published 
some  time  during  the  year  1875,  and  was  small  in  size;  but  by  being 
ably  and  judiciously  managed  it  has  grown  to  the  creditable  propor- 
tions of  24  by  36  inches.  It  is  Democratic  in  politics,  and  some  able 
political  articles  appear  in  its  columns.  It  is  all  printed  in  the  office 
at  Abingdon,  and  its  typography  is  neat  and  clear.  The  office  is  well 
supplied  with  new  presses,  good  material  and  competent  workmen. 
The  Express  is  edited  by  Frank  L.  Ritchey,  and  published  weekly. 

Abingdon  Register. — This  journal  is  the  out-growth  of  the  smallest 
paper  ever  published  in  the  United  States,  and  it  has  probably  ex- 
perienced a  greater  degree  of  development  in  size  than  any  other  paper 
issued  from  the  press  of  this  country.  In  1874,  Charles  K.  Bassett, 
then  a  lad  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  started  an  amateur  paper  of  a  very 
diminutive  size.  We  give  a  reprint  of  this  paper  that  our  readers 


54:2 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


may  judge  of  its  size  and  contents.  The  following  is  a  perfect  copy  of 
the  News  and  contains  every  word  it  did  in  its  first  number.  It  was 
printed  only  on  one  side. 


VOL  I 


JANUARY,  12,  1874. 


NOI. 


This,  the  first  number  of 
our  AMATEUR  NEWS,  we 
hope  you  will  appreciate  and 
that  you  will  look  at  it  as 
an  AMATEUR  paper.  This 
paper  is  edited  and  printed 
by  a  couple  of  enterprising 
boys.  Our  terms  are  easy, 
for  it  is  a  small  paper  and 
we  sell  it  for  the  small  sum 
of  1  cent.  We  will  try  and 
publish  it  every  fortnight. 
We  do  not  take  subscrip- 
tions, but  you  will  find  it  for 
sale  in  several  stores. 


WARNING  TO  GENTLEMEN 

On  last  Sunday  night  while 
a  young  couple  were  return 
ing  home  from  church  the 
young  gentleman  was  stun 
ned  by  having  another  gen. 
tleman,  (who  we  will  call 
W.  H.)  come  up  behind  the 
couple  and  give  the  girl  a 
kiss.  As  soon  as  W.  H. 
kissed  the  girl  he  being  near 
home,  like  a  dog  crept  in. 
"  And  it  came  to  pass  that  " 
gents  must  take  warning. 


Verily,  this  was  a  tiny  bit  of  paper  to  be  called  a  newspaper.  But 
Charlie  was  ambitious  to  become  an  editor;  and  there  laid  down  a 
•cardinal  business  principle  in  the  very  foundation  of  his  life  work, 
namely,  that  of  not  undertaking  to  do  more  than  he  could  do  well. 
His  miniature  journal  lived  a  year  and  grew  in  size  so  that  at  the  ex- 
piration of  one  year,  when  he  ceased  its  publication,  it  had  attained 
ithe  dimensions  of  seven  by  ten  inches,  In  March,  1877,  Mr.  Bassett 
published  the  first  number  of  the  Register.  Adhering  to  his  former 
motto,  he  sent  out  the  first  number  as  a  four  column  folio.  It  has 
fceen  enlarged  from  time  to  time  until  it  is  now  a  large  eight-column 
sheet,  23  by  40  inches  in  size.  It  is  well  printed,  and  has  a  good  circula- 
tion. It  is  a  political  paper,  adherin  g  to  and  advocating  the  principles  of 
the  National  Greenback  party,  and  is  the  only  Greenback  journal  pub- 
lished in  this  county.  Its  local  columns  are  especially  noticeable  for 
their  variety,  spice  and  freshness,  many  of  the  local  squibs  rivaling 
the  sharp  sayings  of  the  Burlington  Hawkeye.  The  paper  seems  to 
be  upon  a  paying  basis,  and  if  encouraged  as  it  deserves,  will  prove  a 
paying  enterprise  to  the  publisher  and  a  credit  to  the  county.  Its 
•editor  is  still  in  his  'teens,  and  is  the  youngest  member  of  the  Illinois 
Press  Association.  He  possesses  much  native  talent  both  as  an  editor 
and  publisher  and  bids  fair  to  shine  as  a  star  ot  no  little  magnitude  in 
the  journalistic  firmament. 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  545 

ONEIDA    PAPERS. 

The  Oneida  News  is  published  at  Oneida,  every  Friday.  It  was 
first  started  in  November,  1876,  by  the  present  proprietor,  as  an 
amateur  sheet,  he  being  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  entirely  inex- 
perienced both  in  the  printing  business  and  editorial  profession.  It 
was  first  issued  as  a  four-column  quarto,  but  was  enlarged  and  changed 
in  form  to  a  seven-column  folio,  its  present  style,  in  October,  1877. 
The  News  is  a  very  creditable  local  journal,  and  is  receiving  a  liberal 
support,  and  has  already  become  a  permanent  and  prominent  literary 
fixture  of  Knox  county.  The  rare  ability  that  Mr.  H.  W.  Ladd,  its- 
founder  and  present  editor  and  proprietor,  has  displayed  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  News  strongly  evidences  that  he  is  a  born  journalist. 
He  was  born  in  Ontario  township,  Knox  county,  in  1858;  and  should 
the  citizens  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county  lend  him  that  moral 
support  and  financial  aid  he  deserves  and  they  themselves  are  capable 
of  doing,  Mr.  Ladd  will  give  them  a  journal  which  they  can  point  to 
with  pride  and  read  with  interest. 

Oneida  Journal. — This  paper  appeared  but  few  times  when  it  was 
merged  into  the  Galesburg  Register,  at  which  office  it  was  printed. 

MAQUON    PAPERS. 

Maquon  Times. — This  is  a  neatly  and  well  printed  sheet  of  good 
size,  and  is  well  conducted.  It  is  edited  and  published  by  John  Regan* 
proprietor  of  the  Elmwood  Messenger,  Elmwood,  Peoria  county,  at 
which  oifice  the  Times  is  printed. 


544  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

EDUCATION. 

Though  struggling  under  the  pressure  of  poverty  and  privation,  the 
early  settlers  planted  among  them  the  school-house  at  the  earliest 
practicable  period.  So  important  an  object  as  the  education  of  their 
children  they  did  not  defer  until  they  could  build  more  comely  and 
convenient  houses.  They  were  for  a  time  content  with  such  as  cor- 
responded with  their  rude  dwellings,  but  soon  better  buildings  and 
accommodations  were  provided.  As  may  readily  be  supposed,  the 
accommodations  of  the  earliest  schools  were  not  good.  Sometimes 
school  was  taught  in  small  log  houses  erected  for  the  purpose.  Stoves 
and  such  heating  apparatus  as  are  now  in  use  were  unknown.  A  mud- 
and-stick  chimney  in  one  end  of  the  building,  with  earthen  hearth  and 
fire-place  wide  and  deep  enough  to  take  in  a  four-foot  back-log,  and 
smaller  wood  to  match,  served  for  warming  purposes  in  winter  and  a 
kind  of  conservatory  in  summer.  For  windows,  part  of  a  log  was  cut 
out  in  either  side,  and  may  be  a  few  lights  of  eight-by-ten  glass  set 
in,  or  just  as  likely  as  not  the  aperture  would  be  covered  over  with 
greased  paper.  Writing  benches  were  made  of  wide  planks,  or  likely 
puncheons,  resting  on  pins  or  arms,  driven  into  two-inch  auger-holes, 
bored  into  the  logs  beneath  the  windows.  Seats  were  made  out  of 
puncheons,  and  flooring  of  the  same  material.  Everything  was  rude 
and  plain;  but  many  of  America's  greatest  men  have  gone  out  from 
just  such  school-houses  to  grapple  with  the  wrorld  and  make  names  for 
themselves,  and  have  come  to  be  an  honor  to  their  country.  Among 
these  we  can  name  Abraham  Lincoln,  our  martyred  President,  one  of 
the  noblest  men  ever  known  to  the  world's  history. 

But  all  these  things  are  changed  now.  We  no  longer  see  the  log 
school-house.  The  last  one,  we  believe,  in  Knox  county  was  aban- 
doned last  year.  Their  places  are  filled  with  handsome  frame  or  brick 
structures,  which,  for  elegance  and  beauty  of  design,  rival  those  of 
older  settled  countries;  and  in  place  of  the  "masters,"  who  were 
"looked  up  to"  as  superior  beings,  and  were  consulted  on  all  matters 
of  law,  physic  and  religion,  there  are  teachers  of  liberal  culture,  intel- 
ligent and  progressive,  many  of  whom  have  a  broad  and  comprehen- 
sive idea  of  education,  and  regard  it  as  something  more  than  teaching 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  545 

merely  in  order  to  make  a  living — more  than  a  knowledge  of  a  great 
number  of  facts  in  the  universe  of  mind  and  matter.  It  means  cul- 
ture, the  educating,  developing  and  disciplining  of  all  the  faculties  of 
the  human  mind.  It  is  comprehension  of  the  entire  being  of  man; 
and  the  school  or  teacher  who  takes  charge  and  care  of  the  young 
should  provide  the  means  and  methods  for  carrying  forward  the  pro- 
cess in  all  departments  of  their  complex  natures,  physical,  mental  and 
spiritual. 

In  these  respects  the  teachers  of  Knox  county,  led  by  their  devoted, 
progressive  and  intelligent  Superintendent,  Miss  Mary  A..  West,  have 
made  remarkable  advances  during  the  past  few  years.  Order,  system 
and  progress  seem  to  be  her  motto,  which,  together  with  her  zeal  in 
having,  fundamentally,  practical  knowledge  disseminated  through 
every  school  district,  and  the  energy  displayed  to  arouse  and  create  a 
desire  for  advanced  knowledge,  for  thorough  mind  and  physical  cul- 
ture and  strength  in  these  different  departments,  eminently  fit  her  for 
the  important  position  of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  It  has 
been  and  is  the  policy  of  Miss  West,  since  officially  empowered,  to  raise 
the  standard  of  requirements  for  teachers'  certificates.  One  of  the 
most  effective  and  practical  means  brought  to  bear  in  this  direction 
was  the  establishing  of  "  teachers'  drills."  Annually  she  has  assem- 
bled the  teachers  together,  and  for  a  few  weeks,  with  the  aid  of  other 
able  instructors,  given  a  thorough  normal  drill.  Another  means 
adopted  by  her  of  aiding  teachers  in  their  work,  is  an  ably  conducted 
educational  department  in  the  Beading  county  paper.  Through  this 
medium  she  is  enabled  to  encourage  and  instruct  them  by  giving  each 
week  practical  suggestions  and  timely  hints,  news  from  their  co-labor* 
ers,  the  best  selections  from  educational  periodicals,  and  assurances  of 
fellowship  in  the  work.  Besides  these  features,  it  contains  something 
for  the  children.  This  department  of  the  Republican  Register  was 
opened  in  October,  1875.  In  addition,  there  are  the  "County"  and 
the  "  Township  Institutes,"  also  for  the  improvement  and  advance- 
ment of  the  modern  teacher.  For  twenty-four  years  a  "  County 
Teachers'  Institute"  has  been  sustained,  usually  meeting  semi-annu- 
ally;  but  when,  in  1875,  the  "Township  Association"  was  organized, 
the  Institute  met  but  once  a  year.  Still  further  to  educate  the  edu- 
cators, an  occasional  meeting  of  the  principals  of  the  ten  graded 
schools  is  held.  Another  excellent  idea  for  uniformity  is  annual 
meetings  of  the  township  treasurers,  and  occasionally  meetings  of  the 
school  directors  are  held  in  each  township. 

In  the  educational  department  of  the  Centennial  Exhibition  the 
Knox  county  schools  bore  a  conspicuous  and  honorable  part.  The  ex- 


546  HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

hibit  compared  well  in  quality  and  quantity  with  exhibits  of  the  large 
city  schools  of  the  State. 

To  create  a  greater  interest  in  educational  affairs  the  ever  fruitful 
method  of  competition  was  employed.  In  1877,  at  the  county  fair,  a 
school  exhibit  was  a  feature.  Here  specimens  of  workmanship  of 
many  of  the  schools  were  displayed.  This  plan  proved  a  success,  and 
the  County  Superintendent,  anxious  to  create  and  foster  every  means 
for  the  advancement  and  improvement  of  the  schools,  determined  to 
make  special  provision  for  an  exhibition  of  school  work  the  present 
year.  Acccordingly  a  building  was  constructed  on  the  fair  grounds 
at  Knoxville,  especially  for  this  department;  and  here,  as  proof  of  her 
zeal  and  earnestness  in  educational  matters,  as  well  as  the  interest 
manifested  by  Dr.  C.W.  Leffingwell,  Treasurer  of  the  Institute,  we  will 
mention  that  this  expenditure  was  made  by  them  with  the  prospects 
of  their  treasuries  being  re-imbursed  through  the  liberality  of  the 
people  after  witnessing  the  effects  of  it. 

The  County  School  Superintendent  has  been  agitating  the  adoption 
of  a  definite  course  of  study  for  all  county  schools.  She  claims  for  it 
the  following  advantages:  It  would  give  greater  definiteness  to  the 
work  of  the  school-room  and  uniformity  in  the  work  accomplished. 
It  would  prevent  the  one-sided  development  too  often  seen.  It  would 
prevent  much  of  the  injury  now  suffered  by  schools  from  frequent 
change  of  teachers.  Directors  would  be  able  to  give  more  specific 
directions  to  teachers,  and  to  judge  more  accurately  as  to  their 
efficiency.  It  is  evident  that  under  the  present  regime  there  is  a  great 
waste  of  teaching  force.  A  graphic  illustration  of  the  present  mode 
of  conducting  the  country  schools  in  this  respect  is  from  the  pen  of 
Miss  Leanna  Hague,  the  efficient  teacher  of  Cherry  Grove  school. 
She  says: 

"What  teacher  does  not  have  vivid  recollections  of  that  awful  first 
day  in  a  strange  school,  when,  after  enrolling  names  and  noting 
studies  last  pursued,  an  attempt  is  made  to  form  classes  to  suit  the 
assumed  needs  of  the  pupils!  If  no  record  of  classification  and  pro- 
gress has  been  left  by  your  predecessor,  if  from  directors  you  could 
obtain  no  information  upon  the  subject,  what  wonder  you  stand 
bewildered  at  the  '  gumbly  '  of  studies  reported!  The  name  of  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  heads  your  roll.  He  confidently  produces  a  Fifth 
Reader  for  your  inspection,  reports  himself  ready  for  Long  Division, 
guesses  he  knows  the  multiplication  table,  is  ignorant  of  script,  but 
can  print.  Arabella  went  faster  than  her  class  in  Arithmetic,  and 
last  term  recited  alone;  '  didn't  like  grammar,'  so  dropped  it  to  take 
up  algebra.  Of  one  thing  you  may  be  sure  there  are  candidates 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  547 

for  admission  to  every  grade  of  reader.  You  make  a  bold  plunge  into 
the  sea  of  difficulties,  and  assign  reading  lessons.  You  find,  as  the 
classes  come  up  before  you,  that  the  children,  shrewdly  taking  advan- 
tageof  your  ignorance,  have  classified  themselves  according  to  their 'own 
sweet  wills.'  You  discover  that  Ben.  Franklin,  being  an  enterpris- 
ing little  chap,  read  his  Fourth  Reader  through  at  home,  during  vaca- 
tion, and  how  sighs  for  '  fresh  pastures.'  Arabella,  whose  taste  for 
mathematics  has  been  indulged  at  the  expense  of  her  elocution,  'lends 
to  the  rhyme  of  the  poet  the  music  '  of  a  sing-song  tone  not  approved 
by  the  best  speakers.  Maria's  old  reader  was  in  tatters,  and'her  moth- 
er thought  it  praiseworthy  economy  to  have  the  new  one  of  a  higher 
grade.  John  Henry  was  out  of  school  while  his  class  studied  the  Sec- 
ond Reader,  but  to-day  he  is  stumbling  over  the  easiest  words  in  his 
NEW  Third." 

The  many  colleges  of  Knox  county  naturally  wield  an  influence  for 
good  in  educational  fields.  Pupils  can  be  carried  from  the  primary 
through  all  the  various  grades  and  studies  until  graduation  in  classi- 
cal, theological  or  scientific  courses  of  a  high  standard  in  established 
colleges.  While  the  young  men  have  been  amply  provided  for  in 
educational  privileges  and  will  probably  soon  have  another  institution, 
Knox  Agricultural  School,  opened  especially  for  them,  the  young 
ladies  have  received  equal  or  greater  attention  in  this  respect.  There 
is  perhaps  nothing  which  so  clearly  demonstrates  the  progress  of  so- 
ciety, and  the  elevated  stand  of  the  people  of  this  county,  as  the  great 
and  increasing  attention  devoted  to  educating  girls.  Knox  county 
can  boast  of  schools  of  this  nature  inferior  to  none  in  this  great  State. 
The  evils  resulting  to  society  in  consequence  of  uneducated  women 
are  numerous;  and  the  educators  of  Knox  county  seem  to  be  fully 
awake  to  these  effects,  and  to  the  importance  of  having  a  highly  cul- 
tured and  moral  female  community.  They  realize  that  to  a  very  great 
extent  the  education  and  proper  culture  of  the  coming  generations  de- 
pend upon  the  character  of  the  woman.  It  is  she  who  fashions  and 
molds  society  by  giving,  as  teacher  and  parent,  the  first  and  most 
lasting  impressions.  Her  influence  is  everywhere  felt  and  realized. 
If  her  character  be  pure  and  her  mind  elevated,  such  will  be  the  char- 
acter of  the  community.  Nature  has  especially  constituted  women 
the  early  guardians  and  instructresses  of  children,  and  clothes  her  with 
sympathies  suited  for  this  important  trust. 

The  first  school  held  in  Knox  county  was  at  Cherry  Grove,  Cedar 
township,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1832.  This  antedates  the  first 
school  at  Henderson  one  year.  It  was  taught  by  Robert  Bell,  who 
therefore  was  the  first  school-master  ever  to  wield  the  rod  in  this 


548  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

county.  He  was  a  Kentuckian,  a  thorough  teacher,  an  excellent  and 
ranch  respected  citizen.  Recently  Mr.  Bell  was  heard  from  by  some 
of  his  earlier  pupils.  He  was  then  residing  in  Red  Wing,  Minnesota. 
This  first  school  was  attended  by  16  scholars,  the  greater  portion  of 
whom  were  "grown  up;"  and  was  a  well  regulated,  orderly  school. 
The  usual  Friday  afternoon  exercises  in  etiquette,  after  spelling  ex- 
ercises, common  to  that  period,  were  observed  in  this  school.  Of  the 
pupils  now  known  to  be  living  are,  J.  C.  Latimer,  of  this  county;  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Coy,  of  Iowa;  Mrs.  McMillen,  eldest  daughter  of  Abraham 
D.  Swartz,  Washington  Territory;  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Swartz,  of 
Kansas. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Melton  tells  us  that  one  of  the  pioneer  masters  who 
taught  in  his  neighborhood,  made  it  a  rule,  in  order  to  insure  prompt- 
ness, to  give  the  last  scholar  that  arrived  in  the  morning  a  sound 
thrashing.  To  be  sure  this  was  a  severe  treatment,  but  no  doubt  pre- ' 
vented  an  undue  amount  of  tardiness.  Various  means  have  been 
tried  to  prevent  this  troublesome  feature,  many  of  which  have  proven 
beneficial ;  but  we  doubt  whether  there  ever  was  a  rule  adopted  which 
proved  more  effective  than  the  above.  There  is  a  noticeable  fact  in 
the  present  system  and  management  of  the  schools,  in  regard  to 
punctuality  of  scholars  that  is  highly  commendable.  Lateness  has 
been  reduced  almost  to  its  minimum. 

In  order  to  enable  the  reader  to  note  better  the  contrast  between 
the  schools  as  conducted  from  a  quarter  to  a  half  century  ago  and  the 
present  system,  we  give  a  few  incidents  of  the  earlier  schools. 

HOLIDAY   TREATING. 

A  general  custom  among  the  early  schools  was  that  of  "  holiday 
treating;"  and  the  scholars  looked  forward  with  great  expectation  on 
the  near  approach  of  the  holidays.  In  1835,  in  one  of  the  schools,  the 
scholars  notified  their  teacher  (lady  teachers  in  those  days  were  almost 
unknown)  that  he  must  treat  at  holiday  time.  This  he  strongly  re- 
fused to  do,  and  the  scholars  accordingly  made  out  their  conditions  in 
writing,  that  he  must  treat,  or  they  would  stand  him  on  his  head  in  a 
spring.  The  scholars,  however,  were  divided,  some  being  on  the  side 
of  the  teacher.  One  of  the  oldest  pupils,  who  favored  the  teacher, 
was  taken  by  the  other  side  and  given  a  thorough  ducking,  which 
readily  turned  him,  too,  against  the  teacher.  The  teacher,  whose  turn 
came  next,  divining  his  fate,  yielded,  and  furnished  the  "  stew"  for 
the  school.  That  night  the  school-house  was  burned.  Who  did  it 
was  never  publicly  known. 

This  old  custom  of  treating  prevailed  more  or  less  until  1852,  when 


OF  SCHOOLS  . 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  551 

a  Yankee  teacher  broke  up  the  practice.  His  name  was  Starr,  and  at 
the  time  he  was  teaching  in  the  Westfall  school-house,  situated  near 
the  late  William  McMurtry's  farm,  in  Henderson  township.  On  the 
approach  of  the  holidays  Mr.  Starr  was  notified  by  his  scholars  that 
he  must  furnish  a  bushel  of  apples  as  a  treat.  The  rule  then  was, 
that  if  the  teacher  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  school-house  first  in  the 
morning,  and  held  his  position  until  school  time,  he  was  acknowl- 
edged victor,  and  excused  from  treating.  If  the  scholars  arrived  first, 
and  could  keep  the  teacher  out  until  after  school  time,  they  were  the 
victors,  and  the  teacher  must  either  treat  or  take  the  penalty.  On 
this  occasion  the  teacher  secured  the  apples,  took  them  to  the  school- 
house,  and  got  up  into  the  loft  with  them  before  any  of  the  scholars 
came.  As  the  boys  arrived,  supposing  they  were  first,  they  began  to 
talk  quite  freely  and  tell  what  they  would  do;  how  they  would  duck 
their  teacher,  etc.,  freely  expressing  their  dislike  for  him.  One,  more 
courageous  than  the  rest,  expressed  a  decided  wish  to  give  him  a  good 
thrashing.  To  all  of  these  remarks  and  threats  Starr  listened  quietly, 
and  when  the  hour  arrived  for  "taking  up  the  school"  he  opened  the 
scuttle,  and  emptied  the  contents  of  his  sack  down  upon  the  floor. 
The  younger  scholars  freely  helped  themselves,  while  some  of  the 
larger  and  more  daring  ones,  mortified  at  their  defeat,  skulked  off. 
"We  leave  the  readers  to  contrast,  for  themselves,  this  with  the  schools 
of  Knox  county  at  the  present  time. 

THE    LOUD    SCHOOL. 

• 

In  the  summer  of  1833,  on  section  14,  Henderson  township,  Frank- 
lin F.  Barber  taught  the  first  school  in  that  vicinity,  and  the  second 
in  the  county.  This  was  a  remarkable  school,  and  for  the  following 
interesting  facts  concerning  it  we  are  indebted  to  T.  J.  Mansfield  and 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Melton,  who,  with  Mrs.  Samuel  Melton  and  Mrs.  Ellen 
Blue,  are  the  only  pupils  who  attended  this  school  that  are  now  living 
in  Knox  county. 

No  regular  hours  of  keeping  the  school  were  maintained.  The 
teacher  began  as  soon  as  the  first  scholar  came.  The  boys  on  enter- 
ing the  room  took  off  their  hats  and  "made  their  manners"  to  the 
teacher,  which  was  a  bow.  The  girls  made  a  "  courtesy." 

On  Friday  afternoon  the  exercises  were  in  choosing  sides  and  spell- 
ing for  an  hour  or  two,  and  after  returning  to  their  seats  they  would 
be  given  lessons  in  etiquette.  The  teacher  would  appoint  one  to  re- 
tire with  his  or  her  things  on,  and  on  returning,  another  was  selected 
to  receive  him  or  her  at  the  door  as  a  stranger,  take  the  hat  or  bonnet, 
and  wraps  off  the  visitor,  lay  them  away,  and  conduct  around  and 


552  HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

introduce  him  or  her  to  each  of  the  other  scholars.  This  was  continued 
until  all  had  acted  the  same  part.  On  closing  the  school,  which  was 
about  sundown,  some  were  appointed  to  carry  around  the  hats,  bon- 
nets, coats  and  shawls  of  the  others.  They  then  retired,  one  at  a 
time,  "  making  their  manners,"  as  on  entering. 

This  was  known  as  a  "loud  school,"  because  every  one  studied  his 
or  her  lessons  aloud,  which  was  often  ''  confusion  worse  confounded." 
Those  studying  arithmetic  were  permitted  to  go  out  into  the  woods, 
where  it  was  more  quiet,  when  getting  their  lessons.  In  those  days 
"spellin',  readin',  ritin'  and  'rithmetick  was  all  the  larnin'  they 
wanted  their  children  to  have." 

This  school-house  was  about  16  by  18  feet,  and  was  built  of  round 
logs.  The  cracks  between  the  logs  were  chinked  and  daubed.  The 
old-fashioned  fire-place  occupied  one  end  of  the  building,  with  its 
chimney  made  of  split  sticks  laid  up  in  cob-house  fashion  and  daubed 
with  clay.  The  floor  was  made  of  puncheon ;  and  for  seats  was  se- 
lected a  bass-wood  tree,  split  and  hewed,  with  hard-wood  legs.  The 
writing-desks  were  prepared  in  the  same  way,  only  a  larger  tree  was 
selected,  and  the  desks  were  made  against  the  sides  of  the  building. 
This  completed  the  school  furniture. 

For  the  closing  exercises  of  this  school,  the  parents  of  the  children 
in  attendance  were  invited.  The  teacher,  or  "  school-master,"  as  he 
was  then  called,  had  arranged  for  a  "  stew."  Mary  Ann  JRiley,  being 
the  oldest  girl,  was  selected  to  make  it.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in 
playing  ball  and  drinking  "  stew,"  which  was  not  an  uncommon  drink 
in  those  days.  It  was  made  of  water,  sugar,  whisky,  allspice  and  but- 
ter, cooked  together  by  bringing  it  to  a  boiling  heat.  Four  of  the 
scholars  became  quite  funny.  The  teacher  also  became  so  :'boosy" 
that  he  threw  a  saucer  behind  the  back-log,  and  it  took  him  until  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning  to  get  home.  The  girls,  seeing  the  evil  effects 
of  the  "  stew,"  concluded  they  would  make  no  more.  The  school, 
however,  was  considered  a  success,  and  the  teacher  was  employed  for 
another  year. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY.  553 


KKOX 

It  was  often  said  by  the  pioneers  of  Illinois  that  the  great  prairies 
would  never  be  cultivated.  The  early  settlers  along  the  edges  of  the 
groves,  little  foresaw  that  in  a  few  years  railroads  and  cities  would  be 
built  in  the  middle  of  the  broadest  prairies,  and  that  the  whole  land 
would  be  covered  with  waving  fields  of  grain.  How  strange  it  seemed, 
when  it  first  became  known  that  more  than  ten  thousand  acres  of  land 
had  been  bought  in  Knox  county,  and  that  a  colony  would  soon  arrive 
to  occupy  the  land  and  found  a  college  out  on  the  wild  prairies,  and 
stranger  still  to  those  who  came  from  stony  old  farms  carved  out  of 
dense  forests  to  delve  in  the  black  soil  which  required  only  the  plow 
and  a  year  of  sun  and  rains  to  convert  it  into  a  garden  ! 

But  apian,  the  result  of  long  and  serious  thought,  had  been  matured, 
and  a  circular  issued  setting  forth  the  importance  of  educating  the 
young.  The  circular  proceeded  at  some  length  to  advocate  manual- 
labor  institutions,  and  was  also  in  favor  of  "  providing  for  the 
thorough  education  of  women."  Rev.  Geo.  "W.  Gale,  the  author  of 
the  plan,  was  connected  with  the  first  regular  effort  made  in  this 
country  to  combine  manual  labor  with  a  liberal  course  of  instruction. 
His  thoughts  had  turned  in  this  direction  as  early  as  1825.  Encour- 
aged by  success  in  the  State  of  ~New  York,  he  drew  up  a  plan  for  a 
large  institution  in  the  west.  In  a  "  Brief  History  of  Knox  College," 
written  by  Dr.  Gale  in  1845,  he  gave  the  plan,  a  synopsis  of  which 
may  be  found  in  the  history  of  Galesburg,  in  this  book. 

Many  to  whom  the  plan  was,  shown  urged  its  prosecution,  but  the, 
location  was  not  easily  settled.  "  Michigan,  Northern  Indiana  and 
Illinois  were  successively  considered  but  no  place  selected,  which  de- 
layed the  enterprise  itself,  so  that  at  one  time  the  projectors  had  well 
nigh  or  quite  relinquished  the  idea  of  its  prosecution." 

However,  it  was  resumed  the  following  year,  a  subscription  was 
opened,  and  soon  about  thirty  families  embarked  in  the  enterprise, 
the  names  of  whom  and  their  first  labor  will  be  found  in  the  sketch 
of  Galesbnrg. 

A  second  meeting  was  held  at  Whitesboro,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  19, 1835. 


554:  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  forenoon  was  spent  in  prayer  and  other  religious  exercises,  and  in 
the  afternoon  the  following  resolutions,  among  others,  were  adopted: 

Itesolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  persons  be  appointed  to  make 
a  purchase  and  appraisal  of  lands  in  Illinois  or  Indiana,  for  the 
objects  specified  in  the  circular,  and  that  G.  W.  Gale,  II.  H.  Kellogg 
and  Sylvanus  Ferris  be  that  committee;  also  that  Nehemiah  "West  be 
a  substitute  for  Mr.  Kellogg. 

Mr.  Thomas  Simmons  was  subsequently  added  to  the  committee. 
About  the  middle  of  September,  Messrs.  Gale,  Ferris,  West  and  Sim- 
mons left  for  the  western  country.  Rev.  Mr.  Gale  having  been 
detained  by  sickness,  at  Detroit,  Mr.  Samuel  Tompkins  was  added 
to  the  committee.  Rev.  Jno.  Waters  also  accompanied  the  committee 
and  assisted  in  selecting  the  site.  They  arrived  at  Knoxville  about 
the  middle  of  October,  and  soon  had  their  attention  called  to  a  tract 
of  land  lying  along  the  south  side  of  Henderson  Grove,  and  in  a  few 
days  a  purchase  of  10,747  acres  was  effected.  A  meeting  of  the  sub- 
scribers was  held  at  Whitesboro,  Jan.  7th,  1836,  with  Rev.  Jno. 
Waters  chairman,  and  N.  H.  Losey  secretary,  at  which  the  report  of 
Geo.  W.  Gale,  as  agent,  was  accepted.  They  then  voted  to  divide  the 
land  according  to  the  plan,  and  to  appoint  trustees,  who  should  have 
charge  of  the  property  and  become  incorporated  as  soon  as  practicable, 
by  the  Legislature  of  Illinois,  under  the  name  "Trustees  of  Prairie 
College,  Illinois."  The  Trustees  appointed  were  Rev.  Jno.  Waters, 
Sylvanus  Ferris,  Rev.  H.  H.  Kellogg,  Thomas  Simmons,  John  C. 
Smith,  Walter  Webb,  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Gale,  Nehemiah  West,  Isaac 
Mills  and  Samuel  Tompkins.  Committees  were  appointed  to  pro- 
vide for  building  a  college  edifice.  The  college  was  chartered  in  Feb., 
1837,  by  the  name  "  Knox  Manual  Labor  College."  But  the  manual 
labor  plan  was  abandoned  at  an  darly  day,  and  in  1857  the  name  was 
changed  to  Knox  College. 

There  were  in  all  thirty -four  subscribers  to  the  original  circular  and 
plan.  Of  these,  nine  came  in  1836.  Of  the  remaining  subscribers,  a 
part  did  not  purchase,  some  returned  to  their  lands,  and  others  sold  out 
at  an  advance;  but  there  was  no  want  of  interest  in  the  enterprise. 
During  1836,  about  thirty  families  took  up  their  temporary  abode  in 
the  southern  edge  of  Henderson  Grove,  and  others  came  early  in  1837. 
Aug.  9th,  1837,  the  College  Trustees  held  their  first  meeting  at  the 
house  of  Matthew  Chambers,  in  Knoxville.  There  were  present,  Jno. 
Waters,  Geo.  W.  Gale,  Jno.  G.  Sanburn,  Geo.  H.  Wright,  Parnach 
Owen,  Erastus  Swift,  Thos.  Simmons,  Matthew  Chambers,  Kehe- 
miah  West  and  Nehemiah  H.  Losey.  Peter  Butler,  of  Monmouth, 
Win.  Holyoke  and  Sylvanus  Ferris  were  added  to  the  Board,  and  it 


KNOX  COLLEGE,  GALESBURG. 


KNOX  SEMINARY,  GALESBURG. 


CIRCUTT  CLERK 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  557 

was  "  resolved  to  receive  the  property  of  the  association  of  subscribers, 
and  to  carry  into  effect  their  original  purpose  in  accordance  with  the 
charter."  An  academy  building  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1838,  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Cherry  streets,  and  the  school 
opened  early  in  the  winter,  with  forty  students,  under  the  direction  of 
N.  H.  Losey.  In  1838,  Rev.  H.  H.  Kellogg  was  appointed  Agent  of 
the  college,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  as  President  in  Aug.,  1841. 

The  college, was  fully  organized,  and  the  first  Freshman  class  entered 
in  the  fall  of  1841,  and  the  first  class  graduated  in  1846.  In  Nov., 
1839,  the  interest-bearing  funds  of  the  college  was  reported  to  amount 
to  $29,715.00,  after  paying  all  the  indebtedness  of  the  Board.  In 
1843-4,  Dr.  Gale  obtained  in  the  East,  1,600  volumes  for  the  library, 
and  about  $2,000  in  money,  $800  of  which  was  expended  for  apparatus. 
In  1844,  President  Kellogg,  while  in  England,  obtained  donations  in 
books  and  money  to  the  value  of  nearly  $2,000.  In  1843,  a  building 
which  had  cost  more  than  $5,000,  was  burned,  without  insurance. 
Soon  after,  the  citizens  pf  Galesburg  and  vicinity  subscribed  about 
$3,500.00  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  college  buildings.  One  building 
was  completed  in  1844,  and  the  other  a  year  after,  constituting  what 
are  known  as  the  east  and  west  buildings.*  The  following  quotation 
from  Dr.  Gale's  "  History,"  will  show  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the 
year  1845: 

"  After  this  outlay  of  more  than  $10,000,  the  productive  fund  of  the 
institution  is  more  than  $20,000.  Besides  this  productive  fund,  the 
college  has  unsold  lands,  chiefly  within  the  original  purchase,  valued 
at  $30,000;  and  unsold  lands  in  other  counties  worth  $7,000  or 
$8,000  more.  There  is  land  and  town  property  reserved  for  theo- 
logical instruction,  if  applied  to  that  use  within  a  given  time,  valued 
at  $3,000.  So  that  the  entire  fund  for  all  educational  uses,  realized 
from  this  enterprise,  is  at  present  some  $70,000.  The  town  of  Gales- 
burg  now  has  some  70  dwellings,  besides  mechanics'  shops,  stores, 
mills,  Academy  and  College  buildings,  accommodating  about  800 
inhabitants.  Profaneness  is  rarely  heard  in  the  streets,  and  intoxi- 
cating drinks  have  neither  foothold  nor  advocates  in  the  community. 

In  1847,  the  Academy  was  removed  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
Public  Square,  into  a  brick  building,  which  twenty  years  afterward 
gave  place  to  the  Union  Hotel.  In  1848,  measures  were  taken  to 
establish  a  complete  course  for  the  education  of  young  women.  This 
course  at  first  occupied  three  years,  but  was  lengthened  to  a  four  years' 

*Mr.  J.  P.  Williston,  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  commenced  contributing  to  the 
support  of  the  college,  in  1844,  and  did  not  cease  his  benefactions  till  the  year  1855, 
when  they  amounted  to  more  than  $8,000. 


558  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

course,  in  1868.  The  first  class  graduated  in  Jan.,  1851.  In  1857, 
thirty  thousand  dollars  were  expended  in  building  the  Ladies'  Semi- 
nary, a  large  five-story  edifice,  with  chapel,  recitation  rooms,  music 
and  painting  rooms,  and  ample  accommodations  for  boarding.  During 
the  same  year,  the  main  college  building  was  completed,  at  a  cost  of 
over  $50,000.  It  contains  a  chapel,  lecture  and  recitation  rooms,  and 
rooms  for  cabinets,  apparatus  and  library.  In  1860,  a  three  years' 
scientific  course  was  established,  which  was  changed  in  1873  to  a  four 
years'  course,  with  the  addition  of  a  year  to  the  work  of  preparation. 
In  1876,  a  building,  thirty-six  by  seventy-two  feet  in  dimensions,  was 
erected  for  a  gymnasium,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  the 
students  now  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  for  gymnastic 
training.* 

PRESIDENTS   OF   THE    COLLEGE. 

Rev.  Hiram  Huntington  Kellogg.  1839-45     Rev.  Wm.  Stanton  Curtis,  D.  D., .  1863-68 

Rev.  Jonathan  Blanchard 1845-57     Rev.  Jno.  Putnam  Gulliver,  D.D.,  1868-72 

Rev.  Harvey  Curtis,  D.  D., 1858-63     Hon.  Newton Bateinan,  LL.  D.,..  1875 

PROFESSORS   MORAL    PHILOSOPHY    AND    RHETORIC. 

Rev.  Geo.  W.  Gale,  A.  M., 1843-57     Rev.  Bradford  Y.  Averill,  A.  M., 

Rev.  John  W.  Bailey,  A.  M., 1858-63  (acting) 1864-65 

Rev. Willis  Judson  Beecher,  A.M.  1865-69 

LOGIC RHETORIC    AND    ENGLISH    LITERATURE. 

John  W.  Burgess,  A.  M.,. 1869-73     Leander  H.  Potter,  A.  M.,(acting)  1876 

ANCIENT    LANGUAGES. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  (acting) 1840-42  Rev.  Elisha  James  (acting) 1872-73 

James  Grant,  A.  M., 1842-69  Rev.  F.  W.  Loba  (acting) 1873-75 

Rev.Lewellyn  Pratt,  A.  M.,(Latin)  1869-71  Albert  Hurd,  A.  M.,(Latin,  acting)  1872 

Rev.   Henry  M.    Tylor,  A.   M.,  Rev.  Thomas  R.  Willard,  A.  M., 

(Greek  and  German) 1869-72  (Greek  and  German) 1875 

MATHEMATICS. 

Nehemiah  H.  Losey,  A.  M., 1841-63     Milton  L.  Comstock,  A.  M., 1861 

Henry  E.  Hitchcock,  A.  M.,. . . .  1850-73 

CHEMISTRY   AND   NATURAL    SCIENCE. 
Albert  Hurd,  A.  M., 1854 

MODERN   LANGUAGES. 
Erastus  S.  Wilcox,  A,  M., 1855-63 

*The  Western  Educational  Society  bestowed  upon  the  institution  nearly  $6,000, 
between  the  years  1846  and  1855.  In  1855,  Hon.  Chas.  Phelps,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
gave  the  college  eighteen  quarter  sections  of  land,  from  the  sale  of  which  upwards  of 
$25,000  have  been  added  to  the  funds.  In  1875,  about  $25,000  were  subscribed  by 
citizens  of  Galesburg,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  endowment  of  the  college. 
There  still  remain  unsold,  250  city  lots,  valued  at  a  hundred  dollars  each,  and  205 
acres  of  land,  worth  one  hundred  dollars  an  acre;  and  the  college  buildings  occupy  a 
park  of  seventeen  acres. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  561 

Prof.  Geo.  Churchill  has  been  Principal  of  the  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment since  1855,  and  Mrs.  Amelia  F.  Bangs  of  the  Ladies'  Depart- 
ment since  1873. 

A  few  remarks  on  the  foregoing  list  must  suffice.  To  the  usual 
duties  devolving  upon  the  President  have  been  added  those  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Mental  Science,  and  in  some  instances  of  Moral  Science, 
^Esthetics,  or  International  Law.  Dr.  Bateman  is  Professor  of  Men- 
tal and  Moral  Philosophy.  After  the  resignation  of  Prof.  Grant,  who 
served  the  college  with  distinguished  ability  twenty-seven  years,  the 
duties  of  the  Professorship  were  divided,  and  one  of  the  present  needs 
of  the  college  is  the  endowment  of  the  Latin  Professorship.  Prof. 
Losey  had  charge  of  the  Mathematics  from  thetvery  beginning,  and 
received  his  appointment  as  Professor  upon  the  organization  of  col- 
lege classes  in  the  fall  of  1841.  He  was  in  advance  of  his  time  in 
methods  of  teaching;  and,  notwithstanding  his  arduous  labors  as  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer  of  the  Board  and  Surveyor  of  the  colony,  carried 
his  department  to  a  high  point  of  excellence.  The  Chemical  Depart- 
ment was  in  charge  of  Prof.  Losey  till  1851,  when  Prof.  A.  Hurd 
became  lecturer,  receiving  his  appointment  as  Professor  in  1854. 
This  gives  a  very  inadequate  view  of  the  four  hundred  and  seventy 
years  of  teaching  with  which  the  institution  has  been  favored.* 

Two  hundred  and  thirty-four  have  graduated  from  the  college,  of 
whom  twenty-eight  were  from  the  Scientific  course.  Sixty  of  these 
have  become  ministers  of  the  gospel,  preaching  about  eight  hundred 
years,  in  twenty-eight  different  states  and  countries.  Seven  have 
been  foreign  missionaries,  ministering  about  forty-five  years.  About 
thirty,  who  have  been  members  of  college  without  graduating,  have 
become  ministers.  Forty  of  the  graduates  have  become  lawyers,  fif- 
teen physicians,  and  twenty-five  teachers.  Thirty-three  are  dead. 
Two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  have  graduated  from  the  Ladies'  Semi- 
nary, of  whom  five  have  become  foreign  missionaries.  Twenty-three 
are  dead. 

Knox  College  is  a  cluster  of  institutions  under  one  head.  The 
college  proper,  classical  course,  is  modeled  on  the  plan  of  the  best 
American  colleges.  The  study  of  Latin,  Greek  and  mathematics  is 
specially  pursued  as  the  best  preparation  for  the  learned  professions 
and  the  practical  employments  of  life.  With  these,  the  natural  sci- 
ences, modern  languages,  the  various  studies  of  philosophy,  rhetoric, 


*From  1842  to  1878  inclusive,  during  which  period  annual  catalogues  ^ 
been  published,  the  largest  attendance  during  a  year  was  481,  in  1855;  the  smallest 
165,  in  1863;  the  average,  301;  number  of  students  for  the  year  ending  June  27, 
1878,  332. 

31 


562  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

logic,  and  general  history  and  literature,  are  united.  The  scientific 
course  is  substantially  the  same,  with  the  omission  of  Greek,  and  part 
of  the  Latin,  and  the  Ladies'  Seminary  course  differs  from  the  scien- 
tific mainly  in  omitting  the  higher  mathematics.  Young  women  are 
admitted  to  all  these  departments,  and  all  the  classes  are  under  the 
supervision  of  the  college  faculty. 

The  academy  comprises  two  departments,  English  and  Classical. 
The  former  gives  a  full  course  of  English  studies,  and  affords  special 
advantages  to  students  who  intend  to  become  teachers.  The  latter  is 
a  preparatory  department,  devoted  to  the  thorough  preparation  of  stu- 
dents for  the  college  and  young  ladies'  seminary.  The  course  of 
study  for  students  intending  to  enter  the  classical  course  in  the  col- 
lege, extends  through  three  years;  that  for  young  ladies  intending  to 
take  the  four  years'  seminary  course,  extends  through  one  year. 
More  than  three-fourths  of  the  graduates  from  the  classical  course 
received  their  preparation  in  the  academy. 

The  following  quotations,  taken  from  Dr.  Bateman's  last  report 
to  the  trustees^  will  indicate  the  present  condition  of  the  college. 
After  speaking  of  the  entire  harmony  existing  in  all  departments  of 
the  institution,  and  the  signs  of  prosperity  as  shown  by  an  increase 
of  numbers,  notwithstanding  the  severe  monetary  pressure,  he  says: 
"The  income  from  all  sources  for  the  college  fiscal  year  ending  June 
1,  1878,  was  $18,545.81;  the  expenditures  for  all  purposes  during  the 
same  year  were  $18,443.09,  leaving  a  little  balance  of  $102.72  on  the 
credit  side  of  the  account.  This  result  has  been  reached  by  the  closest 
economy  and  the  most  watchful  vigilance  on  the  part  of  those  of  us 
who  have  had  the  supervision  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  col- 
lege." ..."  The  amount  of  tuition  received  for  the  year  ending 
June  1,  1878,  was  $6,218.30,  against  $5,683.69  for  the  previous  year, 
an  increase  of  $529.61."  "  The  total  of  our  permanent  interest- 
bearing  funds  at  this  time  is  $110,622.34,  against  $107,379.16  a  year 
ago.  These  funds  are  invested  at  ten  per  cent,  pfcr  annum,  and,  as  we 
believe,  are  well  secured."  After  detailing  the  wants  of  the  institu- 
tion and  proposing  plans  for  increasing  the  funds,  the  President  says: 
."I  am  quite  sure  that  under  wise  and  prudent  management  there  is 
a  grand  future  for  Knox  College.  All  the  present  elements  are 
auspicious." 

Knox  College  is  not  denominational,  but  it  is  religious  and  evan- 
gelical. The  morning  worship  occupies  half  an  hour  each  day,  and 
seems  to  be  not  a  mere  perfunctory  service.  Daily  prayer-meetings 
have  long  been  maintained,  and  the  Society  of  Heligious  Inquiry  is 
flourishing.  There  are  many  other  things  worthy  of  mention  which, 


HISTORY     OF      KNOX    COUNTY.  563 

if  all  wore  told,  would  be  most  complete  assurance  that  the  Christian 
men  who  founded  Knox  College  performed  a  grand  and  noble  work. 

CHEERY    GROVE    SEMINARY. 

Cherry  Grove  Seminary  was  opened  November  1,  1841,  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  Cyrus  Haynes.  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church.  For  a  period  of  eight  years  this  school  was  under 
his  management,  and  attained  a  high  degree  of  prosperity,  which  it 
maintained  in  after  years,  having  had  during  its  history  some  of  the 
best  of  educators  at  its  head.  In  the  year  1866  there  was  located  at 
Lincoln,  Illinois,  a  college  unde,r  the  care  and  patronage  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  inconsequence  of  which  it  was  thought 
best  to  discontinue  the  seminary.  This  school  was  in  successful 
operation  for  a  period  of  25  years,  and  in  its  early  history  was  the 
only  school  of  high  grade,  except  Knox  College,  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  Its  patronage  extended  over  a  considerable  part  of  Illinois, 
and  it  often  had  students  from  Wisconsin  and  Iowa. 

LOMBARD    UNIVERSITY. 

"  Lombard  University  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  liberal  thought  and 
sentiment  of  a  few  noble  men  and  women  who  were  deeply  imbued 
with  the  Puritan  principle,  '  freedom  to  worship  God.'  By  them, 
1  soul  liberty '  was  esteemed  as  the  chiefest  blessing.  Hence  they 
sought  to  establish  an  institution  of  learning  where  all,  under  the 
strictest  surveillance  of  moral  discipline,  could  enjoy  the  greatest 
religious  freedom  and  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
own  conscience." 

At  the  residence  of  Amos  Pierce,  Greenbush,  Warren  county, 
the  first  meeting  was  held,  and  initiatory  steps  were  taken  towards 
establishing  a  denominational  high  school  or  academy.  Mr.  Pierce 
was  chosen  chairman  of  the  meeting.  It  was  resolved  to  invite  Rev. 
C.  P.  West  to  put  the  matter  in  form  and  present  it  to  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Spoon  River  Association.  On  the  19th  of  May,  1850,  the 
council  of  the  Spoon  River  Association  convened  at  Greenbush,  and 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  introduced  by  Mr.  West, 
were  presented  and  adopted: 

"Whereas,  the  intellectual  and  moral  improvement  of  our  youth  is 
a  subject  of  vital  importance,  not  only  to  our  denomination  but  also 
to  the  community  at  large;  and  whereas,  most,  if  not  all,  the  literary 
institutions  of  this  State,  higher  than  common  schools,  established  by 
law,  ever  have  been  and  still  are  in  the  hands  and  under  the  control 
of  our  religious  opponents;  and  whereas,  the  sectarian  influences  of 


564  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

these  institutions  are  detrimental  to  the  cause  of  free  inquiry  after 
religious  truth,  injurious  to  the  spread  of  Universalism,  and  some- 
times ruinous  to  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  students  themselves; 
therefore, 

"Resolved.  That  the  Universalists  of  this  State  ought  immediately 
to  adopt  measures  for  the  establishment  of  a  seminary  of  learning 
which  shall  be  free  from  the  above  named  objections. 

"  Resolved,  That  said  institution  should  be  located  in  Galesburg, 
Knox  county,  Illinois." 

Time  rolled  on,  and  the  little  tree  then  planted  grew  and  flourished. 
The  constant  aim  of  its  founders  was  to  establish  a  thoroughly  Chris- 
tian institution.  There  were  many  difficulties  to  be  surmounted.  At 
this  time  there  were  only  two  or  three  (Jniversalist  families  in  Gales- 
burg;  but  soon  an  army  of  friends,  whose  faith  knew  no  darkness, 
proffered  their  aid,  and  Lombard  University  stands  to-day  a  monu- 
ment to  their  liberality. 

In  October,  1850,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  above  resolutions,  a  joint-stock  company  was  organized.  The 
shares  were  twenty-five  dollars  each.  A  sufficient  amount  was  raised 
to  erect  and  furnish  a  building  suitable  for  school  purposes,  which 
was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  the  institution,  under  the  name 
of  "  Illinois  Liberal  Institute,"  was  then  opened.  A  meeting  of  stock- 
holders was  held  at  Galesburg  October  24,  and  fifteen  trustees  were 
elected,  together  with  a  Clerk  and  Treasurer.  A  President  of  the 
Board  was  also  elected,  and  a  Building  Committee.  Subsequently 
the  Board  decided  to  erect  a  building  of  brick,  three  stories  high, 
sixty  feet  long  by  forty  feet  wide,  at  an  expense  of  about  six  thousand 
dollars. 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  approved  February  15,  1851,  and  the 
Board  of  Trustees  elected  at  the  October  meeting  re-organized  under 
it.  In  1853  the  charter  was  amended  by  the  addition  of  a  clause  giv- 
ing power  to  confer  degrees  for  collegiate  honors.  In  1852  P.  Ray- 
mond Kendall  was  elected  the  first  Principal  of  the  institution.  He 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  the  autumn  of  that  year. 
The  institution  began  to  grow  in  favor  and  patronage,  and  its  friends 
cherished  high  hopes  and  great  expectations  of  its  ultimate  success. 
The  tree  was  now  rooted  in  prairie  soil,  and  it  needed  only  the  fos- 
tering care  of  liberal  hearts. 

c? 

In  the  year  1854  J.  V.  JST.  Standish  became  Acting  President  of 
the  institution,  Prof.  Kendall,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  Presidency 
after  the  revision  of  the  charter  giving  to  the  "Illinois  Liberal  Insti- 
tute "  college  powers,  being  the  nominal  President.  Prof.  Standish 


LOMBARD  UNIVERSITY,  GA.LESBURG. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  567 

was  the  Acting  President  until  the  fall  of  1857.  During  these  years 
the  institution  grew  into  quite  large  proportions.  Its  patronage  was 
liberal,  more  than  its  friends  anticipated.  In  1854-5  the  number  of 
students  was  233;  in  1856-7  the  number  was  245;  and  it  is  to  be 
remarked  that  this  prosperity  attended  the  institution  under  the  most 
adverse  circumstances.  The  "  Institute "  building  was  burned  in 
April,  1855.  No  suitable  place  in  the  city  could  be  procured  for 
school  purposes.  The  institution  was  left  as  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  There  was  no  place  or  spot  it  could  call  home.  Rooms  in 
different  parts  of  the  city  were  procured  for  recitations,  and  the  school, 
without  a  vacation,  went  on.  These  rooms  were  unsuitable  for  class- 
rooms; but  the  students  and  patrons  loved  the  institution,  and  made 
sacrifices  for  it.  Those  who  were  connected  with  the  "  Illinois  Liberal 
Institute "  during  these  years  will  not.  forget  the  days  of  hardship 
and  trial. 

Early  in  1854  a  scheme  was  concocted  by  Prof.  Kendall  and  others 
for  the  purpose  of  partially  endowing  the  institution.  A  system  of 
scholarships  was  devised,  by  the  sale  of  which  a  fund  of  about  $60,- 
000  was  subscribed.  The  following  was  the  plan  adopted:  Scholar- 
ships were  divided  into  three  classes, — $50,  $100,  $200.  The  amount 
paid  entitled  the  buyer  to  double  the  amount  of  tuition  at  the  "  Insti- 
tute." This  fund  was  secured  through  the  indomitable  energy  and 
perseverance  of.  Prof.  Kendall,  assisted  by  such  men  as  Rev.  J.  H. 
Chapin,  Rev.  W.  S.  Ballou,  Rev.  0.  P.  West  and  others.  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  were  canvassed,  and  liberal  men  re- 
sponded liberally  to  the  needs  of  the  institution.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  Benjamin  Lombard,  who  then  resided  at  Henry,  gave  $20,000. 
In  1855,  in  honor  of  him,  the  name  of  the  institution  was  changed  to 
"  Lombard  University."  During  the  year  1856  the  present  college 
building  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $40,000,  though  not  wholly  com- 
pleted until  several  years  afterwards.  It  was  occupied  for  school 
purposes  for  the  first  time  late  in  the  autumn  of  1856. 

Rev.  Otis  A.  Skinner,  D.  D.,  formerly  pastor  of  the  Warren  Street 
Church,  Boston,  was  elected  to  the  Presidency  of  the  institution  in 
the  fall  of  1857. 

In  1859  Dr.  Skinner  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Weston,  D. 
D.,  for  many  years  Principal  of  the  "Westbrook  Seminary,"  Maine. 
He  held  the  Presidency  of  the  institution  for  thirteen  years,  resigning 
in  1872  to  accept  the  position  of  Principal  of  D^an  Academy  ot 
Massachusetts. 

In  1872  Prof.  Wflliam  Livingston  w&s  elected  Acting  President, 
which  office  he  held  for  three  years.  He  had  filled  the  chair  of  Natu- 


568  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

ral  Science  from  late  in  the  fall  of  1855  to  June,  1872.  Daring  this 
interval  there  were  no  marked  changes,  nothing  particularly  new 
inaugurated. 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1875  Rev.  Nehemiah  White,  the  present 
incumbent,  succeeded  to  the  Presidency.  Formerly  he  held  a  pro- 
fessorship in  St.  Lawrence  University,  New  York,  and  latterly  was 
professor  of  ancient  languages  in  Buchtel  College,  Akron,  Ohio. 
President  White  brings  with  him  large  experience  as  an  educator. 
He  is  both  a  good  scholar  and  thorough  teacher.  Although  circum- 
stances have  been  somewhat  adverse  since  he  has  been  connected  with 
the  University,  yet  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  his  administration  may  be  a 
successful  one,  and  that  his  arduous  labors  may  secure  a  rich  reward. 

From  September,  1854,  to  June,  1878,  the  number  of  students  con- 
nected with  the  institution  was  4,669;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  more 
than  5,000  students  have  enjoyed  its  advantages  since  its  doors  were 
first  thrown  open  to  the  public  in  September,  1852.  Of  this  number 
there  have  been  148  graduates;  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  has 
been  conferred  on  63 ;  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science  on  48 ;  the 
degree  of  Laureate  of  Arts  on  37.  Besides  these,  there  have  been 
31  honorary  degrees  conferred.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
has  been  conferred  upon  11;  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  upon  19; 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  upon  1. 

The  following  constitute  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  1878:  L.  C. 
Conger,  John  Edwards,  Sidney  Pulsifer,  H.  Buck,  A.  Harrington, 
Rev.  Andrew  Pingree,  Rev.  Sumner  Ellis,  Hon.  T.  J.  Hale,  Hon.  A. 
Knowles,  J.  S.  McConnell,  E.  H.  Conger,  A.  Webster,  D.  Sanborn, 

B.  Lombard,  Jr.,  Rev.  John  Hughes,  J.  C.  Hunt,  B.  Lombard,  Rev. 
W.  H.  Ryder,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Hall,  Hon.  A.  M.  Brown.     The  officers  of 
the  Board  are,  Rev.  William  H.  Ryder  President,   Hon.  T.  Judson 
Hale  Secretary,  David  Sanborn  Treasurer. 

The  following  at  present  constitute  the  Faculty:  Rev.  Nehemiah 
White,  President  and  Hall  Professor  of  Intellectual  and  Moral  Phil- 
osophy; John  V.  ~N.  Standish,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astron- 
omy; Isaac  A.  Parker,  Williamson  Professor  of  Greek  Language  and 
Literature,  and  Teacher  of  Latin;  Miss  Mary  J.  Claycomb.  Teacher  of 
French  and  Assistant  Principal  of  Preparatory  Department;  Theodore 

C.  Stevens,  Teacher  of  German  and  Principal  of  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment; Miss  Mary  E.  Hoyle,  Teacher  of  Instrumental  Music. 

The  college  grounds,  fourteen  acres  in  extent,  are  ornamented  with 
trees  and  shrubs  of  various  kinds.  The  University  building  is  of 
brick,  three  stories  high.  80  feet  long,  66  feet  wide,  and  has  excellent 
rooms  for  libraries,  apparatus,  lectures  and  recitations.  The  invested 


3 

K) 

o 
o 


o 

o 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  571 

funds  of  the  University,  together  with  other  property,  amount  to  about 
$175,000.  The  college  library  contains  nearly  5,000  volumes,  besides 
a  large  number  of  pamphlets  and  magazines.  The  cabinet  is  large 
and  contains  many  valuable  specimens.  The  apparatus  is  sufficiently 
extensive  for  class  illustration. 

The  Academic  year  is  divided  into  three  terms,  the  first  beginning 
usually  on  the  first  Monday  in  September,  and  continuing  sixteen 
weeks;  the  second  beginning  immediately  after  the  holidays,  and  con- 
tinuing thirteen  weeks;  the  third  beginning  one  week  after  the  close 
of  the  second,  and  continuing  eleven  weeks.  The  annual  commence- 
ment is  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  June. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  Lombard  University  to  afford  to  students  of 
either  sex  equal  opportunities  for  thorough  courses  of  instruction ; 
and  the  studies  pursued  have  been  arranged,  first,  to  provide  a  full 
collegiate  course  of  four  years,  such  as  is  usually  pursued  in  the  best 
colleges  and  universities  in  this  country;  secondly,  to  accommodate 
those  to  whose  circumstances  it  may  be  especially  adapted,  with  a 
scientific  course  of  the  same  length,  and  so  arranged  as  to  combine 
with  practical  knowledge  intellectual  culture  and  discipline;  thirdly, 
to  provide  a  literary  course  of  four  years  for  those  who  do  not  desire 
to  pursue  the  regular  classical  or  scientific  course;  fourthly,  to  afford 
a  thorough  preparation  for  each  of  the  collegiate  courses;  fifthly,  to 
meet  the  wants  of  those  who  are  unable  to  pursue  one  of  the  regular 
courses  of  the  institution. 


I  It  I  \4<  1M>\  <  <M  I  I  4. 1 

In  1853  P.  H.  Murphy  opened  an  academy  in  a  plain  wooden 
building  in  Abingdon,  arid  conducted  it  with  untiring  zeal  and  marked 
success  until  1855.  By  this  time  his  extensive  canvassing,  lecturing 
and  preaching  among  the  people  had  infused  into  them  much  of  his 
own  zeal  and  wishes  to  such  an  extent  that  they  were  ready  to  give 


572  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

the  academy  the  rank  of  a  college  and  erect  the  necessary  building. 
The  decision  was  made,  and  a  plain  three-story  brick  building  was 
erected,  in  which  the  college  work  was  inaugurated  in  1855.  Mr. 
Murphy  was  elected  the  first  President.  He  was  a  very  amiable  and 
genial  companion,  and  bore  himself  as  one  of  nature's  noblemen.  He 
combined  with  the  highest  sense  of  honor  and  rectitude  great  child- 
like simplicity  and  tenderness.  His  remarkable  command  of  language 
and  mellow,  musical  voice  rendered  him  a  very  acceptable  and  popular 
preacher  and  lecturer,  while  his  learning,  for  a  young  man,  was  am- 
ple to  sustain  his  reputation.  Unfortunately  for  him  and  for  the 
cause  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life,  his  enthusiastic,  earnest  spirit 
struggled  in  a  frail  tenement,  and  at  length  consumption  began  to 
tear  it  down.  He  continued  to  fill  the  position  of  President  until  April 
19, 1860,  when  on  account  of  failing  health  he  resigned.  He  died  the 
following  August. 

A  charter  was  obtained  for  the  college  in  February,  1855,  and  it 
went  into  full  operation  the  next  college  year. 

The  original  incorporators  were  William  Maxwell,  P.  H.  Murphy, 
J.  C.  Reynolds,  John  Miller,  George  Price,  S.  H.  Ritchey,  J.  E. 
Gaston,  Whitfield  Button,  J.  C.  Latimer,  J.  E.  Martin,  Jesse  Perdue, 
J.  W.  Butler,  J.  P.  Roach,  L.  S.  Wallace,  J.  M.  Dodge,  Marvin 
Baker,  S.  T.  Shelton,  James  Starke,  W.  H.  Franklin,  W.  H.  Nance, 
J.  A.  Maxwell,  Tlios.  Moulton  and  M.  P.  King. 

The  Faculty  under  President  Murphy's  administration  was  com- 
posed, at  various  times,  of  the  following  teachers:  P.  H.  Murphy,  Presi- 
dent and  Professor  of  Sacred  History,  Evidences  of  Christianity  and 
Butler's  Analogy;  J.  C.  Reynolds,  J.  W.  Butler,  J.  P.  Roach,  A.  B, 
Murphy,  Sarah  J.  Smith,  George  C.  Mendel,  Sarah  H.  Mendel,  A. 
J.  Thomson,  Win.  Griffin,  J.  B.  Sheitlin,  Miss  E.  J.  Shryock.  On  the 
28th  day  of  Jan.,  1861,  J.  W.  Butler  was  elected  to  fill  the  place  vacated 
by  the  death  of  P.  H.  Murph}T.  Mr.  Butler  was  comparatively  young 
and  inexperienced  as  a  presiding  officer;  the  college  was  greatly  em- 
barrassed by  a  heavy  debt  hanging  over  it.  while  the  whole  country 
was  agitated  by  that  terrible  excitement  that  immediately  preceded 
the  late  civil  war.  Under  these  circumstances  the  Board  of  Trustees 
deemed  it  advisable  to  secure,  if  possible,  a  man  of  greater  age  and 
experience  to  fill  the  Presidency  of  the  college.  Hence  on  August  2, 
1861,  J.  W.  Butler  having  resigned,  Silas  E.  Shepherd  was  elected  to 
fill  the  place.  Mr.  Shepherd,  on  being  notified,  declined  the  call. 
Thereupon  J.  W.  Butler  was  again  elected  to  fill  the  Presidency.  His 
term  of  service  expired  in  June,  1874.  During  this  time  a  large  and 


HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  575 

commodious  addition,  or  what  would  be  regarded  from,  the  stand 
•point  of  the  architect  as  the  main  building,  was  erected.  The  material 
is  of  the  most  enduring  kind  and  the  accommodations  are  ample  for 
the  reception  of  500  students.  The  names  of  those  who  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Faculty  during  his  administration  were:  J.W.Butler' 
President,  Professor  of  Sacred  History  and  Natural  and  Physical 
Science;  A.  J.  Thomson,  Wm.  Griffin,  G.  N.  Freeman,  H.  A.  Cofteen, 
J.  B.  Sheitlin,  Frederick  Christianer,  I.  Durham,  A.  Linn,  H.  0. 
Thomson,  Annie  Whitman,  S.  P.  Lucy,  Bettie  Davis,  Vesper  Willis, 
Miss  Mary  J.  Harris,  Miss  Maggie  Thomson,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Linn,  Flor- 
ence G.  Johnson, 'A.  P.  Aten,  Emma  Yeach,  Mrs.  Louise  J.  Clark. 
President  Butler's  successor  was  Orval  Perkey,  elected  June  16,  1874. 
He  resigned  March  23,  1876.  During  his  administration  the  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  members  of  the  Faculty:  Orval  Perkey,  Presi- 
dent, Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy  and  Belles  Let- 
tres;  A.  J.  Thomson,  D.  C.  Barber,  Marion  Ingels,  J.  Heller,  DeWitt 
S.  Harris,  Mrs.  Libbie  F.  Ingels,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Linn,  Miss  Mary  Bridge- 
ford.  President  Perkey  was  succeeded  by  Clark  Braden,  who  was  elected 
June  1, 1876.  He  served  for  one  year,  during  which  time  the  Faculty 
consisted  of  the  following  persons:  Clark  Braden,  President,  Professor 
of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy  and  Lecturer  on  Evidences  of 
Christianity  and  Biblical  Literature;  A.  J.  Thomson,  D.  C.  Barber, 
Marion  Ingels,  DeWitt  Harris,  Mrs.  Libbie  F.  Ingels,  R.  L.  Davis, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Linn  and  Miss  Anna  Burhaus. 

President  Braden  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent,  F.  M. 
Bruner,  who  was  elected  July  24,  1877.  The  present  Faculty  con- 
sists of  the  following  teachers: 

F.  M.  Bruner,  President  and  Professor  of  Biblical  History  and 
Exegesis;  N.  Dunshee,  Professor  of  Mathematics;  O.  P.  Hay,  Pro- 
fessor of  Natural  Sciences;  H.  L.  Brnner,  Assistant  Teacher  of  Math- 
ematics; Miss  Josie  Dunshee,  Assistant  Teacher  of  Belles  Lettres  and 
Ancient  Languages;  Miss  Emma  Dunshee,  Assistant  Teacher  of 
Ancient  and  Modern  History  and  Mathematics;  Miss  Anna  Burhaus, 
Teacher  of  Instrumental  Music. 

The  President,  Mr.  Bruner,  has  enjoyed  many  rare  advantages 
to  fit  him  for  his  position.  After  graduating  at  one  of  the  best 
western  colleges  he  spent  nearly  three  years  in  Germany,  France 
and  England,  where  he  studied  the  languages,  ancient  and  modern, 
and  also  pursued  special  courses  in  Theology,  Philosophy,  and  the 
Natural  Sciences.  He  was  six  years  President  of  Oskaloosa  College, 
and  gave  that  institution  a  prominence  and  an  organization  that 


576  HISTOEY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

attracted  to  it  as  large  a  number  of  students  as  similar  schools  usually 
receive  in  the  West.  He  now  proposes  to  do  the  same  thing  for 
Abingdon  College.  Professor  Dunshee  is  a  ripe  scholar.  For  many 
years  he  taught  in  Hiram  College,  for  six  years  in  Oskaloosa  College, 
and  is  at  home  in  the  Mathematics  or  Classics  as  well  as  the  modern 
languages.  Professor  O.  P.  Hay  is  a  young  man,  active  and  enter- 
prising. Already  his  descriptions  of  western  plants  and  some  hitherto 
unknown  insects  have  found  their  way  into  the  scientific  journals.  He 
has  had  several  years'  experience  in  college  work  and  recently  spent 
one  year  in  Yale. 

The  ladies  employed  as  teachers  are  graduates  from  a  thorough 
classical  course,  having  completed  the  Mathematics  and  Languages 
as  required  in  our  best  colleges,  and  for  two  years  studied  French  and 
German,  also  for  a  considerable  time  Hebrew.  Miss  Burhaus  is  an 
accomplished  lady  and  musiciaii.  With  such  a  beginning  for  a  Fac- 
ulty it  would  seem  almost  unreasonable  to  think  of  failure.  There 
need  be  no  doubt  concerning  the  thoroughness  of  the  work  that  these 
teachers  will  do. 

The  period  from  J  une,  1 875,to  June,  1877,  may  be  called  the  dark  d  ay 
in  the  history  of  the  college.  It  became  involved  in  a  quarrel  which 
had  its  origin  in  the  church,  and  these  intervening  years  were  spent 
in  what  seems  to  have  been  a  needless  struggle  for  the  control  of  the 
college.  The  dawn  of  hope  appeared  in  a  compromise,  in  which  the 
parties  to  the  troubles  agreed  to  unite  in  supporting  the  college.  It 
was  upon  this  compromise  that  President  Brunei-  was  elected  as  ac- 
ceptable to  both  parties.  But  the  college  was  \)y  this  time  without 
students  and  its  funds  in  a  situation  to  be  almost  unavailable,  and 
besides,  and  perhaps  worst  of  all,  public  confidence  had  been  de- 
stroyed and  sympathy  for  the  institution  turned  away.  But  even 
now  a  change  is  setting  in  and  there  is  no  good  reason  why  the  school 
should  not  again  prosper.  It  has  buildings  worth  about  $45,000, 
with  every  facility  for  a  good  school. 

The  courses  of  Instruction  arranged  by  the  present  Faculty  are  as 
follows : 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


577 


COURSES  OF  INSTRUCTION. 


ACADEMIC   COURSE. 

Middle  Preparatory. 

FIRST  TERM. 

English  Grammar. 

Geography. 

Arithmetic. 

Spelling  and  Defining. 

SECOND    TERM. 

English  Grammar. 
United  States  History. 
Higher  Arithmetic. 
Spelling  and  Defining. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Higher  Arithmetic. 
History  of  England. 
Physiology. 
Composition  and  Rhetoric. 

Junior  Preparatory. 

FIRST  TERM. 

Latin  Grammar  and  Reader. 
Natural  Philosophy. 
Composition  and  Rhetoric. 
Elementary  Algebra. 
History  of  Germany. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Latin  Grammar  and  Reader. 

Elementary  Algebra. 

Chemistry. 

Greek  Introductory. 

History  of  Germany. 

THIRD   TERM. 

Latin — Csesar,  and  Prose  Composition. 
Higher  Algebra. 
Composition  and  Rhetoric. 
Greek  Introductory,  and  Prose  Composi- 
tion. 
Hart's  "In the  School-Room." 


Senior  Preparatory. 

FIRST   TERM. 

Latin — Cicero,  and  Prose  Composition. 

Higher  Algebra  (Completed). 

Greek — Xenophon's  Anabasis,  and  Prose 

Composition. 
History  and  Progress  of  Education. 

SECOND   TERM. 

Latin — Sallust,  and  Prose  Composition. 

Geometry. 

Greek — Xenophon's  Cyropedia,and  Prose 

Composition. 
Mental  Philosophy. 


THIRD   TERM. 

Latin — Virgil. 

Geometry.     (Completed.) 

Botany. 

Greek — Memorabilia. 

Mental  Philosophy.      (Completed.) 

In  addition  to  these  daily  studies,  the 
students  of  this  department  will  have  the 
benefit  of  all  the  lectures  before  the  school, 
and  will  be  required  to  prepare  weekly 
rhetorical  exercises.  Every  morning  the 
Bible  will  be  read,  and  this  will  be 
accompanied  with  a  lecture  upon  some 
portion  of  it. 


CLASSICAL    COURSE. 
Freshman  Class. 

FIRST   TERM. 

Latin — -ZEneid ;  Prose  Composition. 
Greek — Prose  Composition ;  Selections. 
Mathematics — Plain  Trigonometry. 
English  Literature — General  History; 
Ancient  Geography. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Latin — Virgil's  Eclogues  and  Georgics ; 
Prose  Composition. 

Greek — Prose  Composition ;  Herodotus' 
History. 

Mathematics — Spherical  Trigonometry. 

English  Literature — General   History. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Latin — Cicero's  De  Senectute  et  Ami- 
citia;  Prose  Composition. 

Greek — -Prose  Composition;  Homer's 
Ulysses. 

Mathematics — Surveying. 

English  Literature — General   History 

Sophomore  Class. 

FIRST  TERM. 

Latin — Livy's  History ;  Antiquities ; 
FRENCH. 

Greek — Homer's  Iliad;  Antiquities; 
GERMAN. 

Mathematics — Conic  Sections. 

English  Literature-lEngliah  Literature. 

SECOND   TERM. 

Latin — Horace's  Odes;  Prose  Compo- 
sition ;  FRENCH. 

Greek — Plato's  Apology  and  Crito; 
Prose  Composition ;  GERMAN. 

Mathematics — Analytical  Geometry. 

English  Literature March's  Philol- 
ogy; Craik's  Shakespeare. 


578 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


THIRD      ERM. 

Latin — Horace's  Satires  and  Epistles ; 
FRENCH. 

Greek— Thucyd. ides'  History ;  GERMAN. 
Mathematics — Calculus. 
Natural  Science— Botany. 

Junior  Class. 

FIRST  TERM. 

Latin — Tacitus'  Germania  et  Agricola ; 
FRENCH. 

Greek — Demosthenes'     De    Corona; 
GERMAN. 

Mathematics — Calculus. 
Natural  Science — Chemistry. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Latin — Christian  Latin  ;  FRENCH. 
Greek — Christian  Greek ;  GERMAN. 
Natural'  Science — Physics. 
English  Literature — Logic ;  The  U.  S. 
Constitution. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Latin — Christian  Latin;  FRENCH. 
Greek — Christian  Greek ;  GERMAN. 
Mathematics — Astronomy. 
Natural  Science— Physics ;  Physiology. 

Senior  Class. 

FIRST   TERM. 

Greek — New  Testament. 

English  Literature — -Mental  Philoso- 
phy (Porter). 

Natural  Science—Zoology ;  Physiology. 

Theses  upon  subjects  assigned  by  the 
Faculty. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Greek — New  Testament. 

English  Literature — -Moral  Science ; 
^Esthetics. 

Natural  Science — Mineralogy. 

Theses  upon  subjects  assigned  by  the 
Faculty. 

THIRD   TERM. 

English  Literature-Butler's  Analogy ; 
Political  Economy;  Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity; International  Law;  Rhetoric. 

Natural  Science — Geology. 

Theses  upon  subjects  selected  by  the 
students. 

THE   BIBLE   DEPARTMENT. 
/ 

Junior  Class. 

FIRST   TERM. 

Exegetical  Lectures — Matthew. 

Hernieneutics. 

Biblical  Archaeology  (Jahn's);  and 
Geography  of  Palestine. 

Evidences  —  Stowe's  History  of  the 
Books  of  the  Bible. 


SECOND  TERM. 

Exegetical  Lectures— continued, 
Bible  History — Old  Testament. 
Archaeology1 — completed. 
Evidences — completed. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Exegetical    Lectures — Romans. 
Biblical   History   completed — New  Tes- 
tament. 

Remedial  Scheme. 
Homiletics.    (Sliedd.) 

Middle  Class. 


FIRST   TERM. 


and 


Exegetical     Lecture  —  Hebrews 
James. 

Hebrew,  Old  Testament. 

Church  History.     (Kurtz.) 

Homiletics.    (Composition  and  Read- 
ing-) 

SECOND  TERM. 

Hebrew,  Old  Testament. 
Church  History.    (Kurtz.) 
General   History  and  Ancient  Geogra- 
phy- 
Christian  Greek  aud  Latin. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Hebrew,  Old  Testament. 
General  History — continued. 
Christian  Greek  and  Latin. 
Theses — assigned  by  Faculty. 

Senior  Class. 

FIRST    TERM. 

The  Septuagint. 
The  New  Testament  in  Greek. 
Home's  Introduction. 
Theses — assigned  by  Faculty. 

SECOND  TERM. 

History  of  Doctrines.    (Shedd.) 
History  of  Philosophy. 
The  New  Testament  m  Greek. 
Prophecy — Old  and  New  Testament. 

THIRD  TERM. 

Mental  Philosophy. 
History  of  Doctrines.  (Shedd.) 
Moral  Science. 
Prophecy — completed. 

This  department  is  open  to  both  sexes, 
and  proposes  to  prepare  its  students  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  age  for  a  bolder 
defence  of  the  foundations  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  and  for  the  satisfaction  of 
demands  of  the  church  for  a  better  and 
purer  life. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


579 


ti  i  i> m  \ <*  ro i  i  i «.  i ;.   v  ic  i  N  < .  i»o  v 

That  coming  events  often  cast  their,  shadows  before  is  truthfully 
illustrated  in  the  history  of  this  institution.  Many  years  before  any 
plan  was  consummated,  the  idea  of  a  college  to  be  located  on  its  pres- 
ent site  originated  in  the  far-seeing  and  almost  prophetic  mind  of 
that  excellent  and  much  esteemed  man,  Abraham  D.  Swartz,  who 
came  to  the  vicinity  of  Abingdon  during  the  year  1829,  and  built  a 
cabin  near  where  the  city  cemetery  now  is.  His  companion  being 
lonely  and  almost  disheartened,  he  took  her  out  to  walk  one  day,  and 
as  they  came  upon  the  ground  where  the  building  now  stands,  he 
asked  her  to  look  around;  but  only  a  widely  extended  and  rolling 
prairie  could  be  seen  except  in  the  direction  of  their  cabin.  He  then 
said  to  her,  "  Mother,  we  will  five  to  see  a  village  here,  and  where  we 
stand  a  college  will  be  built."  Hedding  College  at  that  moment,  we 
suppose,  had  its  inception,  although  twenty-five  years  rolled  by  before 
plans  for  its  organization  were  matured. 

Rev.  "Wm.  Clark  says:  '•'  Returning  from  Quincy,  June  26,  1836, 
I  stopped  for  the  night  at  the  house  of  the  proprietor  of  Abingdon, 
Mr.  Abraham  D.  Swartz,  then  living  near  where  is  now  the  city  cem- 
etery. On  the  following  morning  he  wished  me  to  go  with  him  and 
look  at  his  town  site.  After  traveling  for  some  time  we  at  length 
arrived  on  the  lovely  rise  where  Hedding  now  stands.  He  stopped, 
took  oif  his  hat,  a"nd  said  with  emphasis, '  Here  is  my  college  site.  I 


580  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

do  not  expect  to  live  to  see  it,  but  I  have  an  impression  that  some  day 
there  will  be  a  college  built  here.' '  About  the  same  year  language  of 
similar  import  was  used  by  this  far-seeing  man  to  Dennis  Clark, 
County  'Judge,  then  a  boy  plowing  corn  on  or  near  the  present  site 
of  this  college.  This  noble  Christian  man,  who  could  thus  read  the 
wants  of  the  generation  yet  to  be  as  the  county  developed,  had  so  im- 
pressed his  wishes  upon  the  minds  of  his  children  that  after  his  death 
they  labored  to  have  his  desires  carried  out.  In  the  division  of  prop- 
erty the  present  site  of  the  college  fell  to  his  daughter  Sarah  E. 
Swartz,  who  afterwards  married  Thomas  R.  Wilson. 

They  gave  the  five  acres  of  ground  and  $500  to  carry  out  the  plan 
of  building  an  institution.  Oregon  P.  and  Benjamin  C.,  sons  of  A. 
D.  Swartz,  were  also  among  the  most  liberal  donors. 

Hedding  Collegiate  Seminary  was  opened  by  its  first  Principal 
Nov.  19,  1855.  The  first  and  second  years  the  classes  recited  in  the 
old  M.  E.  Church,  .Rev.  N.  C.  Lewis,  A.  M.,  Principal,  and  Elizabeth 
Patrick,  Assistant.  School  year  closed  July  3,  1856.  The  second 
year,  with  the  same  Principal,  assisted  by  Matthew  Andrews  (now 
Superintendent  of  Schools  of  the  city  of  Galesburg)  and  Elizabeth 
Patrick,  opened  Aug.  25,  1856,  and  closed  July  2,  1857. 

The  Seminary  was  erected  in  1856  by  voluntary  subscriptions.  In 
September,  1857,  the  Peoria  Conference  held  its  annual  session  in  its 
chapel.  The  institution  from  its  opening  has  been  under  the  care  of 
the  Peoria  (now  Central  Illinois)  Conference.  Sept.  16,  1857,  the 
school  opened  in  the  new  building  with  Rev.  N.  C.  Lewis,  A.  M., 
Principal,  and  Chas.  C.  Griffith,  A.  B.,  and  Nancy  Simonds  as  teach- 
ers. Mr.  Griffith  was  a  good  scholar,  especially  as  a  linguist,  a  pleas- 
ing man  in  his  appearance,  and  pious,  and  much  was  expected  from 
him;  but  after  teaching  about  one  week  he  was  taken  ill,  and  after 
two  or  three  weeks'  sickness  died. 

Matthew  Andrews,  of  the  Sophomore  class  at  Evanston,  taught  one 
term ;  then  Mr.  Black,  a  graduate  of  Abingdon  College,  until  E.  D. 
Chipman  from  Philadelphia  was  secured.  Miss  Emeline  S.  Fillmore, 
a  lady  of  eminent  ability,  taught  the  spring  term.  Whole  number  of 
students  this  year,  183;  the  previous  year,  135. 

Feb.  9,  1857,  a  charter  was  granted  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
which  changed  the  name  from  Hedding  Collegiate  Seminary  to  Hed- 
ding Seminary  and  Central  Illinois  Female  College.  By  said  act  the 
following  were  named  as  the  Board  of  Trustees.  There  were  two 
classes,  each  class  to  be  divided  into  three  sections  and  hold  office  re- 
spectively; one,  two,  and  three  years.  The  local  trustees  were: 
Oregon  P.  Swartz,  Win.  Stewart,  Richard  H.  Russell,  Philip  M. 


HEDDING  COLLEGE,  ABINGDOK 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  583 

# 

Shoop,  Jesse  B.  Quimby,  Kent  M.  Chesney,  Benj.  C.  Swartz,  M.  L. 
Brown  and  Franklin  P.  Foster.  The  second  class  were,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Flowers,  Rev.  John  Borland,  Rev.  Wm.  Hunter,  Rev.  Richard  Haney, 

>Rev.  Nathaniel  C.  Lewis,  Rev.  Justus  Soule,  Rev.  S.  G.  J.  Worthing- 
ton,  Rev.  John  P.  Brooks,  and  Rev.  Henderson  Ritchie. 
Oregon  P.  Swartz  was  President  of  the  Board,  and  probably  held 
that  office  more  years  than  any  other  man.  At  the  close  of  the  Aca- 
demic year  of  1857-8  Rev.  N.  C.  Lewis,  the  first  Principal,  resigned 
on  account  of  his  health. 

In  August,  1858,  J.  T.  Dickinson,  A.  M.,  was  called  from  New 
York  to  take  charge  of  the  institution.  He  held  his  position  for  nine 
years.  During  this  period  there  were  times  when  dark  clouds,  finan- 
cially speaking,  rested  over  Hedding;  but  these  were  all  dispersed  by 
the  generosity  of  friends,  in  the  time  of  Rev.  F.  M.  Chaffee's  very 
efficient  agency,  and  the  building  was  fitted  up  with  many  conven- 
iences. This  was  during  the  civil  war,  and  Hedding  is  proud  of  the 
record  made  by  those  who  went  forth  from  her  halls  to  defend  the 
country's  flag.  There  were  times  when  nearly  all  the  male  students 
of  suitable  age  were  in  the  field  of  strife. 

In  1866,  which  was  the  Centennial  of  American  Methodism,  an 
eifort  was  made  to  secure  an  endowment  for  the  Seminary.  About 
$11,000  was  taken,  mostly  in  subscriptions,  but  a  large  portion  of  this, 
with  the  consent  of  the  donors,  was  diverted  to  a  fund  for  the  new 
building.  July  3,  1867,  the  first  class  graduated  in  the  regular  Sem- 
inary course.  July,  1867,  Prof.  Dickinson  retired  from  the  institu- 
tion, leaving  it  in  a  healthful  and  flourishing  condition.  In  1867 
Prof.  M.  C.  Springer,  A.  AL,  who  had  been  Prof,  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages for  two  years,  was  elected  Acting  Principal,  and  in  1868  Prin- 
cipal. Assisted  by  an  able  corps  of  teachers,  he  remained  in  charge 
till  June,  1872. 

In  March,  1869,  by  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature,  the  name  was 
changed  to  Hedding  Seminary  and  Female  College;  also  the  founda- 
tion, in  part,  for  a  new  main  building  and  wing  was  laid,  but  it  being 
considered  both  insecure  and  too  large,  building  thereon  was  aban- 
doned, until  work  on  the  present  new  building  was  begun.  In  the 
summer  of  1872  Rev.  J.  G.  Evans,  A.  M.,  was  elected  President,  and 
remained  in  charge  until  June,  1878.  President  Evans,  a  man  of 
great  energy  of  character,  served  the  institution  with  untiring  devo- 
tion and  a  fair  degree  of  success. 

In  the  summer  of  1873  the  present  main  building  was  commenced. 
It  was  sufficiently  completed  for  occupancy  in  187i  and  entirely  fin- 
ished in  the  winter  of  1876-7.  Cost  of  buildings  and  grounds,  some 


584  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

$45,000.  Much  credit  is  dne  Philip  M.  Shoop  as  general  superinten- 
dent of  construction.  When  he  consented  to  leave  his  business  in 
charge  of  others  and  take  the  general  oversight  of  the  work,  it  seemed 
to  give  new  life  to  the  project  and  bring  to  its  aid  substantial  friends. 
Daniel  D.  Shoop  and  Abner  Yichey,  as  builders,  are  deserving  special 
praise.  The  first  building,  erected  in  1856,  was  a  brick  structure  70  by 
40  and  two  stories  high.  The  lower  story  had  a  north  and  south  en- 
trance, with  a  commodious  hall,  on  each  side  of  which  were  three  reci. 
tation  rooms.  The  upper  story  contained  the  chapel.  Over  the 
northern  portion  of  the  building  is  the  belfry.  This,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  some  ten  feet  constitutes  the  wing  of  the  present  college 
building.  The  upper  story  of  this  wing  is  now  the  college  chapel. 
The  lower  story  is  now  devoted  to  a  reading  and  library  room,  janitor 
room,  suite  of  rooms,  for  the  President  and  a  ladies'  reception  room. 

The  main  building  was  commenced  in  1873.  It  is  a  substantial  brick 
structure,  71  by  70  feet  and  three  stories  above  the  basement.  Main 
entrances  on  the  east  and  south.  Basement  contains  three  rooms. 
There  is  a  main  hall  on  the  first  floor,  the  south  entrance  of  main 
building  connecting  directly  with  hall  of  wing.  On  the  east  side  of 
this  hall  are  the  President's  office,  Treasurer's  office,  hall  to  east  en- 
trance, reception  room  and  music  room.  On  the  west  side  are  three 
recitation  rooms  and  stairway  leading  to  second  floor  and  the  chapel. 
Second  floor,  east  of  the  hall  are  the  recitation  room  of  the  Prof,  of 
Natural  Science,  laboratory  and  museum,  also  a  small  music  room ;  west 
of  hall,  three  recitation  rooms.  The  institution  has  a  small  supply  of 
apparatus  and  quite  a  good  cabinet.  The  third  floor  has  four  rooms 
on  the  west  side,  both  of  which  were  tastefully  finished  and  elegantly 
furnished  by  the  members  of  the  societies.  These  societies  admit 
both  sexes,  and  are  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 

The  Oliniana  was  first  organized  in  May,  1856.  It  bore  at  first  the 
name  Adelphi,  which  was  soon  changed  to  the  one  it  now  has  in 
honor  of  the  lamented  Dr.  Olin.  The  Lincolnian  was  formed  during 
Lincoln's  administration  and  named  in  honor  of  him.  In  the  early 
history  of  the  institution  the  ladies  had  two  organizations  of  their 
own,  the  Sigourneian,  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Sigourney,  and  the  Zetale- 
thean.  As  early  as  March,  1863,  we  find  a  joint  exhibition  given 
by  these  societies.  The  programme  is  an  interesting  one.  These 
prospered  in  their  time,  but  were  afterward  merged  into  the  present 
societies.  Each  of  these  societies  has  a  respectable  library. 

June  22,  1875,  the  Board  of  Trustees  decided  to  organize  under  the 
general  law  of  the  State.  In  August  a  charter  was  granted  and  the 
institution  changed  to  Hedding  College.  The  college  is  under  the 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  585 

control  of  a  Board  of  Regency  or  Trustees,  composed  of  twelve  minis- 
ters and  twelve  laymen.  It  is  divided  into  three  classes,  each  class  to 
retire  in  succession,  holding  office  for  three  years.  The  following 
persons  were  elected  the  first  Board  under  the  present  charter:  Min- 
isters— W.  H.  Hunter,  C.  C.  Knowlton,  C.  Springer,  H.  Ritchie,  B.  E. 
Kaufman,  G.  M.  Irwin,  W.  C.  Knapp,  M.  C.  Bowlin,  A.  K.  Tullis,  A. 
R.  Morgan,  H.  C.  King,  P.  A.  Cool;  laymen — J.  W.  Spencer,  New- 
ton Barr,  Peter  Godfrey,  Joseph  Amey,  W.  F.  Archer,  P.  M.  Shoop, 
J.  L.  Knowlton,  G.  W.  Brown,  C.  W.  Moore,  Harry  Weaver,  "W.  J. 
McCutchen,  J.  W.  Fate.  H.  Ritchie  was  President  and  G.  M.  Irwin 
was  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  July,  1878,  Rev.  George  W.  Peck,  Ph.  B.,  a  graduate  of  Syra- 
cuse University,  New  York,  was  called  to  the  Presidency  of  Hedding 
College.  Under  the  new  administration  the  college  is  rapidly  advanc- 
ing in  grade  and  usefulness,  by  elevating  the  standard  of  mental  and 
moral  culture.  President  Peck  is  a  man  of  fine  education,  sound 
judgment  and  great  energy,  and  is  universally  successful  with  students 
and  people.  The  members  of  the  Faculty  are: 

Rev.  George  W.  Peck,  Ph.  B.,  President,  Professor  of  Mental  and 
Moral  Science;  J.  T.  Dickinson,  A.  M.,  Yice  President,  Professor  of 
Mathematics;  Rev.  W.  C.  Knapp,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Sci- 
ence; Rev.  George  W.  Waughop,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages; Miss  Katie  B.  Ross,  B.  S.,  Professor  of  English  Literature 
and  Instructor  in  Elocution;  Miss  Loriette  Duffield,  A.  B.,  Professor 
of  Modern  Languages;  Miss  Leonora  Burr,  L.  A.,  Professor  of  Yocal 
and  Instrumental  Music;  R.  T.  Neill,  M.  Acc'ts,  Professor  in  Com- 
mercial Department;  R.  A.  Brown,  Teacher  of  Vocal  Music. 

The  college  building  as  it  now  stands  furnishes  ample  room  for  500 
students.  There  are  three  courses  of  study — the  Scientific,  ot  four  years ; 
the  Latin  Classical,  of  five;  and  the  Classical,  of  six.  The  expense  of 
either  course,  including  tuition  and  incidentals,  is  only  thirty-six  dol- 
lars per  annum. 

JST.  MARY'S  SCHOOL.. 

An  historical  sketch  of  St.  Mary's  School  would  be  imperfect  with- 
out an  account  of  another  institution  of  learning  which  previously  oc- 
cupied the  same  ground  as  does  St.  Mary's  School  at  present. 

In  February,  1859,  the  State  Legislature  chartered  Ewing  Female 
University,  of  Kuoxville.  This  institution  was  named  in  honor  of  an 
old  resident  of  that  city.  A  building,  as  shown  in  the  engraving  and 
at  present  tlie  western  portion  of  the  structure  now  occupied,  was 
erected  in  1858,  and  for  several  years,  or  until  1867,  it  was  conducted 
32 


586 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


in  thejnterests'of  education  under  the  name  of  Ewing  Female  Univer- 
sity. Mistress  Dyer  and  Miss  Antoinette  Proseus  were  Principals  of 
the  schools  during  these  years.  The  following  was  the  Faculty  for 
1865:  Miss  Antoinette  Proseus,  Principal;  Miss  M.  Hester.  Miss 
Gabriella  Taylor,  Miss  S.  M.  Gray,  and  Miss  S.  A.  Hill,  teachers. 
Trustees  atj.he  same  time:  Cephas  Arms,  President;  Henry  Arms, 
Mr.  Bliss,  Z.  Beatty,  John  "W.  Cams,  Z.  Cooley,  A.  M.  Craig,  John 
Eads,  G.  M.  Ewing,  C.  Holland,  J.  Knox,  H.  M.  Keightley,  A.  Light- 
ner,*  A.  W.  Martin,  E.  Marsh,  Thomas  Muir,  W.  Y.  Miller'C.  Eun- 
kle,  M.  Smith,  P.  H.  Sanford,  S.  G.  Simpson,  T.  S.  Yaill,  W.  H 


ST.  MARY'S  COLLEGE. 

Whitton.     Number  of  Scholars  in  1865 — Collegiate  Department,  22; 
Preparatory  Department,  68;  Art  Department,  15;  Total,  105. 

E  \ving  University  failed  to  meet  with  the  success  that  an  institu- 
tion of  its  pronounced  intention  deserved,  and  accordingly  in  1869  it 
was  closed  and  has  never  re-opened.  The  stockholders,  realizing  the 
importance  of  having  a  school  where  their  daughters  and  other  young 
ladies  of  the  West  might  receive  all  the  advantages  afforded  by  the 
best  of  schools,  tendered  the  institution  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  Illinois.  The  proffered  building  was  accepted,  and  imme- 
diately preparations  were  made  for  opening  the  school  under  a  new 
and  different  management.  Dr.  C.  W.  Leffingwell  was  called  to  the 
Rectorship  of  the  new  institution,  which  was  christened  "  St.  Mary's 
School."  After  making  some  needed  changes  arid  improvements  in 
the  building,  St.  Mary's  School  was  opened  April  12,  1868. 

Beginning  with  but  three  boarding  pupils  and  a  few  day  scholars, 
without  prestige  or  influence,  and  without  attractive  buildings  and 
needful  appliances,  the  school  has  won  its  way  to  the  confidence  of 
large  circle  of  patrons  and  friends,  and  to  a  high  standing  among  the 
educational  institutions  of  the  "West.  The  number  of  pupils  had  so 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


587 


increased  that  the  present  year  they  numbered  99,  only  24  of  whom 
resided  in  Knoxville;  and  instead  of  a  corps  of  four  teachers,  there  are 
now  employed  12,  including  the  officers.  The  school  prospered  so  well 
that  within  four  years  it  outgrew  its  accommodations,  and  received 
from  the  Hon.  James  Knox  a  gift  of  $11,000,  for  enlargement  of  the 
building.  Accordingly,  in  1872  an  addition  was  erected  doubling  the 
capacity  of  the  room.  In  addition  to  this,  $25,000  has  been  ex- 
pended in  the  improvement  of  the  property.  The  building  and 
outfit  are  now  valued  at  $75,000.  Another  extension  is  required  to 
complete  the  architectural  plan  and  to  provide  for  the  increase  of 
pupils.  For  this  purpose  Mr.  Knox  has  bequeathed  $10,000  on  the 


EWING  FEMALE  UNIVERSITY. 

condition  that  an  equal  sum  be  raised  by  the  friends  of  the  school. 
It  is  expected  that  this  will  be  done,  and]  that  the  building  will  soon 
be  completed  The  school  building  is  situated  on.  a  beautiful  four- 
acre  lot,  on  the  corner  of  Douglas  and  Market  streets,  Knoxville. 
The  grounds  are  richly  set  with£flowers,  shrubbery,  fruit  and  shade 
trees.  The  size  of  the  building  is  110  feet  front  and  the  greatest 
depth  is  75  feet.  It  is  of  a  modern  style  of  architecture,  light, 
showy,  convenient,  and  is  four  stories  and  basement  in  height,  includ- 
ing the  story  in  the  Mansard^  roof.  Over  the  main  entrance  is  a 
belfry,  surmounted  by  a  cross  which  is  100  feet  from  the  ground. 


588  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

The  accompanying  engraving  is  a  fine  representation  of  the  exterior 
of  the  structure.  The  house  is  divided  into  50  rooms,  all  of  which 
are  large,  well  ventilated,  amply  lighted  and  finely  furnished.  On 
the  first  floor  they  are  frescoed,  and  finished  in  ash  and  walnut. 
They  are  warmed  by  hot-air  furnaces  and  steam  radiators.  All  con- 
veniences for  school  and  family  are  under  one  roof.  The  private 
rooms  are  so  arranged  that  each  girl  may  have  a  sleeping  apartment 
to  herself.  Each  group  of  three  or  four  alcoves  has  a  private  parlor 
adjoining.  The  annual  cost  of  running  the  school  is  $20,000,  and  as 
there  is  no  endowment  fund,  that  amount  is  raised  from  scholar- 
ships, etc. 

Many  of  the  rooms  are  elaborately  furnished.  Among  those  more 
particularly  noticeable  are  the  Rector's  studio  (which  alone  cost 
$1,200  to  fit  up),  the  reception  parlor,  the  art  studio,  library  and 
study  hall.  These  are  adorned  with  many  rare  works  of  art,  among 
the  principal  of  which  are,  a  copy  of  Murillo's  Madonna  and  child, 
from  the  Pitti  Palace,  Florence,  Italy  (this  copy  is  the  size  of  the 
original,  and  is  encased  in  a  richly  carved  Florentine  frame);  a  copy  of 
Correggio's  Betrothal  of  St.  Catherine,  from  Naples;  a  portrait  of 
Honorable  James  Knox,  copied  from  Healy;  copies  of  Fra  Angeli( 
on  gold;  pen  drawing  of  Washington  by  Dr.  Leffingwell,  and  a  copj 
of  Raphael's  St.  Cecilia,  now  on  the  way  from  Bologna,  Italy.  Other 
rare  works  of  art  also  grace  the  walls, — almost  all  of  which  were  pro- 
cured by  Dr.  Leffingwell  while  in  Europe. 

In  statuary  are  also  some  works  of  interest.  Among  them  are 
original  statues  in  Carrara  marble,  by  Larkin  G.  Mead,  Florence* 
Italy;  and  numerous  statuettes  in  alabaster  and  lava,  copies  from  olc 
masters. 

There  is  a  library  of  1,500  volumes,  of  which  many  are  the  finest 
and  costliest  works.  Among  them  is  a  complete  set  of  Audubon's 
u  Birds  and  Quadrupeds  of  America."  These  were  presented  by 
Hon.  James  Knox,  and  some  elegant  volumes  of  photographs  of  Euro- 
pean scenes  collected  by  the  Rector. 

There  are  also  in  the  building,  cabinets  of  geological  specimens 
and  fine  collections  of  stuffed  birds,  etc.  Among  the  relics  is  the 
working  model  from  which  the  first  river  gun-boats  of  the  world  were 
constructed.  This  relic  of  American  enterprise  was  presented  by 
Captain  James  Laning,  who  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  fleet,  and 
commanded  one  of  the  ships  on  the  Mississippi  river.  The  school  is 
well  furnished  with  musical  instruments,  of  the  best  make.  There  is 
a  pipe  organ,  costing  $1,000,  and  7  pianos,  costing  in  the  aggregate 


H 
o 


O 
O 

a 

o 

CO 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


591 


$3,000.     In  fact,  the  school    is   liberally   supplied  with  everything 
requisite  to  make  it  successful  and  attractive. 

During  the  past  ten  years  it  has  received  the  commendation  of 
bishops  and  clergy  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  approval  of 
patrons  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  The  location  of  the  school  is 
all  that  could  be  desired;  for  while  it  is  removed  from  the  excitement 
and  interruptions  of  large  cities,  it  is  at  the  same  time  very  accessible, 
being  near  the  convergence  of  several  great  lines  of  travel.  The  aim 
of  the  school  is  to  provide  for  girls  of  the  West  the  best  advantages 


STUDIO,  ST.  MARY'S  SCHOOL. 

for  thorough  intellectual  training,  combined  with   social  culture  and 

Christian  influence. 

The   course   of  instruction    is   comprised    in   seven    departments, 

requiring  four  years  for  its  completion,  after  the  preparatory  studies 
!  are  finished.     They  are  History,  Literature,  Language,  Mathematics, 

Science,  Sacred  Studies,  Music  and  the  Arts  of  Design.  These  branches 
1  are  taught   by  an  able  faculty,  composed  of  the  following,  including 

officers:     Eev.  C.  W.  Leffingwell,  D.  D.,  Rector;  Rev.  ^E.  H.  Rudd, 

A.  M.,  B.  D.,  Chaplain;  Nancy  Meneely  Hitchcoak.  Vice  Principal; 

Anna  Francis,   Organist;  Carl  Laux,  Professor  of  Music;   Mary  H. 

McCracken,  Lucia  W.  Moore,  Mary  E.  Weaver,  Sarah  Baker,  Teachers; 

M.  A.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  Visiting  Physician.     Officers  of  the  House- 


592 


HISTOKY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


hold:    Mrs.  Lefh'ngwell,  Matron ;  Louise  S.  Nichols,  Assistant  Matron; 
Marie  Antoinette  Bouvet,  French  Governess. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  twenty- six  graduates  who  have 
received  the  Cross  of  Honor  and  the  Graduates'  Diploma:  Jennie  E. 
Hunter,  Ada  A.  Runkel,  Clara  J.  Wilson,  Mary  PI.  McCracken,  Mary 
E.  Winter,  Theresa  D.  Woodruff.  Alice  Winter,  Ida  M.  Burrows, 
Marion  E.  Grover,  Edith  J.  Mosier,  Mary  E.  Weaver,  Helen  Johns, 
Alice  Overton,  Anna  Santbrd,  Emma  Taggart,  Cora  I.  Whitaker, 
Marion  Winter,  Frances  Woodmansee,  Florence  Dukes.  Ida  Keightley, 
Lydia  Mary  Laning,  Ethel  II.  Martin,  Jennie  Woolworth,  Maude  I. 
Burrows,  Mary  C.  May,  Helen  M.  Williamson. 

To  Rev.  J.  S.  Chamberlain  is  due  the  inception  of  the  plan  of 
founding  a  Church  school  in  Knoxville,  he  having  made  the  first 
negotiation  for  the  school  property  in  behalf  of  the  Diocese. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  composing  the  Board 
of  Trustees:  Bishop  McLaren,  Rev.  Dr.  Harris,  Rev.  Dr.  Locke, 
Rev.  Dr.  Leffingwell,  Rector,  I.  P.  Koons,  Th.  Gilbert,  Miles  Smith, 
R.  L.  Hannaman,  Cephas  Arms,  P.  H.  Sanford,  S.  H.  Tompkins,  J. 
C.  Cover,  Henry  Arms,  Z.  Cooley,  P.  D.  Rogers,  G.  W.  Ewing,  G.  G 
Weeks,  C.  E.  Chandler,  Dr:  McClelland,  J.  H.  Lewis,  J.  W.  Carnes, 
C.  Runkle,  G.  W.  Heagy,  John  Eads. 


BLESSED  AREM     •  IN  HEART." 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  595 

WESTERN   BUSINESS    COLLEGE. 

The  "Western  Business  College  is  the  junior  member  of  the  trio  of 
colleges  in  the  city  of  Galesburg.     It  was  founded  in  the  year  1860, 
by  Prof.  Hayes,  and  is  consequently  in  its  eighteenth  year.     This,  like 
all  enterprises  which  spring  from  the   brain  and  hands  of  man,  and 
only  grow  into  proportions  to  benefit  and  bless  society,  had  its  ger- 
minal period  and  its  season  of  infantile  growth.     But  its  roots  were 
planted  in  the  needs  of  the  business  world,  and  its  practical  value  was 
soon   demonstrated   and   appreciated.      Prof.  Hayes   conducted   the 
school  until  1865,  when  Prof.  J.  B.  Harsh,  since  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Harsh,  Perrin  &  Co.,  bankers,  Creston,  Iowa,  became  the  sole  pro- 
prietor.    During  the  year  1867,  Prof.  W.  B.  Richards  was  engaged  to 
superintend  the  writing  department;  and  being,  perhaps,  the  finest 
penman  and  the  best  teacher  in  the  West,  placed  the  institution  among 
the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and  it  numbered  its  students  by 
hundreds.     In  1869,  Mr.  Richards  resigned  his  position.    Prof.  Poole 
became  the  sole  proprietor  in  1870,  and  conducted  the  college  until 
1871,  when  it  was  transferred  to  Mr.  J.  H.   Snelling.     He,  after  a 
brief  and  successful  period,  was  obliged  to  suspend  the  school  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1873.     The  college  halls  now  became  vacant  for  the  first  time 
in  eleven  years,  till  July,  when  Prof.  John  M.  Martin  &  Brother, 
former  proprietors  of  Union  Business  College  of  Monmouth,  became 
the  proprietors.     They  re-opened  it  under  rather  unpropitious  circum. 
stances;   but   they  were  young  men,  possessed  of  both  energy  and 
experience,  and  by  careful  attention  to  all  the  interests  of  the  college 
and  inaugurating  a  thorough  and  practical  course  of  instruction,  the 
school  rapidly  gained   the  prestige  and  prosperity  of  its  palmy  days, 
and  may  now  be  classed  as  one  of  the  first  business  colleges  of  the 
land.     The  course  of  study  embraces  the  science  of  accounts,  penman- 
ship, business  and  general  correspondence,  telegraphy,  arithmetic, 
orthography  and  English  language  lessons.     The  college  rooms  and 
appointments  are  ample  and  well  arranged.     The  Western  Business 
College  included  among  its  students  of  1877,  representatives  from  six 
different  States.      Under   the  judicious  management  of  the  Martin 
Brothers,  this  school  bids  fair  to  continue  in  the  future,  as  it  has  been 
in  the  past,  an  institution  of  which  Knox  county  may  well  be  proud. 


596 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


A  \S«;  A 15  i  COIXEGE,  KWOXVII^tE. 

In  Knox  county  the  Swedish  nationality  is  largely  represented.  In- 
deed the  natives  of  that  northern  country  and  their  posterity  form  an 
important  element  of  the  life,  energy  and  enterprise  of  this  county. 
Very  early  in  the  settlement  of  the  county  a  few  Swedes  located  here, 
and  so  favorable  was  their  fortune  and  their  freedom  from  all  personal 
restraints  so  far  as  consistent  with  the  rights  of  others,  that  through 
their  influence  many  of  their  relatives  and  friends  were  attracted 
hither,  until  at  present  they  are  numbered  by  thousands.  A  large 
per  cent,  of  the  Swedish  population,  especially  those  who  have 
adopted  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  American  people,  are  greatly 
infatuated  with  this  country,  and  as  adopted  sons  and  daughters  claim 
to  be  Americans  in  the  broadest  and  fullest  sense.  As  a  class  they 
are  a  religious,  peaceable  and  generous  people,  possessing  a  vast  deal 
of  energy,  with  a  rare  degree  of  physical  and  mental  ability.  They 
have  the  tendency  to  elevate  the  moral  tone  of  society  rather  than 
lower  it,  and  to  contribute  vastly  to  the  enterprise  displayed  in  busi- 
ness circles,  and  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

Aside  from  Ansgari  College,  the}7  have  a  number  of  church  edifices, 
all  of  which  reflect  honor  upon  them  as  a  people  and  their  religious 
organizations,  as  well  as  credit  to  the  county. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  597 

Ansgari  College  is  the  out-growth  of  a  school  known  as  "The 
Mission  Institute  "  of  Keokuk,  Iowa.  In  the  year  of  1873  that  school 
was  first  opened  in  a  chapel  on  the  corner  of  14th  and  Morgan  streets 
in  that  city,  removing  from  there  to  the  corner  of  7th  and  High 
streets.  In  1875  Prof.  Charles  Anderson,  the  Principal  of  the  Keo- 
kuk school,  and  since  tken  President  of  Ansgari  College,  made  a  tour 
through  various  localities  in  search  of  a  location  for  a  college.  In 
May  of  that  year  he  accidently  met  with  the  Hon.  James  Knox  in  the 
bank  at  Knoxville.  Mr.  Knox  had  long  desired  to  found  an  institu- 
tion of  learning  in  Knoxville.  The  location  and  surroundings  being 
favorable  to  Prof.  Anderson,  the  two  gentlemen  readily  co-operated 
in  the  work  of  building  a  college.  Mr.  Knox  donating  $10,000  im- 
mediately. The  amount  of  his  subscriptions  was  subsequently  in- 
creased by  $2,950.  Some  $10,000  more  was  added  by  other  sub- 
scriptions, D.  M.  Eikn,  J.  H.  Lewis  and  Prof.  Anderson  being  instru- 
mental in  securing  this  amount. 

July  3,  1875,  two  months  from  the  time  Mr.  Knox  and  Prof.  An- 
derson first  met,  ground  was  broken  for  the  construction  of  the  college 
building,  and  August  1,  1876,  the  edifice  was  completed.  The 
alacrity  with  which  all  the  business  affairs,  as  well  as  the  mechanical 
labor,  was  carried  on,  has  scarcely  a  parallel,  especially  when  we  con- 
sider it  an  institution  founded  by  subscription.  The  cost  of  building 
and  furniture  has  been  over  $22,000.  The  building  is  a  four-story 
brick  structure  on  a  cut  limestone  basement,  and  with  French  roof. 
It  is  74  feet  long  by  44  wide,  and  contains  39  rooms.  In  the  base- 
ment story  is  a  spacious  dining-room,  a  kitchen,  pantry,  cellar,  laun- 
dry and  other  rooms.  The  first  story  is  devoted  to  school  purposes. 
The  rooms  above  are  occupied  by  students.  The  architectural  design 
of  the  building  is  modern,  well  proportioned,  and  presents  a  neat  and 
pleasing  appearance.  The  accompanying  engraving  is  a  good  repre- 
sentation of  the  exterior.  It  is  situated  on  a  plat  of  4  acres  of  ground 
on  East  Main  street,  Knoxville. 

The  college  is  conducted  in  the  interests  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran church.  It  is  both  secular  and  religious  in  its  courses  of  in- 
struction. Connected  with  it  is  an  academic  department,  having  a 
two  years'  course.  The  collegiate  course  of  instruction  occupies  four 
years  and  the  theological  course  two  years.  The  instruction  in  the 
latter  department  is  conducted  in  the  Swedish  language.  The  num- 
ber of  students  has  varied  from  40  to  60.  The  expense  of  the  students 
is  very  reasonable,  being  for  board,  furnished  room  and  tuition  about 
$110  for  the  entire  year. 

While  the  college  building  was  being  constructed,  a  preparatory 


598  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 

school  was  opened  in  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  Octo- 
ber 1, 1875.  The  Faculty  was:  Prof.  C.  Anderson,  Rev.  J.  Anjon, 
Rev.  J.  A.  Lowe  and  Miss  S.  Larkee.  The  Faculty  remained  the 
same  during  1876,  and  at  the  close  of  this  year  it  consisted  of  Rev. 
Charles  Anderson,  Rev.  J.  Anjon,  Oscar  M.  Esterday  and  L.  P. 
Cravens.  The  college  library,  which  was  furnished  by  the  ladies  of 
Knoxville,  was  opened  August  1,  1877.  It  contains  1,000  volumes. 
Connected  with  the  college  are  two  literary  societies,  "  The  Phreno- 
kosmian  "  and  "  Societas  Demosthenis."  The  former  is  an  English, 
and  the  latter  a  Swedish  society. 

One  noticeable  feature  is  that  during  the  existence  of  the  institution 
at  Knoxville  there  has  not  been  a  single  case  of  sickness  among  the 
students. 

The  original  Trustees  were  Hon.  S.  H.  Tompkins,  Knoxville,  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board;  Rev.  Charles  Anderson,  Knoxville,  Secretary;  D. 
M.  Eikn,  Treasurer;  P.  H.  Sanford,  J.  H.  Lewis,  C.  A.  Lindstrom,  J. 
S.  Holmes,  A.  Nelson,  A.  IS1".  Anderson,  Rev.  J.  Anjon,  Lewis  Palm- 
quist,  S.  Peterson,  George  Larkee,  J.  P.  Lawson,  P.  Mattson. 

KNOX   AGRICULTURAL    SCHOOL. 

In  educational  interests  Knox  county  ranks  among  the  leading 
counties  in  the  Northwest,  and  she  is  destined  to  have  another  insti- 
tution of  learning  added  to  her  half-dozen  prosperous  colleges.  The 
liberality  of  the  Hon.  James  Knox,  of  Knoxville,  was  often  mani- 
fested during  his  active  business  life,  and  his  generosity  was  almost 
boundless.  He  gave  freely  to  all  proper  charities  ;  but  the  most 
munificent  gifts  were  devoted  to  educational  enterprises.  He  gave 
liberally  to  St.  Mary's  School,  to  Ansgari  College,  and  to  other  insti- 
tutions. The  largest  gift,  however,  was  the  bequest  he  made  for 
founding  "  Knox  Agricultural  School."  He  had  long  considered  the 
feasibility  of  building  such  an  institution  during  life,  but  over-burden- 
ing business  cares  prevented  him  from  putting  into  execution  his 
long-cherished  plans.  Death  came,  relieving  him  of  the  cares  of  life 
and  robbing  the  county  of  a  beloved  benefactor.  Previous  to  this,  how- 
ever, he  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  execution  of  the 
plans  entertained  in  life.  For  this  purpose  he  bequeathed  a  magnifi- 
cent sum,  the  residue  of  his  large  estate  after  liberally  providing  for 
his  relatives.  The  gift,  which  amounts  from  $90,000  to  $100,000, 
was  conditional.  Desiring  to  have  the  county  pecuniarily  interested 
in  the  enterprise,  and  to  have  a  larger  endowment,  he  made  the  gift 
as  the  will  reads,  "4on  condition  that  citizens  of  Knoxville  and  Knox 
county  should,  within  six  months  after  death,  pledge  and  subscribe  at 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  601 

least  $40,000  for  like  purpose."  In  case  the  amount  was  not  pledged 
within  the  stated  time,  $40,000  fell  to  Yale  College,  Connecticut,  and 
$40,000  to  Hamilton  College,  New  York,  and  the  remainder  to  St. 
Mary's  School,  Knoxville. 

Two  months  passed  after  his  demise  without  an  effort  to  raise  the 
required  amount.  But  four  months  remained,  and  the  hardships  of 
winter  naturally  prevented  many  contributions ;  but  with  a  stronger 
determination,  and  the  possibility  of  losing  almost  the  entire  amount, 
greater  efforts  were  made,  and  before  the  expiration  of  the  six  months 
$43,061  was  subscribed.  This  subscription  was  presented  to  the 
executors  of  the  will  and  the  bequest  claimed.  Immediately,  how- 
ever, Yale  and  Hamilton  Colleges  commenced  suit  to  prevent  the  gift 
being  used  for  an  agricultural  school  and  to  obtain  it  for  themselves, 
claiming  that  the  will  was  not  complied  with  fully.  The  case  is  now 
pending  in  the  United  States  Court.  The  Trustees,  however,  enter- 
tain no  doubt  but  that  a  decision  will  be  rendered  in  their  favor. 

After  the  necessary  amount  had  been  contributed  the  institution 
was  organized  and  chartered  by  the  State  June  5,  1877,  with  the  fol- 
lowing Trustees:  A.  M.  Craig,  A.  C.  Clay,  J.  H.  Lewis,  William 
Swigart,  William  P.  Parker,  R.  W.  Miles,  Frank  Wilson,  Samuel 
McFarland,  George  A.  Charles.  The  officers  are:  A.  M.  Craig, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  K.  W.  Miles,  Yice  President; 
J.  H.  Lewis,  Secretary;  George  A.  Charles,  Treasurer.  There  were 
thirty-six  incorporators,  who  reside  in  all  parts  of  the  county. 

The  amount  raised  in  the  county  was  contributed  from  each  town- 
ship. The  city  of  Knoxville  and  Knox  township  led  the  van  in  point 
of  liberality,  giving  nearly  $20,000,  and  many  of  the  citizens  of  that 
city  deserve  much  credit  for  the  interest  manifested  toward  securing 
the  school,  which,  according  to  the  will,  is  to  be  located  at  or  near 
that  city,  and  the  subscriptions  were  made  with  the  understanding 
that  it  would  be  within  a  radius  of  one  mile  and  a  half  of  the  city. 

It  is  understood  to  have  been  the  wish  of  Mr.  Knox  to  found  a 
practical  training  school,  and  riot  an  expensive  college;  but  a  school 
where  young  men  under  good  influences,  and  withdrawn  from  the 
temptations  of  the  city,  might  be  prepared  for  an  active  and  useful 
life.  Especial  attention  would  be  given  to  agriculture,  and  to  the 
sciences  and  mechanical  arts  related  to  it.  However,  all  branches  of 
literature  and  science  would  be  taught.  The'  young  men  would  be 
instructed  in  all  departments  of  farm  work,  composition  of  soils  and 
fertilizers,  drainage,  road  and  bridge-making,  stock-raising,  plain  and 
ornamental  gardening,  fruit  culture,  etc.  Under  such  a  course  of 
training,  combined  with  a  moderate  amount  of  actual  work,  there 


602  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

would  be  no  danger  of  turning  out  mere  "  theoretical  book  farmers," 
or  young  men  broken  down  by  dissipation  and  spoiled  for  work  by  the 
false  views  of  life  so  often  imbibed  in  youth.  This  school  will  not,  to 
a  great  extent,  compete  with  the  existing  colleges  of  the  county,  for 
its  students  for  the  most  part  are  those  who  without  such  aid  as 
will  be  afforded  at  this  school  would  secure  but  a  limited  education. 

It  is  calculated,  if  possible,  to  furnish  tuition  and  room  rent  free  to 
all  students  from  Knox  county.  Under  the  management  of  the 
efficient  Board  of  Trustees  it  is  expected  that  at  the  earliest  possible 
time  the  wishes  and  plans  of  Mr.  Knox  will  be  transformed  into  a 
veritable  institution  that  will  alike  confer  honor  upon  them,  and 
the  county,  and  perpetuate  the  memory  of  its  generous  benefactor. 

GALESBURG  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

In  the  year  1861  the  public  schools  of  the  city  of  Galesburg  were  organized  accord- 
ing to  the  graded  system,  which  has  since  proven  so  highly  beneficial  both  in  econo- 
mizing the  labors  of  the  teachers  and  in  the  progress  of  the  pupils. 

Rufus  B.  Guild  was  the  first  Superintendent  of  the  city  schools.  He  continued 
in  office  but  a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Junius  B.  Roberts,  under  whose 
efficient  supervision,  extending  through  many  years,  the  schools  took  rank  among 
the  best  in  the  State.  After  twelve  years  of  service  Mr.  Roberts  resigned,  at  the  close 
of  the  school  year,  in  June,  1875.  He  was  followed  by  Matthew  Andrews,  the  present 
Superintendent.  These  schools  employ  thirty-four  teachers,  all  ladies.  The  High 
School  building,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Simmons  streets,  was  erected 
in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000,  and  is  the  oldest  permanent  school  structure  in  the  city, 
and  one  of  the  best  school-houses  in  the  State.  It  has  ten  school  rooms,  besides  a 
chapel,  office,  recitation  and  museum  rooms. 

There  was  a  time  within  the  memory  of  those  now  living  when  one  little  wooden 
building  furnished  ample  accommodations  for  schooling  the  youth  of  Galesburg, 
and  when  the  only  school  tax  was  a  cord  of  wood  to  supply  the  school-house  fire. 

The  thirty-four  teachers  engaged  in  these  pchools  have  been  employed  various 
periods  of  time,  as  follows:  One  for  15  year;?,  1  for  11  years,  1  for  10  years,  2  for  8 
years,  1  for  7  years,  3  for  6  years,  3  for  5  years,  2  for  4  years,  4  for  3  years,  3  for  2 
years,  and  13  for  1  year. 

The  Central  Primary  School  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Tompkins 

streets.  The  building  is  a  one-story  wooden  structure  containing rooms.  The 

number  of  pupils  enrolled  for  the  month  of  April,  1878,  was:  Boys,  85;  girls,  104; 
making  a  total  of  189.  The  average  daily  attendance  was  171. 

The  Third-Ward  School  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Selden  streets.  The 
building  is  a  substantial  brick  structure  of  modern  style,  containing  four  school 
rooms,  two  on  the  first  and  two  on  the  second  floor,  with  fine  broad  halls  from  front 
to  rear,  and  double  doors  at  each  end.  It  was  erected  in  1875 ;  is  two  stories  and 
basement  in  height;  has  a  seating  capacity  sufficient  to  accommodate  432  pupils, 
and  is  one  of  the  neatest,  best  arranged  school-houses  in  the  county.  The  number 
of  pupils  enrolled  for  the  month  of  April,  1878,  was:  Boys,  114;  girls,  103;  total  en- 
rolled 217;  average  daily  attendance,  195. 

The  Fourth-Ward  School  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Mulberry  and  Day  streets.  The 
building,  which  is  two  stories,  with  basement,  was  erected  in  1869.  It  is  constructed 
of  brick  with  stone  foundation,  and  contains  four  school  rooms,  two  on  each  floor, 
with  halls  and  stair-ways  well  suited  to  the  convenience  of  its  occupants.  The 
number  of  pupils  enrolled  for  the  month  of  April,  1878,  was:  Boys,  127;  girls,  146; 
total  enrolled,  273 ;  average  daily  attendance,  241. 

The  Fifth-Ward  School  is  a  two-story  brick  building  with  stone  basement ;  is  located 
on  the  corner  of  Academy  and  Second  streets;  contains  two  school  rooms  on  each 
floor.  Its  internal  arrangement  is  convenient,  and  its  external  appearance  creditable. 
The  enrollment  of  pupils  for  the  month  of  April,  1878,  was:  Boys,  90;  girls,  115; 
total  enrollment,  205;  average  daily  attendance,  184. 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY.  603 

The  Sixth-Ward  School  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Clark  and  Losey  streets.  The 
building  is  neatly  and  substantially  constructed  of  brick,  with  stone  basement,  and 
was  erected  in  1877.  It  is  two-stories  high,  with  two  school  rooms  on  each  floor,  and 
is  heated  by  steani.  The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  for  the  month  of  April,  1878, 
was:  Boys,  80;  girls,  63;  total  enrolled,  ]43;  average  daily  attendance,  127, 

The  Seventh-Ward  School  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Seminary  and  Third  streets. 
The  building  is  a  two-story  brick,  with  stone  basement;  is  neat  and  substantial  in 
construction,  and  contains  two  school  rooms  on  each  floor.  It  was  erected  in  1876. 
The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  for  the  month  of  April,  1878,  was:  Boys,  124;  girls, 
127;  total  enrolled,  251 ;  average  daily  attendance,  216. 


604  HISTORY   OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   XXY. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  early  establishment  of  religious  institutions  in  new  settlements 
is  a  prominent  feature  in  the  history  of  this  county.  With  the  very 
first  settler  came  good  old  Elder  Gum,  who  preached  almost  every 
Sunday  in  some  of  the  cabins  at  Henderson.  It  is  evident  that  a  com- 
munity in  which  the  school-house  and  church  find  a  special  recognition 
will  always  be  selected  by  those  seeking  homes,  in  preference  to  the 
one  in  which  they  are  not  found.  Men  of  the  world  recognize  the 
fact  that  educational  and  Christian  institutions  are  the  handmaids  of 
general  thrift  and  prosperity.  Improvements  in  the  manners,  tastes 
and  moral  status  of  the  people  follow  closely  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel.  These  facts  and  the  love  of  the  gospel  prompted  the  early 
settlers  to  erect  churches. 

The  following  sketches  of  the  various  congregations  are  as  full  as 
space  in  these  pages  will  allow,  and  as  reliable  and  authentic  as  patient 
inquiry  and  exhaustive  research  can  furnish.  While  a  few  of  our 
readers  may  deem  them  too  brief,  we  believe  they  contain  all  the 
important  facts. 

THE   OLD-SCHOOL  PREDESTINAKIAN    BAPTISTS. 

This  is  the  oldest  existing  religious  organization  in  the  county.  It 
is  known  as  the  "  Henderson  Church,"  and  was  constituted  at  Hen- 
derson Grove  August  14, 1830,  by  Elders  Stephen  Strickland  and  John 
Logan.  The  church  building  is  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  Rio  township.  Present  membership 
number  45.  Elder  J.  M.  Brown  is  present  pastor. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL. 

Knoxville  M.  E~  Church. — Knoxville  was  made  an  appointment  on 
the  Henderson  Mission  as  early  as  1831.  It  is  understood  that  Bar- 
ton H.  Cartwright  preached  the  first  sermon  in  a  small  tin  shop, 
when  Knoxville  was  but  a  small  village.  The  present  church  edifice 
was  erected  in  1865,  at  a  cost  of  $4,460. 

Abingdon  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  in  1833,  by  A.  D.  Swartz 
and  wife,  and  5  others.  House  built  in  1846  or  '47.  The  congrega- 


Fl  RST  ME.  CHURCH,  GALESBURG. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  607 

tion  now  owns  and  occupies  a  large,  handsome  building  costing  near 
$20,000. 

Victoria  M.  E.  Church. — This  church  was  organized  about  1841, 
by  Rev.  J.  Anthony,  and  at  that  time  stood  in  connection  with  the 
Salem  society,  which  was  organized  by  Rev.  Z.  Hall  in  1836.  This 
church,  with  its  branches,  numbers  about  175  members. 

Oneida. — The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Oneida  was  erected 
in  1863  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  The  society  was  organized  by  Rev.  R.  N". 
Morse  in  1845.  The  present  membership  numbers  125.  Valuation 
of  church  building  $2,500,  and  of  parsonage,  $1,200. 

Galesburg. — The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Galesburg 
is  located  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Tompkins  and  Kellogg  streets. 
This  church  is  the  finest  in  the  county;  is  built  of  brick  and  neatly 
trimmed  with  stone,  of  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  and  is  alike  an 
ornament  to  the  city  and  a  credit  to  the  denomination  to  which  it  be- 
longs. It  was  erected  in  1872  at  a  cost  of  $40,000.  The  accompany- 
ing engraving  of  the  edifice  is  a  fine  representation  of  its  exterior. 
The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  society  was  organized  in  Galesburg 
by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hedstrom  in  1847. 

For  several  years  this  church  was  included  in  the  Knoxville  circuit, 
but  in  1851  the  first  edifice  was  erected  on  the  ground  where  the  pres- 
ent beautiful  structure  now  stands.  It  was  dedicated  by  Peter  Cart- 
wright.  From  the  very  first  there  has  been  a  gradual  increase  of 
membership.  In  1855,  when  the  church  became  a  "  station."  Rev.  Mil- 
ton L.  Haney  was  its  pastor,  and  G.  W.  Brown  is  its  present  pastor. 
The  basement  of  the  present  church  building  was  completed  soon 
after  its  erection,  and  all  the  services  of  the  congregation  were  held 
in  it  until  February  26,  1876,  when  the  whole  edifice  was  entirely 
sompleted  and  dedicated,  Bishop  Harris  presiding  over  the  impressive 
services.  The  present  membership  numbers  500.  Present  valuation  of 
church  building,  $37,000;  parsonage  $3,500.  Average  salary  for  pas- 
tors, $1,650.  Amount  raised  each  year  for  all  church  purposes,  $4,- 
000.  Number  of  scholars  in  Sabbath  school,  375;  contributions  for 
all  purposes,  $150. 

Altona. — The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Altona  was  organized 
August  14,  1853,  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Quinby.  The  church  has  had  a  steady, 
healthy  growth,  and  has  been  blessed  with  many  revivals.  The  num- 
ber of  members  has  increased  from  the  original  13  to  160. 

Victoria. — The  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  building  was 
erected  in  1854,  there  having  been  preaching  in  the  village  some  time 
previous,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Jonas  J.  Hedstrom.  This 
church  also  has  a  branch  society  six  miles  southeast,  in  the  same 


608  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

township,  that  is  served  by  the  same  minister.  These  two  branches 
number  about  150  members. 

Elba  Chapel  and  Bethel  M.  E.  Churches. — The  former  church  is 
situated  in  Elba  township  one  mile  west  of  Elba  Center.  It  is  a  neat 
frame  structure  30  by  53  feet  in  size,  and  cost  $2,500.  The  society 
was  organized  in  French  Creek  circuit  in  the  fall  of  1856  by  Creigh- 
ton  Springer.  The  latter  was  organized  in  1876. 

African  M.  E.  Chtirch,  Galesburg. — This  church  structure  is  on 
Tompkins  street  between  Cherry  and  Prairie  streets.  It  is  a  good 
frame  building  40  by  60  feet,  with  main  audience  room  above  and 
lecture  room  in  basement.  It  was  erected  in  1876  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 
Rev.  J.  "W.  Malone  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  First  M.  E.  Church  of  Wataga  was  organized  in  1857,  by 
Rev.  J.  D.  Taylor.  Their  church  edifice,  which  is  a  wooden  structure 
60  by  40  feet,  was  erected  on  Church  street,  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 
Rev.  N.  G.  Clark  is  the  present  pastor. 

Wataga  M.  E.  Church. — The  Swedish  Methodist  Church  of  Wataga 
was  organized  in  December,  1857.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Y. 
Witting.  The  church  edifice  stands  on  Summons  street,  and  was 
erected  in  1857,  and  its  value  is  about  $1,500:  The  present  member- 
ship is  fifty.  The  officiating  pastor  is  Rev.  Oscar  J.  Nelson. 

Summit  M.  E.  Church. — The  church  edifice  of  this  congregation 
was  erected  in  1864.  It  is  a  good  frame  structure,  located  in  the  town 
of  Summit.  Rev.  H.  S.  Humes  preaches  here  every  alternate  Sunday. 

Bethel  M.  E.  Church. — This  is  one  of  the  four  good  churches  of 
Persifer  township.  The  building  stands  on  section  30.  It  is  a  good 
frame  structure  and  was  erected  about  1863. 

Maxey  Chapel  M.  E.  Church. — This  church  building  stands  on 
section  4,  Persifer  township. 

Yates  City  M.  E.  Church. — This  church  building  was  erected  in 
1866-7,  at  a  cost  of  $5,100. 

Henderson  M.  E.  Church. — The  church  building  was  erected  in 
1874,  and  is  a  neat  frame  worth  $2,500.  The  present  memberhip  is 
about  35;  pastor,  Rev.  H.  S.  Humes.  A  Union  Sunday  School  is  held 
in  connection  with  the  United  Brethren,  of  which  Mrs.  Barbara  Nel- 
son is  Superintendent. 

Maquon  M.  E.  Church — Much  zeal  and  energy  was  displayed  by 
earnest  workers  before  a  church  was  erected  in  Maquon,  and  many 
were  the  failures,  until  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  establish  a 
church  there.  Persistent  effort,  however,  succeeded  and  the  beautiful 
edifice  was  completed,  and  Tuesday,  Sept.  11,  1877,  was  dedicated  by 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  609 

Bishop  J.  T.  Peck,  of  Syracuse,  New  York.     The  entire  cost  of  the 
church  and  grounds  was  $6,739.14. 

SWEDISH  M.  E.  CHURCH  OF  GALESBURG. 

This  church  edifice  stands  at  the  corner  of  Waters  and  Kellogg 
streets  in  Galesburg,  and  was  erected  in  1872  at  a  cost  of  $18,700. 
The  congregation  was  organized  in  1852  by  Rev.  Unice  Hedstrom 
with  between  15  and  20  members,  and  Rev.  Peter  ]STewberg  pastor. 
The  present  membership  numbers  282.  There  were  raised  for  all 
purposes  last  year  $2,757.47.  In  the  Sunday  school  are  140  scholars; 
annual  contribution  $70;  S.  J.  Johnson  superintendent. 

CHRISTIAN. 

Abingdon. — The  Christian  Church  of  Abingdon  was  organized  in  • 
1840  by  Hiram  Smith  and  Richard  Johnston.  The  first  church 
building  was  erected  in  1849,  and  cost  $1,000.  The  present  building 
was  erected  in  1855,  being  the  chapel  of  the  old  building  of  Abingdon 
College.  The  pastors  at  present  are,  Marvin  Baker,  M.  Jameson  and 
J.  W.  Butler. 

Knoxville  Christian  Church. — Monday,  Feb.  27,  1871,  this  organ- 
ization was  effected  and  consisted  of  13  members.  The  Broad  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  building  was  purchased  for  $2,000,  and  the  ser- 
vices of  Elder  J.  H.  Garrison  was  secured  for  one-fourth  his  time. 
The  present  membership  numbers  40.  The  property  is  worth.  $3,000 
Sunday  School  organized  in  May,  1871. 

Christian  Church,  Galesburg. — After  the  organization  of  this  con- 
gregation for  some  time  meetings  were  held  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Yiv- 
ion,  when  the  old  building  of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  was  purchased 
for  $1,000.  It  then  stood  on  E.  Ferris  street,  but  has  since  been 
removed  to  the  corner  of  Cedar  and  Tompkins  streets,  and  refitted  and 
remodeled.  The  church  has  met  with  many  difficulties,  and  but  little 
progress  has  been  made  toward  increasing  the  membership,  which  at 
present  numbers  60.  Dr.  J.  B.  Yivion,  Elder;  Henry  Brunei*  and  J. 
B.  Scheitlin,  Deacons. 

The  Jefferson  Street  Christian  Church,  Abingdon,  was  organized 
in  Oct.,  1874,  and  now  meets  for  worship  on  the  corner  of  Washington 
and  Jackson  streets. 

Wataga  Christian  Church. — In  1875  a  neat  frame  structure  was. 
erected,  costing  $2,000.     The  membership  is  about  25.     The  pulpit 
las  been  supplied  by  Elder  Burton  and  J.  S.  Edwards. 

33 


610  HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


PRESBYTERIAN. 


Galesburg. — The  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Gales- 
burg begins  with  the  foundation  of  the  colony.  For  some  years 
the  Presbyterian  church  which  was  organized  in  1837  was  the  only 
church  in  the  place.  But  that  church  having,  however,  gradually 
adopted  the  Congregational  polity,  steps  were  taken  in  April,  1851, 
to  organize  another  Presbyterian  church. 

Thirty-seven  members  of  the  First  Church  sent  a  fraternal  and 
respectful  letter  to  that  church,  requesting  letters  of  dismissal.  These 
persons  were  organized  into  a  body  as  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Galesburg,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1851,  by  a  commit- 
tee of  Kiiox  and  Peoria  Presbytery.  The. first  public  service  of 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  held  in  Knox  Academy,  June 
29,  1851.  There  was  preaching  in  the  morning  by  Rev.  Glen  Wood, 
and  in  the  afternoon  communion  service  was  conducted  by  Rev. 
Geo.  W.  Gale,  D.  P.,  and  Rev.  Glen  Wood,  at  which  time  John 
McMullen  and  W.  A.  Wood  were  installed  as  elders.  The  church 
continued  to  worship  with  the  First  Church  until  near  the  close  of 
the  year  1851,  when  they  commenced  holding  regular  services  by 
themselves  in  a  building  erected  near  the  present  site  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  for  a  session  room,  and  presented  to  the  church 
by  Sylvanus  Ferris,  Sr.  They  continued  their  services  in  this  build- 
ing until  1856,  when  a  larger  building  was  erected  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Kellogg  streets,  with  the  expectation  that  a  still  larger 
and  better  edifice  would  soon  be  built.  In  1863  they  entered  upon 
the  work  of  building  a  permanent  church  edifice  upon  a  lot  front- 
ing the  College  park  on  Cherry  street.  This  structure  was  completed 
during  the  autumn  of  1864  at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000. 

The  Galesburg  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  with  eighteen 
members,  on  the  30th  of  December,  1854.  The  first  and  only  church 
building  was  on  Cedar  street,  near  the  site  occupied  by  the  residence 
of  Mr.  A.  S.  Hoover.  It  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  corner  of 
Prairie  arid  Simmons  streets,  where  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1870. 

During  the  winter  of  1869-70,  when  it  became  apparent  that 
the  two  great  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United 
States  were  likely  to  be  brought  together  in  organic  union,  the 
question  began  to  be  agitated  whether  the  interests  of  the  cause 
of  Christ  in  Galesburg,  so  far  as  represented  by  the  Presbyterians, 
might  not  be  better  promoted  by  a  union  of  the  two  churches  than 
by  preserving  a  separate  existence.  After  a  few  weeks  of  fraternal 
negotiations  upon  this  subject,  an  arrangement  was  effected  by  which 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  611 

the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Galesbnrg  and  the  Galesburg 
Presbyterian  Church  ceased  to  exist  as  separate  organizations,  and 
united  as  one,  under  the  title  of  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gales- 
burg.  The  union  went  into  effect  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1870. 
The  congregation  still  worship  in  the  building  that  formerly  belonged 
to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church. 

Knoxmlle. — The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Knoxville  was  formed  by 
the  union  of  the  New  and  Old  School  churches,  the  result  of  a  joint 
conference  held  November  4,  1870,  at  which  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  plan  of  union.  The  united  congregation  took  pos- 
session of  the  Main  street  church  the  first  Sunday  of  January,  1871. 
The  first  pastor,  after  the  union,  was  D.  W.  Bradford;  present  pastor 
J.  M.  Waddel. 

Altona. — The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Altona  was  organized  April 
25,  1857.  Eighteen  members  united  with  the  church  at  this  meeting. 
The  present  membership  numbers  46,  who  contribute  $700  per  annum. 

Presbyterian  Church  of  Elba  was  organized  about  1861,  but  many 
of  the  members  a  few  years  later  removed  to  the  "West,  and  the  or- 
ganization was  discontinued.  After  an  interval  of  12  years,  by  the 
effort  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Carrethers,  Rev.  Reasoner  and  W.  B.  Mathews, 
another  organization  was  effected  and  steps  were  at  once  taken  toward 
the  erection  of  a  church  building,  which  was  completed  in  1874  at  a 
cost  of  $3,000;  present  membership  37,  with  Rev.  T.  S.  Scott  as  pastor. 

Presbyterian  Church  of  Oneida  was  organized  May  4,  1 863,  at  the 
school-house  in  district  No.  3,  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Schuyler  Rev.  C.  B.  Bristol  preached  a  sermon,  when  the 
committee  proceeded  with  the  organization.  Mr.  Joseph  Findley  and 
James  B.  Ralston  were  chosen,  ordained  and  installed  elders;  and  the 
church  was  then  fully  organized  under  the  name  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Ontario.  Again,  on  September  24,  1865,  by  order  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Warren,  the  name  of  this  church  was  changed  to 
that  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oneida. 

Yates  City  Presbyterian  Church. — This  church  edifice  was  built  in 
1866-7  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  The  congregation  numbers  135. 

Ahingdon  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at 
Cherry  Grove,  in  1835,  by  Rev.  James  Stockton,  and  in  1866  the  congre- 
gation built  a  nice  edifice  in  Abingdon,  which  was  dedicated  February 
3,  1867. 

"  FIKST    CHURCH    OF    CHRIST,''  GALESBURG. 


The  history  of  the  "  First  Church  of  Christ"  differs  from  that  of 
most  pioneer  churches  in  several  particulars.     It  passed  through  no 


612  HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 

period  of  infantile  growth,-  but  sprang  into  existence  at  once,  strong 
and  well  disciplined,  with  efficient  men  and  women  to  labor  and  pray 
for  its  success,  and  experienced  officers  to  guide  its  affairs.  Instead 
of  receiving  aid,  it  has  always  ministered  to  others,  now  and  again 
sending  forth  of  its  strength  to  build  upon  other  foundations,  thus  be- 
coming the  "Mother  of  Churches."  Its  relations  with  Knox  College 
have  been  intimate,  and  it  has  received  permanent  benefit  from  the 
labors  of  presidents  and  professors,  and  the  youthful  zeal  of  students. 

The  founding  of  this  church  was  embraced  in  the  same  plan  which 
gave  origin  to  Galesburg  and  Knox  College,  and  a  detailed  account 
of  the  whole  movement  will  be  found  in  its  appropriate  place  in  this 
volume. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  more  than  thirty  families  were  located  in  cabins 
on  the  south  side  of  Henderson  Grove,  awaiting  the  approach  of 
spring,  when  they  were  to,  begin  in  earnest  the  erection  of  buildings 
and  the  opening  of  farms.  These  families  were  homogeneous  in  their 
character,  partaking  of  the  spirit,  as  they  sprang  from  the  blood,  of 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers  of  New  England.  They  loved  the  Bible,  the  Sab- 
bath and  the  sanctuary.  They  cherished,  with  slight  or  no  variation, 
the  same  views  of  gospel  truth,  and  felt,  as  their  fathers  felt,  the  im- 
portance of  transmitting  the  institutions  of  religion  to  those  who 
should  come  after  them,  as  the  richest  inheritance  they  could  leave. 

Nor  were  they,  the  first  winter,  without  the  manifest  presence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Rev.  John  T.  Avery,  visiting  his  friends  in  their 
new  home,  spent  several  weeks  aiding  the  officiating  pastor.  The 
way  for  the  organization  of  a  church  being  thus  prepared,  the  profes- 
sors of  religion  met  at  the  school-house  in  Henderson  Grove  February 
15,  1837.  The  ministers  present  were  Rev.  John  Waters,  who  pre- 
sided, and  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Gale.  It  was  resolved:  1st,  "That  it  is  ex- 
pedient, as  soon  as  practicable,  to  form  a  church  in  this  place;"  and 
2d,  "  to  hear  each  give  an  account  of  his  or  her  hope."  February  15th, 
17th,  21st  and  25th  were  spent  in  this  way,  and,  when  completed,  a 
confession  of  faith  and  covenant  were  unanimously  approved.  Rev. 
Mr.  Noel,  of  Knoxville,  was  also  present,  he  having  been  appointed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler  to  assist  in  its  formation.  Sunday,  February 
26th,  the  confession  of  faith  and  covenant  were  adopted,  and  the  or- 
dinances of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  were  administered.  April 
5th  it  was  unanimously  resolved  "  that  it  is  expedient  to  organize  the 
church  fully  as  Presbyterian,  and  to  choose  three  elders  and  two 
deacons."  Nehemiah  West,  Neherniah  H.  Losey,  and  John  Kendall 
were  chosen  elders,  and  Thomas  Simmons  and  Abel  Goodell  deacons. 
April  9th  these  were  all  installed  in  office,  and  the  church  was  declared 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  613 

organized  by  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Galesburg. 
Rev.  Geo.  "W.  Gale  reported  to  the  church,  April  25th,  that  it  had 
been  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler.  Thus 
the  church  began  with  eighty-one  members,  sixty-three  having  pre- 
sented letters,  and  eighteen  uniting  on  profession  of  faith. 

During  the  summer  of  1837  meetings  in  the  village  were  held  in 
the  school-house,  which  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Ferris  street,  be- 
tween Broad  and  Cherry,  till  December,  1838,  when  the  Academy 
building  was  used  till  the  erection  of  the  church,  in  which  the  first 
service  was  held  June  21st,  1846.  This  building  still  stands,  plain 
and  unpretentious,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Public  Square,  a 
monument  to  the  sacrifices  of  those  who  built  it.  Its  value  cannot  be 
named,  for  it  was  the  work  of  the  community,  and  every  beam  and 
nail  was  consecrated  by  self-sacrifice. 

The  additions  to  the  church  in  1837  were:  by  letter  35,  on  profes- 
sion 6.  By  the  close  of  the  year  1839  the  number  of  members  was 
190,  26  more  having  united  by  letter,  and  42  on  profession. 

The  whole  number  of  members  received  to  July  8,  1878,  is  1,319,  of 
whom  682  were  received  on  profession:  11  of  these  became  ministers 
of  the  Gospel.  Of  the  whole  number  of  members,  47  have  become 
ministers,  of  whom  31  were  college  students;  520  have  been  students 
in  the  departments  of  Knox  College,  and  350  of  these  entered  the  church 
on  profession.  The  church  now  numbers  419. 

For  the  last  twelve  years  the  collections  have  averaged  $4,631,  of 
which  $1,568  a  year  have  been  given  to  the  various  missionary  societies 
and  other  benevolent  objects.  The  remainder  has  been  employed  in 
paying  the  pastor's  salary,  $1,800,  and  other  expenses. 

The  church  was  at  first  strictly  Presbyterian.  Various  modifica- 
tions took  place  up  to  June,  1845,  when  a  compromise  was  adopted, 
which  secured  to  the  Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians  their  pre- 
ferences, and  gave  the  church  a  double  ecclesiastical  connection. 
In  1855  the  church  withdrew  from  the]  Presbytery  "  on  account  of 
slavery."  In  October,  1856,  the  name  was  changed  from  "  First  Pres- 
byterian" to  "First  Church  of  Christ." 

May  29,  1851,  37  members  were  dismissed  to  form  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Galesburg,  and  within  two  years  11  others  were 
dismissed  to  unite  with  the  same  church. 

Again.  November  9th,  1855,  47  members  were  dismissed  to  organize 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Galesburg.  There  were  82  dis- 
missed to  unite  with  that  church  between  November,  1855,  and 
February,  1858. 

The  doctrines  of  the  church  are  evangelical,  having  been  the  same 


614  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

as  those  adopted  in  1831  by  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida,  New  York, 
until  July,  1858,  when  a  confession  of  faith  identical  with  that  of  the 
New  England  Church  of  Chicago  was  adopted.  The  church  polity  is 
that  of  independence.  The  church  recognizes  no  right  of  appeal  from 
itself  to  any  ecclesiastical  body;  it  however  acknowledges  the  frater- 
nity of  churches,  and  chooses  a  delegate  to  the  General  .Association 
of  Illinois,  and  is  also  represented  in  the  nearest  local  association. 
Annually,  the  church  chooses  two  elders  and  two  deacons,  who  hold 
office  three  years,  and  the  twelve  officers  so  .chosen  constitute  a  Board 
competent  to  adjudicate  any  case  of  discipline,  the  member  against 
whom  charges  may  have  been  preferred  having  at  the  same  time  the 
option  of  being  tried  by  the  church,  the  decision  in  either  case  being 
final. 

BAPTIST. 

Galesburg. — The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Galesburg  was  organized 
in  1847.  During  the  first  ten  years  of  their  existence,  they  purchased 
the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Tompkins  streets,  where  they  built 
a  house  of  worship  and  continued  to  worship  until  the  year  1857, 
when  a  portion  of  the  membership  withdrew  and  formed  what  was 
afterward  known  as  the  "  Cherry  Street  Baptist  Church."  More  or 
less  prosperity  attended  them  in  the  years  following  up  to  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1864,  when  the  two  churches  united,  and  formed  what 
is  now  known  as  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Galesburg. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  the  church  called  to  the  pastorate  the  Rev. 
W.  D.  Clark,  who  served  with  acceptance  during  the  three  years  fol- 
lowing, and  during  which  time  the  present  house  of  worship  was 
erected,  completed  as  it  was  in  the  spring  of  1868,  at  a  cost  of  some 
$32,000.  The  dedicatory  services  of  the  present  church  building  were 
held  on  the  9th  of  April,  1868,  the  exercises  being  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
J.  ET.  Griffith,  who  had  settled  as  their  pastor.  He  continued  to  min- 
ister to  them  until  the  month  of  November,  1872,  when  he  resigned 
and  was  soon  followed  by  the  Rev.  William  M.  Haigh,  who  continued  as 
their  pastor  until  the  first  of  August,  1877,  at  which  time  he  resigned. 
The  Rev.  J.  W.  T.  Boothe,  D.  D.,  is  their  present  pastor.  The 
present  membership  numbers  360.  Annual  church  expenses  $2,500. 
In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  large  flourishing  Sabbath-school  of 
370  scholars,  of  which  Mr.  M.  S.  Smalley  is  Superintendent. 

Ontario. — The  Baptist  Church  of  Ontario  was  organized  in  April, 
1854.  The  character  of  its  growth  has  been  gradual,  though  it  has 
passed  through  several  seasons  of  refreshing  revivals.  Rev.  C.  C. 
Moore  is  the  officiating  pastor.  The  church  has  a  present  member- 
ship of  sixty.  Their  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1851.  The  value 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  617 

of  the  building  is  about  $3,000.  The  churcji  has  a  parsonage  worth 
$1,500.  The  salaries  paid  to  pastors  average  $800  per  annum.  The 
gross  amount  raised  by  the  church  for  all  purposes  is  $1,100  a  year. 
Second  Baptist  Church,  Oalesburg. — This  congregation  is  com- 
posed of  colored  people,  and  was  .organized  in  1805,  by  A.  ~W.  Jack- 
son. The  church  edifice,  which  stands  on  the  corner  of  South  and 
and  Cherry  streets,  is  a  good  frame  building  and  cost  several  thousand 
dollars.  The  present  value  of  church  property  is  about  $10,000. 
Present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  0.  Graves,  who  has  been  with  the  church  for 
10  years.  The  present  membership  number  89.  The  average  salary 
of  pastor  is  $500;  $700  are  raised  annually  for  all  church  purposes. 
In  the  Sunday  school  are  48  scholars. 

CONGREGATIONAL. 

Ontario. — This  congregation  worship  in  a  frame  building,  48  by  26 
feet,  which  stands  on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  31.  It  was 
erected  in  1851  and  dedicated  November  4  of  the  same  year.  The 
society  was  organized  August  12, 1848.  The  original  members  num- 
bered 17;  of  these,  9  have  since  died.  Rev.  Henry  M.  Tupper,  the 
present  pastor,  has  supplied  the  pastorate  since  February,  1872. 

Victoria. — Congregational  Church  of  Yictoria.  The  society  was 
organized  by  Revs.  Gale,  Waters  and  Wright,  as  a  Presbyterian 
Church.  It  was  changed  to  Congregational  in  1849.  The  church 
building  was  erected  in  1851.  This  church  has  a  branch,  five  miles 
east,  which  is  recognized  as  a  part  of  the  same  church,  and  is  num- 
bered with  them  and  served  by  the  same  pastor. 

Wataga. — The/First  Congregational  Church  of  Wataga  was  organ- 
ized June  10,  1855.  The  church  property  consists  of  church  edifice, 
which  was  dedicated  September,  1860,  costing  with  lot  about  $3,300, 
and  a  parsonage  built  in  1875-76,  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  H.  P.  Roberts 
is  the  present  pastor. 

Galesburg. The  First  Congregational  Church  was  organized 

November  9,  1855,  by  members  of  the  First  Church.  A  commodious 
church  edifice  was  erected  shortly  afterward,  on  Broad  street,  between 
Tompkins  and  Simmons  streets.  The  present  membership  numbers 
306,  of  whom  116  are  males  and  190  females.  During  1877-78,  61 
were  added.  Rev.  Alfred  A.  Ellsworth,  the  present  pastor,  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  in  1876.  Salary  $2,500.  The  benevolent  contribu- 
tions, for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1878,  amounted  to  $1,625.20; 
church  expenses  $1,340.  Total  expenditures  for  all  purposes 
$5,465.20.  Yalue  of  Church  property  $33,200.  Frank  D.  Bellows, 
church  clerk.  Attendance  at  the  Sabbath-school  230. 


618  HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Oneida. — The  Congregational  Church  of  Oneida  was  organized  by 
a  council  on  Saturday,  Dec.  22,  1855.  This  church  has  always  occu- 
pied advanced  ground  in  the  reforms  of  the  day,  such  as  anti-slavery 
and  temperance,  and  has  maintained  from  the  first  a  vigorous  and 
efficient  Sabbath-school,  holding  firmly  the  great  cardinal  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  system. 

Orange. — This  church  was  organized  April  12,  1872.  The  mem- 
bership numbers  14, — 7  males  and  7  females.  W.  T.  Howies,  clerk. 
The  attendance  upon  the  Sunday-school  is  80. 

LUTHERAN. 

Galesburg. — The  First  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Galesburg,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Seminary  and  Waters  streets,  is 
a  frame  building  55  by  110  feet,  including  tower.  It  was  erected  in 
1869,  at  a  cost  of  $13,500.  The  society  was  organized  in  1852  by  Rev. 
T.  1ST.  Hasselquist.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  S.  P.  A.  Lindahl.  The 
present  membership  numbers  900.  The  value  of  church  building  and 
lot  is  $18,000,  and  of  parsonage  and  lot  $2,500. 

JTnoxville. — The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  1853  by  Rev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  D.  D.  Rev.  J.  F.  Borg  is  the 
present  pastor  of  the  church. 

Altona. — The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation  of  Altona 
worship  in  a  frame  building  35  by  70  feet  and  eighteen  feet  high, 
erected  in  1864  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  The  congregation  was  organized 
in  1859.  Rev.  A.  Lindholm  is  the  present  pastor. 

Wataga. — The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organized 
in  1856.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1860,  and  on  July  17, 
1875,  was  struck  by  lightning  and  destroyed  by  fire.  The  following 
fall  the  present  commodious  structure  was  completed.  Rev.  J.  F. 
Borg  is  the  present  pastor. 

Galesburg. — The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  building 
of  Galesburg,  which  is  located  on  the  north  side  of  Simmons  street 
between  Kellogg  and  Seminary,  was  erected  in  1869.  The  society  was 
organized  August  21,  1868,  by  Nickolaus  Bergenskold. 

CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  CONNECTION. 

Ontario. — This  church  is  not  of  the  "Disciples  of  Christ,"  some- 
times erroneously  called  "Campbellites."  The  church  building  is1 
located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  2  of  Ontario  township.  It 
was  erected  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  The  society  was  organized 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  619 

in  1853  by  Rev.   Samuel  Croy;  present  pastor  is  Rev.  G.  Atwood 
Brown. 

UNIVEKSALIST. 

Galesburg. — The  Universalist  Society  of  Galesburg  was  organized 
January  20,  1856,  with  some  twenty-live  or  thirty  members.  Any 
person  sustaining  a  good  moral  and  religious  character  and  subscrib- 
ing to  the  following  "Profession  of  Faith,"  may  be  admitted  a  mem- 
ber of  the  society: 

"Art.  I. — We  believe  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  contain  a  revelation  of  the  character  of  God,  and  of  the 
duty,  interest  and  final  destination  of  mankind. 

"  Art.  II. — We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  whose  nature  is  love, 
revealed  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  one  Holy  Spirit  of  Grace,  who 
will  finally  restore  the  whole  family  of  mankind  to  holiness  and  hap- 
piness. 

"Art.  III. — We  believe  that  holiness  and  happiness  are  insepar- 
ably connected,  and  that  believers  ought  to  be  careful  to  maintain 
order  and  practice  good  works;  for  these  things  are  good  and  profit- 
able unto  men." 

The  church  was  organized  in  October,  1860. 

Yates  City  Church. — This  congregation  has  a  neat  church  edifice 
which  cost  $3,400.  The  present  membership  numbers  75. 

CATHOLIC. 

Galesburg. — There  is  but  one  Catholic  church  building  in  the  city 
of  Galesburg.  This  church  edifice,  called  after  the  name  of  St.  Pat- 
rick, is  located  on  Academy  street.  It  was  built  over  fifteen  years 
ago.  The  congregation  was  organized  about  twenty-two  years  ago, 
by  Rev.  John  O'Neil.  Rev.  Joseph  Costa  is  the  present  pastor. 

Walaga  Catholic  church  was  erected  in  1877  at  a  cost  of  $2,000, 
Rev.  P.  McGair  in  charge. 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL. 

Galesburg. — The  Grace  Church  Parish  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  Galesburg  was  organized  in  1859;  present  rector  is  G.  H. 
Higgins.  The  church  building  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Prairie  and 
Tompkins  streets;  is  a  wooden  structure  and  built  in  Gothic  style. 

Abingdon  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  1839 
or  '40,  and  now  owns  and  occupies  a  well  arranged  building,  erected 
some  11  years  ago,  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,000, 


620  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

UNITED    BRETHREN. 

Persifer  Chapel* — The  church  building  of  this  congregation  is 
located  on  section  84,  Persifer  township,  and  was  erected  about  eight 
years  ago. 

Mound  Chapel. — This  church  erected  their  meeting-house  about 
1872.  It  is  located  on  section  8,  Persifer  township. 

PROTESTANT    METHODIST. 

The  Bethesda  Protestant  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  "W. 
Stevens  and  W.  Mount,  of  Louisville.  Their  first  church  building, 
which  burned  down,  cost  them  about  $500.  Their  present  church 
edifice  is  constructed  of  wood;  was  erected  in  1869  at  a  cost  of  $5,000. 
It  is  located  on  section  9,  Cedar  township. 

Haynes  Chapel  was  organized  in  1870,  with  13  members,  by  A.  M. 
Raven  scro  ft.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1871  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600.  Present  membership  about  30.  Scholars  in  Sunday  school 
70,  contributing  $40  per  year. 

Ontario. — The  Protestant  Methodist  Church  of  Ontario  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  L.  S.  Kitchens  in  the  winter  or  spring  of  1871.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  George  Briden. 

UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN. 

Summit  Church  was  organized  in  1871.  Arrangements  were  made 
with  the  Methodist  denomination  at  Summit,  by  which  the  U.  P. 
congregation  occupy  their  house  of  worship.  Prof.  J.  C.  Hawkinson, 
of  Monrnouth  College,  is  stated  supply. 

SWEDISH    INDEPENDENT. 

Ofieida. — This  church  edifice  is  located  on  Pine  street,  iij  the  city 
of  Oneida;  is  50  by  30  feet  in  size,  and  in  Gothic  style  of  architecture. 
The  church  was  organized  in  1877  by  Rev.  Charles  Anderson.  The 
present  pastor  is  J.  W.  Stromberg. 

GALESBURG    CITY    MISSION. 

On  the  22d  day  of  February,  1858,  Rev.  J.  W.  Bailey,  Isaac  Delano, 
A.  N.  Bancroft,  H.  S.  Hitchcock  and  J.  S.  Kuhn,  a  committee  ap- 
pointed by  their  respective  churches,  adopted  the  following  preamble 
as  a  basis  of  organization  in  this  mission  work: 

"In  view  of  the  rapid  increase  of  population  in  this  city  and  the 
fact  that  many  will  be  liable  to  be  without  the  means  of  grace,  unless 
measures  be  taken  to  make  them  acquainted  with  the  various  churches 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  621 

of  the  place,  and  in  order  to  secure  religious  instruction  to  such  as  are 
not  inclined  to  attend  any.  church,  and  the  benefit  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  to  children  whose  parents  are  indifferent  to  their  spiritual  in- 
terests, we,  the  undersigned,  appointed  to  represent  our  respective 
churches,  would  recommend  to  them  the  appointment  of  a  City  Mis- 
sionary to  act  under  the  direction  of  the  pastors,  and  two  members  to 
be  appointed  by  each  church,  in  promotion  of  this  object." 

March  1st,  1858,  there  met  at  the  house  of  I.  Delano,  Rev.  C.  M. 
Tyler,  pastor,  and  A.  1ST.  Bancroft  and  J.  S.  Kuhn,  from  the  First 
Church;  Dr.  Beecher,  I.  Delano  and  A.  S.  Martin  from  the  First 
Congregational  Church;  Rev.  J.  "W.  Bailey,  W.  A.  Wood  and  H.  E. 
Hitchcock,  from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church;  Dr.  Candee,  C.  H. 
Matthews  and  S.  Jackson  from  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church. 
A  full  organization  was  effected,  W.  A.  Wood  being  made  President 
of  the  Board,  and  Deacon  Leonard  was  employed  as  City  Missionary. 
A  mission  school  was  organized,  and  held  every  Sunday  in  one  of  the 
cars  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad,  that  was  kindly  given  by  Superin- 
tendent Hitchcock,  till  the  autumn  of  1861,  when  a  mission  chapel 
was  built  on  railroad  ground,  where  it  remained  till  1866.  When  the 
company  needed  the  ground,  the  chapel  was  removed  to  its  present 
site.  Besides  these  favors  from  the  railroad  company  through  their 
Superintendent  H.  Hitchcock,  the  children  of  the  school  have  had 
given  them  a  3Tearty  picnic  and  excursion  to  some  pleasant  spot  on  the 
line  of  the  railroad. 

Deacon  Leonard  tilled  the  office  of  City  Missionary  until  his  death, 
February  11,  1865.  Probably  no  man  ever  lived  in  Galesburg  who 
was  more  universally  esteemed  and  beloved  than  good  old  Deacon 
Leonard,  and  certainly  no  man's  death  was  more  sincerely  mourned 
by  the  poorer  classes  than  was  his.  After  his  death  there  succeeded 
him  Mr.  Burton,  who  remained  until  he  left  for  his  present  mission 
field  in  Africa;  then  Rev.  Main,  then  Rev.  S.  Dilly,  then  Mr.  Inger- 
soll,  then  Mr.  Sears,  and  on  April  1st,  1871,  the  present  efficient  City 
Missionary,  Geo.  Holyoke,  was  chosen.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be 
given  those  who  have  given  their  labors  in  this  good  cause. 

It  must  be  added  in  the  history  that  very  early  the  Baptist  and 
Methodist  churches  came  into  the  Board  by  pastor  and  delegates,  and 
took  their  part  in  the  labors. 


622  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

CITIES  AND  TOWNS. 
KNOXVILLE. 

Knoxville  is  beautifully  located  in  the  southern  portion  of  Knox 
township,  about  midway  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois 
rivers, — between  the  points  of  two  fine  timber  groves",  which,  approach- 
ing the  city  from  the  east,  seem  to  converge,  leaving  a  narrow  neck  of 
prairie,  upon  which  the  city  is  located.  After  leaving  the  city,  trav- 
eling westward,  it  expands  into  a  broad  and  most  delightfully  rolling 
country.  The  farms  scattered  over  this  expanse  are  fine  and  well 
equipped.  Knoxville  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  county.  It  was  laid 
off  by  order  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  in  1831,  Parnach 
Owen  doing  the  surveying.  As  the  early  history  of  Knoxville  is  in- 
corporated and  given  in  detail  in  the  second  chapter,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  that  portion  of  this  work.  This  was  the  seat  of  justice  for 
the  county  for  more  than  two-score  years,  and  naturally  many  of  the 
public  actions  of  the  county  officials  are  but  the  history  of  the  city. 
Knoxville  was  prosperous,  and  grew  in  size.  Soon  a  town  organiza- 
tion was  wanted,  and  accordingly  an  election  was  called  for  March  5, 
1836,  to  vote  for  or  against  incorporation.  At  this  election  24  votes 
were  cast  for  and  one  against  the  measure.  Six  days  thereafter  an 
election  was  held  to  elect  five  trustees.  The  following  men  were 
chosen:  W.  H.  Higgins,  John  G.  Sanburn,  Samuel  Lyter,  B. 
Methushead  and  Charles  Hansford.  A  little  over  a  decade  had  passed 
when,  the  village  having  grown  so  rapidly,  Knoxville  aspired  to  be  a 
city,  with  a  Mayor  and  Aldermen.  This  desire  was  gratified,  and  in 
1853,  the  first  Mayor,  James  Price,  was  chosen.  Since,  the  following 
gentlemen  have  received  the  honor,  and  in  the  order  which  we  give 
them :  T.  J.  Hale,  Hugh  S.  Woods,  Benjamin  Hebard,  John  Jack- 
son, H.  K.  Keightley,  Jehiel  B.  Smith,  John  W.  Cams,  A.  M.  Bur- 
dett,  Henry  Arms,  Zaccheus  Beatty,  P.  H.  San  ford  two  terms,  Al- 
bert Pierce,  Henry  Arms,  Abraham  Lightner,  J.  C.  Cover  two 
terms,  Elijah  T.  Eads  two  terms,  Stephen  H.  Tompkins  three 
terms. 

Clothed  in  the  garb  of  a  metropolis,  it  may  be  readily   imagined 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

that  Knoxville  at  once  assumed  "  city  airs."  New  sidewalks  were  laid 
out,  streets  were  improved,  and  everything  that  belonged  to  the  public 
in  common  was  watched  over  by  the  city  fathers  of  the  day,  with  wise 
solicitude.  Everything  went  smoothly  for  a  time,  when  an  alarming 
and  what  proved  to  be  a  serious  question  arose.  It  had  its  origin  in 
Galesburg,  and  was  nothing  less  than  an  attempt  to  take  the  county 
seat  from  Knoxville.  This  city  had  long  cherished  and  taken  pride  in 
this  feature,  an  important  factor  of  itself,  and  to  see  it  taken  from  her 
by  a  younger  and  more  prosperous  town  would  only  be  permitted 
when  her  pov/er  and  resources  failed  her.  The  people  of  this  city 
rose  in  their  might  and  fought  a  hard  fight,  and  contested  the  ground 
inch  by  inch,  but  finally,  overcome  by  Galesburg,  she  was  compelled 
to  yield,  and  in  1873  saw  the  county  records,  which  had  known  no 
place  but  Knoxville,  carted  away  to  Galesburg.  She  is  noted  for  her 
good  schools  and  colleges.  The  fine  High  School  building,  shown  in 
the  engraving,  was  erected  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $18,500.  It  is  a  neat, 
finely.proportioned  and  showy  building,  of  6  rooms.  Everything  in 
connection  with  it  is  in  good  taste  and  reflects  credit  upon  the  city. 
The  principal  of  the  school  is  John  Maclanahan.  The  other  teachers 
are  Miss  Edith  Hosier,  Miss  Mary  Parrnenter,  Miss  Allie  O.  Sanburn, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Grimes  and  Mrs.  Ada  Evans.  There  are  in  attendance 
300  scholars. 

The  Kuoxville  Public  Library  and  Reading  Room,  organized  under 
the  State  law,  in  February,  1878.  Books  now  in  library,  obtained 
by  donation  and  subscriptions.  Number  of  papers  taken,  19;  num- 
ber of  magazines,  6.  The  officers-  of  the  Board  of  Directors  are: 
President,  J.  H.  Lewis;  Secretary,  D.  B.  Huggins.  There  is  an  average 
of  36  visitors  a  day. 

HENDERSON. 

At  one  time  in  this  county's  history,  Henderson  played  an  impor- 
tant part.  It  was  laid  out  June  11,  1835,  by  Calvin  Glass.  It  is 
located  on  section  14,  Henderson  township.  March  7,  1838,  an 
election  was  held  to  vote  for  or  against  incorporation;  28  votes  were 
cast  for  the  measure  and  none  against  it. 

GALESBURG. 

Galesburg  is  beautifully  situated,  on  a  high,  undulating  prairie,  on 
sections  10,  11,  14  and  15,  of  Galesburg  township,  near  the  middle  of 
the  western  side  of  the  county.  It  is  by  rail  164  miles  from 
Chicago,  100  from  Quincy,  53  from  Peoria  and  43  from  Burlington. 

Thus  situated,  in  one  of  the  most  fertile  regions  of  the  globe,  with 


624  HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

excellent  railroad  facilities  and  with  no  city  of  equal  size  between  it 
and  either  of  the  above,  save  Aurora  (38  miles  this  side  of  Chicago), 
its  future  greatness  is  destined. 

The  growth  of  the  city,  from  its  inception,  has  been  of  a  stable, 
steady  and  permanent  character.  Its  history,  from  the  moment  its 
founder  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a  city  upon  the  broad  prairies 
of  Illinois,  until  to-day,  when  it  numbers  15,000  inhabitants,  is  one 
replete  with  extraordinary  events,  and  will  be  read  by  posterity, 
especially,  with  great  interest.  G.  W.  Gale  originated  the  idea  of 
founding  a  colony  early  in  1834.  We  give  a  brief  personal  sketch  of 
this  man,  in  order  that  posterity  may  know  something  of  him  who 
was  the  prime  mover  in  founding  their  beautiful  city. 

George  "Washington  Gale,  son  of  Josiah  and  Rachel  (Mead)  Gale, 
was  born  December  3,  1789,  in  the  town  of  North  East,  Douches 
county,  N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Union  College,  K".  Y.,  and  Prince- 
ton (Seminary,  N.  J.  He  entered  the  ministry  about  1820.  From 
ill  health,  he  was  obliged  to  quit  ministerial  labors,  when  he  retired 
to  a  farm;  but  being  so  desirous  of  seeing  the  young  around  him 
receiving  better  education,  he  could  not  remain  inactive  in  this  great 
field.  Accordingly,  he  commenced  teaching  the  young  men  of  his 
neighborhood,  asking  no  compensation,  and  receiving  none  save  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  their  conditions  bettered.  This  really  was  the 
germ  implanted,  which  in  a  few  years  led  a  band  of  worthy  pioneers 
to  the  wild  prairies  of  Knox  county. 

He  was  rather  sanguine  of  the  success  of  his  undertakings.  His 
ambition  was  lofty  and  noble,  inspiring  him  with  high  thoughts  and 
anxiety  to  do  something  great  and  good  for  the  benefit  of  others. 
Consequently  he  was  always  engaged  in  some  public  enterprise, 
which,  backed  by  his  powerful  energy,  excellent  judgment  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  sanguine  nature,  was  almost  invariably  crowned 
with  success.  From  poor  health'  his  naturally  even  temper  had 
become  irritable;  but  he  subdued  it  by  the  magnanimity  of  his 
spirit,  comporting  himself  with  a  courteous  and  gentle  gravity,  and 
never  indulging  in  any  intemperance  of  language.  He  was  of  a 
religious  temperament  and  a  zealous  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  nor  did  his  piety  consist  in  mere  forms,  but  was  genuine  and 
fervent  and  partook  of  that  lofty  and  solemn  enthusiasm,  with  which 
his  whole  character  was  strikingly  imbued.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  and  instructive  companions.  Though  always  pious,  there 
was  nothing  austere,  obtrusive  or  revolting  in  his  religion;  and  in  his 
domestic  circle  he  would  often  indulge  himself  with  great  playfulness 
and  humor,  yet  no  occasion  was  ever  lost  in  instilling  into  the  minds 


HISTORY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  625 

of  his  children  or  companions  pure,  honorable  and  lofty  sentiments 
and  principles.  He  departed  this  life  on  the  13th  day  of  September, 
1861,  in  the  city  of  Galesburg,  and  his  remains  were  consigned  to 
earth  in  Hope  Cemetery  in  the  western  part  of  the  city. 

Thus  ended  the  life  of  a  good  and  noble  man,  one  whose  memory 
will  grow  brighter  and  dearer  as  the  city  which  perpetuates  his  name 
shall  grow  larger.  So  thoroughly  imbued  was  Mr.  Gale  with  the 
idea  of  starting  a  colony  in  the  West  and  then  founding  a  college,  that 

O  */  O  O       ' 

he  lost  no  opportunity  to  consult  the  wisest  men  of  his  vicinity  and 
to  present  the  scheme  for  their  criticism  and  suggestion. 

After  maturing  a  plan  by  which  a  colony  might  be  formed,  he 
issued  a  lengthy  circular  setting  forth  the  necessity  of  converting  the 
young  to  Christianity  and  of  giving  them  the  advantages  of  a  liberal 
education.  In  this  circular  he  also  made  known  his  plan, — a  remark- 
able combination  of  philanthropy  and  sagacity.  It  was  extensively 
approved  by  prominent  men,  who  warmly  advised  and  urged  its 
prosecution;  and  the  unquestionable  wisdom  of  this  plan  is  demon- 
strated by  the  fact  that  although  but  about  one-half  the  sum  origi- 
nally contemplated  was  ever  received  from  subscribers  and  only  10,- 
746  acres  of  land  purchased  for  the  colony,  yet  on  this  greatly  dimin- 
ished scale  of  operation  the  enterprise  has  proven  eminently  success- 
ful. There  was,  however,  one  feature  of  Mr.  Gale's  plan  which 
proved  to  be  impracticable  in  this  western  country,  and  that  was  the 
idea  of  aiding  students  by  affording  manual  labor. 

Mr.  Gale,  by  the  early  part  of  1835,  had  secured  a  subscription  to 
the  amount  of  $21,000.  On  the  6th  day  of  May  of  this  year  the  first 
meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held  in  Rome,  N.  Y.  At  this  meet- 
ing an  organization  was  effected,  and  a  Prudential  Committee  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  George  W.  Gale,  H.  II.  Kellogg,  J.  C.  Smith,  N. 
West,  Thomas  Gilbert  and  Walter  Webb.  This  committee  appointed 
an  exploring  committee  which  consisted  of  Nehemiah  West,  Thomas 
Gilbert  and  Timothy  B.  Jervis.  They  were  not  to  purchase  land,  but 
examine  the  country  and  report  a  suitable  location  for  the  objects  of 
the  colony.  A  purchasing  committee  was  subsequently  appointed  to 
proceed  forthwith  to  Illinois,  select  a  location  if  possible,  and  make  a 
purchase.  This  committee  were  Sylvanus  Ferris,  Nehemiah  West, 
Thomas  Simmons  and  George  W.  Gale.  They  left  New  York  Sep- 
tember, 1835.  The  committee  entered  about  17  sections  of  land  in 
township  11  north,  1  east,  Knox  county,  at  $1.25  per  acre,  and 
returned  home,  being  absent  but  about  8  weeks. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  held  in  Whitesboro  January  7, 


626  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

1836,  they  named  their  embryo  village  "Galesburg,"  and  their  insti- 
tution "Prairie  College." 

A  plat  of  the  purchase  was  now  prepared,  and  from  it  the  land  was 
distributed  among  the  subscribers,  only  two  of  whom  had  ever  seen 
the  country.  There  were  10,746  eighty -one  hundredths  acres,  which 
cost  with  expense  of  exploring  $16,559.70;  560  acres  were  reserved  as 
town  property,  and  1,004  acres  were  reserved  for  college  use.  The 
balance  of  the  purchase  was  divided  into  farms,  which  were  appraised 
upon  the  average  of  $5  per  acre.  The  town  plat  made  in  the  center 
of  the  land  purchased  embraced  560  acres.  The  form,  size  and  price 
of  lots  were  fixed.  A  10-acre  lot  on  each  side  of  the  town  was  reserved 
for  male  and  female  academies,  also  a  cemetery  of  5  acres,  ground  for  a 
meeting-house  and  a  lot  for  a  parsonage.  Plans  for  academy  build- 
ings, public  house  and  steam-mill  were  suggested,  but  the  latter  were 
finally  left  to  private  enterprise. 

When  the  committee  were  entering  the  land  at  the  land  office  in 
Quincy,  they  visited  Marion  College,  Missouri,  and  met  Sherman 
Williams  and  Henry  Ferris.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  decided  to 
go  to  the  new  village.  Ferris  immediately  started,  and  by  the  first 
of  November,  1835,  was  on  the  ground,  the  first  actual  resident  col- 
onist. 

On  the  2d  day  of  June,  1836,  the  first  company  of  settlers,  25  in 
number,  arrived  at  Log  City.  This  was  a  place  at  Henderson  Grove 
selected  as  a  temporary  location  until  they  could  erect  houses  on  the 
site  of  their  proposed  village.  This  place  received  the  name  "Log 
City"  from  the  fact  that  all  its  dwellings  were  constructed  of  logs. 

A  second  company,  under  the  leadership  of  John  C.  Smith,  pur- 
chased a  canal-boat  at  Utica,  !N".  Y.  On  this  they  embarked  with 
their  families  and  effects.  Their  voyage  was  long,  their  progress  slow, 
the  boat  was  crowded,  the  weather  was  warm,  and  the  alternation  of 
scorching  heat  by  day  and  chilly  dampness  by  night  necessarily  sub- 
jected them  to  sickness,  which  very  few,  if  any,  escaped.  Wagons 
were  sent  to  Illinois  river  to  carry  them  to  Log  City,  but  they 
were  found  at  an  inn  nearly  all  sick.  Forty  persons  were  crowded 
into  one  narrow  canal-boat  from  two  to  three  months  in  the  warm 
season  of  the  year.  Three  of  the  leading  men  died  from  the  efiects  of 
the  trip.  Colonel  Isaac  Mills  died  ten  days  after  arrival.  Captain 
Smith  speedily  followed  Mr.  Mills  to  the  grave.  Mr.  Lyman,  after 
being  removed  from  the  boat  to  the  grove  lingered  about  two  months 
and  then  died. 

Others  came  during  the  summer  of  1856,  until  when  cold  weather 
began  more  than  30  families,  or  170  persons,  were  located  in  cabins 


HISTORY    QF    KNOX    COUNTY.  627 

on  the  south  side  of  Henderson  Grove.  There  they  spent  their  first 
winter,  preparing  to  improve  their  farms  and  commence  the  building 
of  their  village  the  next  season.  How  the  colonists  lived  during 
their  temporary  sojourn  at  Log  City  is  graphically  described  by  Mary 
Allen  West  in  a  paper  read  before  the  "Old  Settlers'  Association" 
July  4,  1873.  In  speaking  of  one  family,  she  says: 

"Their  goods  came  all  the  way  by  water  to  Chicago,  and  did  not 
reach  here  till  six  weeks  after  the  folks  came.  Consequently  their 
supply  of  furniture  was  rather  limited.  As  near  as  I  can  discover,  all 
the  'kitchen  fixins'  they  had  during  those  six  weeks  were  a  long- 
handled  frying-pan  and  a  horse  pail.  (Not  that  horse  pails  usually 
belong  in  that  category,  but  this  was  an  exceptional  one.)  The 
frying-pan  performed  all  offices  for  which  iron  was  necessary,  and  the 
horse  pail  did  the  rest.  Indeed  it  seems  to  have  been  the  most  im- 
portant member  of  the  colony  just  then:  and  if  a  stave  of  it  remains 
it  certainly  deserves  a  pension.  It  must  first  water  the  horses;  that 
was  what  it  \vas  made  for,  and  pa's  horses  were  always  of  the  dainty 
kind  that  would  not  drink  out  of  a  trough;  then  after  a  good  scrub- 
bing it  must  submit  to  having  bread  mixed  in  it,  for  what  else  was 
there  to  mix  it  in?  The  frying-pan  managed  the  baking,  but  after 
the  baking  came  the  eating,  and  after  the  eating'came  the  dish-wash- 
ing. I  don't  say  the  dishes  were  washed  in  that  long-suffering  pail, 
but  only  remind  you  it  was  the  only  thing  in  all  the  colony  that  would 
hold  dish-water. 

"Then  the  people  were  rather  thick  for  the  limited  accommodations, 
especially  after  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gale  came  with  their  six  children.  But 
children  are  easily  disposed  of,  in  warm  weather,  when  one  lives  in  the 
woods.  I  have  heard  some  of  these  boys,  now  bearded  men,  sigh  for 
a  lodge  in  the  wilderness;  well  that's  just  what  they  did  have  then, — 
those  children.  A  rude  tent  was  built  out  of  boughs,  off  in  the  woods, 
and  thither,  each  pleasant  morning,  trooped  the  delighted  youngsters, 
dinner-baskets  in  hand,  to  spend  the  day  as  it  seemed  unto  them 
good.  Oh,  the  delights  of  those  long  summer  days  in  the  green  wood! 
I  know  their  memory  was  fondly  cherished  by  at  least  one  of  their 
band  till  her  dying  day. 

"It  has  ever  been  my  great  regret  that  I  did  not  arrive  on  the  scene 
early  enough  to  take  part  in  these  sylvan  pleasures.  At  night,  when 
the  men  returned  from  work,  and  the  children  rushed  in,  ravenously 
hungry,  then  came  the  tug  of  war.  But  the  house-mothers  had  been 
hard  at  work  all  day  preparing  for  the  onslaught,  and  now  they  man- 
aged to  fill  all  the  hungry  mouths  and,  what  was  more  wonderful, 
stow  away  all  the  tired  bodies  in  bed.  Imagine  the  stowing-awav 
34 


628  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

process,  following  close  on  the  feeding!  At  least  Iknow  Brother  ;Byr 
won't  let  his  children  be  sent  to  bed  till  they  want  to  go,  remember- 
ing the  torture  he  endured  from  the  sun  shining  in  his  eyes  through 
the  chinks  of  the  log  cabin,  after  he  had  been  put  to  bed  to  be  out  of 
the  way.  But  if  misery  loves  company,  he  ought  to  have  been  con- 
tent, for  he  had  enough  of  that.  The  space  between  the  two  parts  of 
the  double  cabin,  four  or  five  feet  wide,  had  been  enclosed,  bedding 
spread  down,  and  here  without  regard  to  sex,  and  the  children  do 
aver,  with  alternate  heads  and  feet,  like  sardines  in  a  box,  were  stowed 
away  for  the  night  the  future  lawyers,  doctors,  engineers,  farmers, 
legislators,  housekeepers  and  teachers  of  our  city." 

Of  the  pioneers  of  Galesburg  the  following  are  still  living.  There 
were  many  children,  of  course,  that  are  still  living,  but  we  give  only 
those  married  at  that  time  or  connected  with  the  enterprise  personally. 
Widow  of  Nehemiah  West,  Galesburg;  widow  of  N.  H.  Losey,  Gales- 
burg;  widow  of  Leonard  Chappell,  Galesburg;  Daniel  Wheeler's 
widow,  at  present  a  Mrs.  Anderson ;  William  Hamblin  and  wife,  Gales- 
burg; widow  of  Henry  Wilcox,  Galesburg;  C.  S.  Colton  and  wifer 
Galesburg;  widow  of  Isaac  Colton,  living  in  New  York;  John  G, 
West,  living  west  of  Galesburg;  widow  of  Lorentus  E.  Conger,  Dex- 
ter, Iowa;  John  Kendall,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  George  Avery  and  wifer 
Galesburg;  widow  of  Sylvanus  Ferris,  Galesburg;  George  Ferrisy 
Nevada;  Western  Ferris,  came  in  1835,  went  back,  and  returned  in 
1839,  Galesburg;  widow  of  N.  C.  Ferris,  Galesburg;  Levi  Sanderson 
and  wife,  living  with  children  in  Galesburg  and  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York;  Eli  JFarnham,  Galesburg;  G.  D.  Colton,  Galesburg;  H.  H, 
May,  Galesburg;  Sheldon  Allen,  Galesburg;  Abram  Tyler,  living  in 
Iowa;  Ralph  Skinner,  Galesburg;  A.  Z.  Hay  nor,  Galesburg;  widow 
of  Edward  Dailey,  Galesburg;  A.  C.  Higgins,  Galesbnrg. 

During  the  summer  of  1836  Professor  Losey  surveyed  the  village 
and  lands,  in  accordance  with  the  plat  made  in  New  York. 

In  November,  1836,  a  bachelor,  Phlegmon  Phelps  by  name,  com- 
menced a  frame  house  on  block  16,  of  the  newly  laid-out  town.  This 
building  was  afterward  known  as  the  Holyoke  house,  and  stood  on  the 
north  side  of  Main  street,  just  east  of  Prairie  street.  The  first  mar- 
riage which  occurred  was  during  the  winter  passed  at  Log  City,  and 
was  that  of  Henry  Ferris.  He  and  Maria  Hudson  were  then  united 
in  the  bonds  of  matrimony.  Fidelia  Wheeler,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Por- 
ter, was  born  here  this  winter.  Professor  Losey,  assisted  by  Miss 
Lucy  Gay,  opened  a  school  in  January,  1837. 

Yery  early  in  the  spring  three  houses  were  built  in  the  village^ 
all  of  which  are  now  standing:  The  house  on  the  southwest  corner  of 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  629 

Cedar  and  Ferris,  built  by  Mr.  Wheeler,  the  one  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  same  block,  built  by  Elisha  King,  and  one  on  Cedar  and 
Simmons  streets.  Several  log  cabins  were  occupied  in  May,  in  which 
month,  in  the  cabin  standing  where  President  Bateman's  residence  is, 
and  occupied  by  Colonel  Caleb  Finch  and  family,  was  born  Harriet 
Finch,  now  Mrs.  Luther  Wilcox,  who  was  the  first  child  born  in  Gales- 
burg.  The  summer  was  a  busy  one  upon  the  prairie.  Houses  were 
being  constructed,  the  virgin  soil  was  being  plowed  and  everybody 
busily  engaged  in  making  preparations  to  enter  their  new  homes.  In 
the  spring,  Messrs.  Swift,  West,  King  and  Gale  erected  a  steam  saw- 
mill on  block  8,  of  which  Mr.  Swift  soon  became  sole  owner.  The 
town  was  not  without  its  store.  May  1,  1837",  the  County  Commis- 
sioners granted  a  license  to  Chancey  S.  Colton,  to  sell  general  mer- 
chandise. He  was  the  first  merchant  of  Galesburg.  Matthew  Cham- 
bers also  erected  a  small  building  on  the  east  side  of  the  square,  but 
moved  to  Knoxville.  This  building  was  used  as  a  school-house  on 
week  days  and  a  meeting-house  on  Sundays. 

By  the  time  cold  weather  began,  in  1837,  most  of  the  colonists  were 
permanently  settled,  and  then  began  in  earnest  the  stern,  long-pro- 
tracted labors  and  trials  incident  to  building  up  a  city  on  the  wild, 
unbroken  prairies, — labor  and  trials  that  can  never  be  appreciated  by 
the  present  and  future  generations. 

A  town  was  now  fairly  started.  It  consisted  of  those  who  came  in 
1836  (173  individuals),  and  those  who  came  in  1837(59),  making  a 
total  population  of  232. 

While  under  village  organization,  Galesburg  was  always  a  strict 
prohibitory,  town  on  the  liquor  question,  and  for  many  years  after 
assuming  the  title  of  "city"  no  saloons  were  on  her  streets.  Indeed,  the 
saloon  is  a  new  feature  to  Galesburg  life.  It  may  be  supposed  that 
more  or  less  liquor  was  sold  during  all  these  years,  but  it  is  quite  evi- 
dent the  gilded  signs  of  "  Saloon  "  were  not  visible  on  every  hand,  as 
now.  In  accordance  with  a  clause  in  the  first  city  charter,  which  was 
granted  by  the  Legislature,  February  14,  1857,  the  people  were  to  vote 
for  or  against  granting  the  city  council  discretionary  power  to  license 
the  sale  of  liquors.  Accordingly,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  a  vote 
was  taken  on  the  question,  resulting  in  462  votes  for  prohibition  and 
104  for  power  to  license, — a  majority  of  358  for  temperance, — thus 
making  prohibition  a  clause  in  the  fundamental  law  of  the  city,  and 
seconding  the  efforts  of  the  founders  of  the  city,  who  had  inserted  the 
temperance  clause  in  the  deed  to  every  lot. 

The  liquor  question  was  the  cause  of  much  local  discussion,  and 
every  turn  was  taken  by  the  friends  of  license  that  could  possibly  be 


630  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

conceived  to  have  granted  saloon  licenses.  They  found,  however,  that 
under  the  old  charter  nothing  could  be  done;  so  the  agitation  of  a  new 
charter  was  commenced,  and  on  July  17,  1876,  an  election  was  held  in 
the  city  to  vote  for  or  against  the  city  organizing  under  the  general 
incorporation  act.  The  main  feature  of  the  new  charter  over  the  old 
one  was  that  its  charter  gave  the  city  council  power  to  regulate  the 
licensing  of  saloons,  where  the  old  charter  gave  them  no  power  what- 
ever in  the  matter. 

Great  interest  was  manifested  by  both  the  license  and  anti-license 
people.  Indeed,  it  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  elections  ever  held  in 
the  city,  for  never  before,  save  one  year,  1872,  had  a  saloon  been 
licensed  in  the  city.  During  that  particular  year  the  council  took  it 
upon  themselves  to  grant  license,  but  the  following  year,  believing 
they  had  no  power  to  do  so,  refused  to  give  any  legal  right  to  engage 
in  the  liquor  traffic. 

There  was  another  point  at  issue,  although  subordinate  to  the  license 
question,  which  was  the  power  granting  to  each  ward  the  privilege  of 
electing  two  aldermen  instead  of  one,  thus  increasing  the  council  to  14 
members.  Originally  each  alderman  received  $200  per  year:  the 
present  charter  allows  $2  per  meeting;  and  although  the  number  of 
aldermen  has  been  doubled,  for  1877  the  14  were  paid  one-half  what 
the  seven  formerly  were. 

Both  parties  lough t  hard  for  what  they  believed  to  be  their  right. 
The  new  charter  was  adopted  by  a  majority  of  220,  there  being  971 
votes  for,  and  751  cast  against  its  adoption. 

The  question  of  minority  representation  was  also  voted  on  at  this 
election.  This  mode  would  have  given  to  each  ward  three  aldermen. 
It  was  almost  unanimously  voted  down,  there  being  but  12  votes  cast 
for  it,  and  1,707  against,  defeating  the  measure  by  1,695  votes. 

The  new  charter  giving  the  council  the  privilege  of  granting 
licenses,  that  body  shortly  after  the  election  exercised  the  power,  and 
at  present  from  its  effects  there  are  16  licensed  saloons  in  the  city 
doing  a  thriving  business ;  at  least  enough  to  enable  them  to  pay  $600 
annually  for  the  privilege  of  selling. 

Early  in  the  winter  of  1854-5  railroad  trains  reached  Galesburg. 
This  was  a  season  of  joyous  demonstration  by  her  citizens.  They  had 
labored  long  and  earnestly  for  it.  We  speak  at  length  of  railroads  in 
another  chapter,  to  which  we  refer  the  reader. 

From  the  earliest  period  of  the  history  of  Galesburg  until  slavery 
was  crushed,  there  was  no  place  in  the  liberty-loving  North  that  took 
a  more  active  part  in  breaking  the  chains  of  bondage  and  making  free- 
men out  of  four  million  of  people  born  under  our  national  ensign  of 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  631 

liberty,  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  first  anti-slavery  society  formed  in 
this  section  of  the  State  was  organized  here  the  first  winter  after  the 
arrival  of  the  colonists.  Here^was  a  [depot  of  the  famous  "under- 
ground railroad"  which  did  such  a  thriving  business  in  black  freight; 
and  during  the  dark  and  bloody  days  of  the  rebellion  no  city  was  more 
liberal  in  furnishing  soldiers  and  money  to  fight  for  the  cause  they  so 
early  and  earnestly  advocated.  She  sent  to  the  front  554  "  boys  in 
blue,"  besides  the  100-day  boys  and  about  25  colored  troops,  which 
would  make  over  600.  Aside  from  these  brave  men,  Galesburg  gave 
thousands  of  dollars  in  money,  both  for  soldiers  in  the  field  and  their 
families  at  home.  The  amount  given  soldiers  as  bounty  amounted  to 
$24,000,  and  $25,000  was  contributed  toward  securing  supplies  for  sol- 
diers. The  amount  given  to  families  of  soldiers  was  $16,000.  The 
Soldiers'  Aid  Society  did  a  noble  and  wonderful  work.  For  a  fuller 
sketch  of  this  worthy  organization  see  chapter  on  "War — at  Home." 
Through  enthusiasm  the  liberality  of  the  citizens  was  almost  bound-; 
less.  They  gave  beyond  any  reasonable  expectation.  Even  the  pub-, 
lie  officials,  besides  giving  large  sums  for  bounty  and  soldiers'  families, 
gave  liberally  in  other  ways.  Wednesday  evening,  November  18,  1863, 
the  City  Council  offered  $12  per  month  extra  for  recruits  up  to  40, 
who  would  enlist  under  the  call  made  just  previously.  Certainly  no 
greater  inducement  was  made  by  any  town  in  the  loyal  States,  con- 
sidering the  large  county  bounty  obtained,  and  the  care  taken  of  their 
families.  This  bill,  however,  never  became  an  ordinance,  as  Mayor 
Dunn  did  not  affix  to  it  his  official  signature.  It  was  found  to  be  un- 
wise; but  it  showed  the  willingness  of  the  people  to  do. 

The  city  of  Galesburg  has  several  salient  features,  which  combine  to 
make  it  a  most  desirable  place  of  residence.  It  has  four  railway  arms 
leading  to  the  four  points  of  the  compass;  has  excellent  public  school?, 
with  six  large  buildings,  the  high-school  structure  being  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  State;  two  colleges  that  are  unsurpassed  for  thoroughness; 
a  seminary  for  young  ladies,  with  superior  teachers  in  all  departments; 
a  commercial  college  of  established  reputation;  with  fine  churches  oc- 
cupied by  all  of  the  leading  denominations;  with  pleasant  parks  and 
drives;  delightful  residences  and  streets;  a  good  article  of  coal  gas; 
cheap  coal,  and  all  desirable  city  features. 

In  1872,  October  12,  the  city  bought  of  Knox  College  what  is  now 
known  as  the  City  Park.  This  park  is  bounded  by  Tompkins,  Cherry, 
South  and  Cedar  streets,  and  contains  blocks  38  and  39  of  the  original 
town.  The  city  had  the  privilege  of  paying  for  it  in  twenty  years. 
The  last  $14,000,  however,  was  paid  in  1877. 

One-half  of  this  park,  the  eastern  portion,  was  given  to  the  county 


632  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

as  an  inducement  to  secure  the  county  seat,  on  condition  that  the 
court-house  should  be  erected  thereon.  The  city  gives  the  county  the 
privilege  of  either  erecting  tire  court-house  on  this  park  or  on  the 
Public  Square. 

The  city  taxes  are  at  present  lower  than  in  any  other  city  of  the 
State.  For  ?nany  years,  during  the  war  and  the  agitation  of  the  re- 
moval of  the  county  seat,  the  city  made  large  expenditures  aside  from 
supplying  its  regular  and  material  wants.  It  cost  the  city  in  the 
neighborhood  of  $50,000  direct  to  secure  the  county  seat,  besides  large 
sums  incidentally  expended  during  the  past  twenty  years. 

The  first  bonds  issued  by  the  city  was  in  1860,  to  fund  the  city  in- 
debtedness. Bonds  to  the  amount  of  $30,000  were  issued  for  two  and 
three  years.  Those  that  have  been  issued  from  time  to  time  have  sold 
at  par,  and  generally  taken  by  home  capitalists.  Previous  to  April? 
1877,  all  bonds  drew  from  8  to  10  per  cent.  At  that  date  all  the  bonds 
bearing  the  higher  rate  of  interest  were  called  in,  and  those  drawing 
8  per  cent,  issued. 

Account  of  Galesburg's  indebtedness  from  April  1,  1867,  to  April 
1,1878: 

April  1,  1867 $82,780  80  March  20,  1873 $108,516  21 

March  20,  1868 83,606  21  March  20,  1874 110,116  22 

March  20,  1869 75,236  59  March  20,  1875 110,790  00 

March  20,  1870 103,798  21  March  1,  1876  104,865  00 

March  20,  1871 107,148  21  March  31,  1877 104,765  00 

March  20,  1872 94,16621  March  31,  1878 83,76500 

Gas  Works. — Galesburg  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company  organized 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000  in  1860.  Nothing  permanent  was  done  to- 
ward forwarding  the  manufacture  of  gas  until  1865,  when  the  company 
began  to  prepare  to  supply  the  city.  Since  then,  starting  with  three 
miles  of  mains,  new  ones  have  been  laid  each  year,  until  at  present 
there  are  eight  miles  of  gas  pipe  in  the  streets  of  the  city.  The  most 
distant  main  is  about  one  mile  in  length. 

This  company  is  purely  a  home  enterprise,  having  been  organized, 
and  stock  taken,  by  citizens  of  Galesburg.  Hon.  R.  H.  Whiting) 
President  of  the  company,  was  the  most  prominent  man  engaged  in 
the  enterprise.  C.  E.  Carr  was  the  first  Secretary.  The  present  in- 
cumbent is  J.  K.  Mitchell.  There  are  12  men  employed  by  the  com- 
pany. The  factory  is  on  Cedar  street,  between  Ferris  and  Waters. 

There  are  135  street  lamp-posts  in  the  city,  costing  annually  $22 
apiece  to  run  them. 

Eli  F.  Jackson  has  been  connected  with  this  company  from  the  be- 
ginning in  the  manufacture  of  gas. 

Water    Works.—  The  water  supplies  for  the  city  of  Galesbnrg  are 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  633 

furnished  from  wells  and  cisterns.  Of  the  wells  there  are- two,  one 
located  in  George  W.  Brown's  works,  and  the  other-  at  the  Frost 
Manufactory.  The  one  at  Brown's  is  12  feet  in  diameter,  and  was  dug 
as  deeply  as  it  could  be  for  the  influx  of  water.  The  city  has  con- 
structed a  large  reservoir  on  Seminary  street,  with  a  capacity  of  1,100 
barrels,  and  one  on  West  street,  holding  1,500  barrels.  These  are 
kept  constantly  filled  from  the  wells.  The  water  pipes  extend  only 
through  the  central  portion  of  the  city.  At  various  points  on  the 
mains  are  located  12  hydrants.  The  water,  is  forced  through  these 
pipes  by  two  large  steam  pumps,  one  at  Mr.  Brown's  works,  and  one 
at  Frost  Manufacturing  Company's  works.  Besides  these  wells  the 
•city  has  made  some  20  large  cisterns. 

Fire  department, — The  first  effectual  move  to  have  a  Fire  Depart- 
ment was  made  in  1856,  when  the  Council  ordered  a  fire  engine,  and 
the  "Prairie  Bird,"  with  hose  cart,  was  bought.  The  company  was 
organized  the  same  year,  with  H.  K.  Sanderson,  Chief.  It  was  com- 
posed of  almost  all  the  business  men  of  the  city.  In  1860  went  to 
•Quincy,  and  took  first  prize  in  a  tournament.  In  1862  "Pioneer 
Hook  and  Ladder  Co."  was  organized,  but  disbanded  in  1863.  In 
1865  the  "Erickson  Engine  Co.  No.  2"  was  organized,  with  new 
engine,  and  also  the  "  Marshall  Hose  Co.  No.  2."  June  25,  1873,  the 
boys  took  engine  and  cart  to  the  square,  and  made  their  farewell  par- 
ade and  play.  In  July,  1869,  the  "  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Co. 
No.  1"  was  organized  by  prominent  men,  who  bought  their  own 
machine,  and  tendered  their  services  to  the  city.  "Steam  Pump 
Hose  Co.  No.  3"  was  organized  in  1870.  It  is  located  at  Brown's 
shops.  The  "Tornado  Engine  No.  1,"  and  the  "  Stewart  Hose  No.  1," 
located  near  the  City  Hall,  was  organized  several  years  ago.  The 
•companies  have  won  several  prizes  at  State  tournaments. 

Galesburg  Public  Library. — In  the  "Centennial  History  of  Gales- 
burg"  prepared  by  Prof.  George  Churchill,  he  says,  in  giving  an  his- 
torical sketch  of  the  Public  Library: 

"Either  in  1857  or  1858,  the  'Young  Men's  Literary  and  Library 
Association'  was  organized,  but  as  the  records  of  the  association  have 
been  unfortunately  lost,  I  am  unable  to  give  the  names  of  the  founders, 
the  dates  of  organization  or  subsequent  operations  with  as  much  accu- 
racy as  would  be  desired.  In  the  newspaper  reports  I  find  the  names 
of  Newton  Briggs,  J.  W.  Baker,  J.  C.  Hurlburt,  F.  Col  ton,  M.  M. 
Clark,  E.  R.  Adams  and  Prof.  A.  Hurd,  as  taking  an  active  part  in  its 
early  history.  I  find  also  numerous  reports  of  debates  and  literary 
exercises  held,  in  which  many  of  our  lawyers  and  leading  citizens  took 
part. 


634  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

"In  the  winter  of  1858-9  a  lecture  course  was  arranged,  and  Pres. 
H.  Curtis,  John  Lyle  King,  Prof.  A.  Hiird,  Fred  Douglas  and  Geo. 
D.  Prentice  gave  lectures.  In  the  winter  of  1859-60,  the  Lecture 
Committee  was  M.  M.  Clark,  N.  Briggs  and  }-  J.  "W.  Baker,  who 
brought  forward  as  lecturers,  Doesticks,  Rev.  T.  Starr  King,  R.  "W, 
Emerson,  Rev.  E.  H.  Chapin,  Prof.  Youmans  and  H.  Greeley.  I 
suppose  these  lectures  proved  financially  successful,  as  on  Feb.  1, 
1860,  the  association  had  400  volumes  of  standard  works,  and  over 
$100  worth  of  furniture  in  their  hall.  At  this  time  it  was  deemed 
best  to  enlarge  the  field  of  operation,  and  after  due  consultation  the 
constitution  was  remodeled,  its  preamble  setting  forth  that  its  object 
was  'The  diffusion  of  sound  knowledge  among  our  citizens.' 

"On  June  15,  1860,  the  directors  invited  the  public  to  attend  their 
re-opening,  and  notice  was  given  that  thereafter  the  Library  would  be 
open  for  drawing  books  every  Friday  evening.  The  City  Library,  as 
thus  organized,  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  its  way,  with  ups  and 
downs,  yet  nevertheless  with  a  steady  increase  of  books  and  interest, 
until  the  winter  of  1873-74,  when  an  arrangement  was  made  by 
which,  under  the  general  law  of  the  State,  it  became  'A  Free  Public 
Library  for  the  city  of  Galesburg.' ' 

The  number  of  books  thus  transferred  was  about  3,732.  Since 
then  by  purchase  and  gift  it  has  more  than  doubled. 

The  present  Board  of  Directors  are  T.  J.  Hale,  Dr.  G.  W.  Foote,  Dr, 
C.  E.  Stone,  P.  M.  Johnson,  J.  W.  Cothren,  Prof.  Geo.  Churchill,  H. 
W.  Belden,  Wm.  Davis  and  Dr.  A.  G.  Humphrey.  Mrs.  F.  A.  Smith 
was  chosen  permanent  Librarian,  Oct.  21,  1874,  which  position  she 
still  retains.  In  the  discharge  of  her  duties  she  is  prompt,  affable 
and  impartial.  The  following  is  her  report  for  September,  1878: 

No.  of  vols.  drawn 2648        Whole  No.  periodicals 57 

No.  of  tickets  issued 19        No.  of  books  overdue 19 

No.  of  visitors 4802        Amount  of  fines  incurred $1016 

No.  of  dailies  in  reading  room 9        Amount  of  fines  collected 8  01 

No.  of  weeklies 34        No.  of  books  purchased .. 14 

No.  of  monthlies 14        Whole  No.  added 14 

An  interesting  and  instructive  feature  is  the  collection  of  a  museum. 
L.  G.  Conley,  Esq.,  has  presented  an  excellent  collection  of  geologi- 
cal specimens.  The  great  success  attained  is  largely  due  to  the  per- 
sonal labors  of  Profs.  Hurd  and  Churchill  and  Dr.  Foote. 

Health  Institutions. — Galesburg  is  the  oldest  point  west  of  New 
York  State  known  as  a  health  retreat,  not  because  it  is  a  healthier 
place  than  any  other,  but  because  the  first  "  water-cure  "  in  the  West 
was  started  here.  The  first  building  opened  in  the  city  for  the  treat- 
ment of  patients  by  the  hydropathic  and  hygienic  svstem  was  the  one 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  635 

erected  by  Theodore  Jennings  for  the  purpose  on  North  street.  It 
was  opened  May  1,  Dr.  John  B.  Gully,  now  of  Geneva,  111.,  being  the 
physician.  Although  the  patronage  was  all  the  institution  could  ac- 
commodate, the  hard  times  of  1857-8_caused  it  to  be  closed  in  the  fall 
of  the  latter  year. 

In  the  fall  of  1862  Dr.  A.  G.  Humphrey  and  wife,  both  physicians, 
came  to  Galesburg,  and  in  the  following  spring  re-opened  the  old 
''Water-Cure"  on  North  street.  They ,[ had  fair  patronage  until  in 
1865,  when  they  sold  out  their  interest  to  Dr.  Henry  McCall,  and 
went  to  St.  Anthony,  Minn.,  taught  a  class  in  Dr.  Trail's  Hygeio- 
Therapeutic  College  for  a  short  time,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866  re- 
turned to  Galesburg  and  established  a  health  institution  near  Lom- 
bard University,  which  he  has  conducted  ever  since. 

From  1860  to  1865  the  name  "water-cure"  was  dropped  by  most  of 
the  health  reformers,  as  it  was  so  inappropriate,  the  believers  attach- 
ing far  more  importance  to  pure  air,  movements,  rest,  diet,  tempera- 
ture, etc.,  than  to  water.  The  term  "Hygienic"kis  now  generally  as- 
sumed. 

Dr.  McCall  had  excellent  success  and  an  extensive  patronage  until 
February,  1873,  when  the  building  was  burned  down  by  accident. 

In  June,  1877,  Ewing  Summers  and  wife,  the  latter  a  physician, 
came  from  Lansing,  Mich.,  and  took  possession  of  the  institute  near 
Lombard  University,  retaining  Dr.  Humphrey  as  a  partner,  but -in 
April,  1878,  they  removed  up  town  and  opened  a  "Health  Institute" 
at  74  East  Main  street. 

As  a 'city,  Galesburg  has  furnished  these  institutions  a  very  large 
patronage,  but  patients  are  also  received  by  them  from  all  parts  of 
the  Northwest. 

Sketches. — The  first  sketch  of  the  town  was  prepared  by  its  founder, 
Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  in  1845.  It  was  entitled  "A  brief  history  of  Knox 
College,"  and  contained  15  pages,  12mo.  So  closely  were  the  town  and 
college  allied  at  that  time  that  a  history  of  one  would  necessarily  in- 
corporate that  of  the  other.  This  sketch  was  afterward  bodily  intro- 
duced into  Sellon's  History  of  Galesburg,  which  was  printed  by  J.  H. 
Sherman,  Galesburg,  in  1857.  This  is  a  pamphlet  of  64  pages,  and 
contains  the  history  of  Galesburg  from  the  time  it  was  founded  in 
1837  to  1857. 

An  "Historical  Discourse"  concerning  Galesburg  was  delivered  in 
the  First  Church,  June  22,  1866,  by  Rev.  Flavel  Bascom,  and  a 
Statistical  Paper,  prepared  by  Rev  Frederic  T.  Perkins,  pastor  of  the 
First  Church. 

An  entertaining  and  highly  romantic  story,  entitled  "Annals  of  Our 


636  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Tillage,"  by  Mary  Allen  West,  ran  through  15  numbers  of  OUT  Home 
Monthly,  published  in  Philadelphia.  This  story  commenced  in  the 
October  number,  1873.  Although  the  writer  made  no  claims  to  pen- 
ning a  history  of  Galesburg,  yet  the  foundations  of  the  highly  graphic 
and  romantic  story  were  taken  from  the  history  of  this  city. 

A  Historical  Paper,  read  by  Mary  Allen  West  before  the  Old  Set- 
tlers' Association  July  4,  18T3,  and  published  in  the  Republican- 
Register  of  July  29  and  August  5,  1873. 

In  1876  Prof.  Geo.  Churchill  prepared  by  request  a  "Centennial 
History  of  Galesburg."  This  was  by  far  the  most  complete  and 
elaborate  history  ever  published  of  the  city.  It  is  well  written,  and 
embraces  the  history  from  its  inception  to  1876. 

The  Union  Hotel  Slock. — This  fine  structure,  which  is  shown  in 
the  engraving,  stands  at  the  north  side  of  the  Public  Square,  in  the  city 
of  Galesbnrg.  It  is  modern  in  style  of  architecture,  substantially  built 
of  brick  and  stone,  four-stories  high,  and  has  a  frontage  of  114  feet  on 
the  square,  and  a  depth  of  90  feet  on  Broad  street,  besides  an  ample 
two-story  addition  in  the  rear  for  kitchen  and  servants'  rooms.  It  is 
the  property  of  the  Galesburg  Hotel  Company,  which  was  organized 
in  March,  1869,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $300,000  in  shares  of  $50  each. 
The  site  was  purchased,  and  the  erection  of  the  original  building — 
since  burned  down — was  begunan  the  fall  of  1869,  and  completed  in 
October,  1870.  The  old  block  was,  in  all  essential  points,  a  duplicate 
of  the  present  one.  It  had  been  finished  and  occupied  but  a  few 
months  when,  from  some  unknown  cause,  it  took  fire  on  the  evening 
of  April  18,  1870. 

It  was  resolved  to  rebuild;  and  by  April  1,  1872,  at  a  cost — lot  and 
building — of  about  $100,000  the  present  structure  was  erected.  The 
entire  block  was  at  once  leased  and  occupied  by  prominent  business 
firms. 

tThe  Union  Hotel  proper  occupies  a  portion  of  the  first  floor  and 
the  entire  upper  stories  of  the  block.  A  Western  Union  telegraph 
office  in  the  main  front  hall  furnishes  ready  means,  with  its  myriad 
wires,  for  the  transmission  of  thought  to  and  from  all  portions  of  the 
civilized  world.  The  house  is  lighted  with  gas  and  heated  by  steam. 
It  has  all  the  modern  improvements  and  elegant  appointments  of  a 
first-class  city  hotel. 

The  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Sank  was  chartered  March  31st, 
1869,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $200,000.  Its  banking  office  is 
located  in  an  elegant  corner-room  of  the  Union  Hotel  Block.  The 
bank  room  and  parlor  are  conveniently  arranged  and  neatly  furnished. 
The  massive  vault  was  constructed  after  the  great  Chicago  fire,  and 


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IIISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  639 

combines  the  latest  improvements  to  guard  against  fire  and  burglary. 
Inside  of  the  vault  stands  a  new  steel  cash-box,  made  of  32  thicknesses 
of  steel  and  weighing  6,000  pounds,  secured  by  four  combination  and 
chronometer  locks  of  the  latest  invention.  • 

The  following  gentlemen  are  Directors:  C.  S.  Colton,  Capt.  Charles 
E.  Grant,  E.  R.  Adams,  Geo.  V.  Dieterioh,  Francis  Colton,  "Wilkins 
Seacord,  Wyrum  Wiswell,  Geo.  C.  Alden  and  Job  Swift. 

The  officers  of  the  bank  are:  Francis  Colton,  President;  Charles  E. 
Grant,  Vice  President;  Wm.  H.  Little,  Cashier;  P.  F.  Brown,  Teller; 
G.Y.  Dieterich,  Clerk  of  Board. 

George  Premier,  druggist,  an  occupant  of  this  Hotel  Block,  estab- 
lished his  business  here  in  1872.  By  judicious  management  he  has 
gained  a  prominent  place  in  the  drug  trade  of  the  city.  With  a  large 
stock  of  all  articles  appropriate  to  his  line,  his  fine  location  and  ample 
experience,  Mr.  B.  possesses  facilities  for  supplying  the  wants  of  cus- 
tomers equal  to  any  house  in  the  country. 

.GALESBURG   HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

Antedating  the  Gaiesburg  Horticultural  Society  there  existed  in 
Knox  county  a  society  which  represented  the  combined  interests  of 
horticulture  and  agriculture,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Downing  Hor- 
ticultural Society."  As  early  as  1857  there  are  extant  records  of  the 
meetings  and  doings  of  a  "Farmers'  Club,"  of  which  Eli  Farnham 
was  President,  and  C.  A.  Hinkley,  Secretary.  In  the  latter  part  of 
that  year  the  Downing  Horticultural  Society  was  organized,  and  for 
two  years  held  its  monthly  meetings,  at  which  interesting  reports 
were  read  and  topics  discussed  pertaining  to  the  plants,  trees  and 
flowers  of  this  locality. 

The  officers  of  the  present  year  are  as  follows:  President,  Prof.  J. 
Y.  K.  Standish;  Yice  President,  Mrs.  T.  J.  Hale;  Secretary,  Albert 
J.  Perry;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  Y.  N.  Standish;  Executive  Committee, 
T.  J.  Hale,  Dr.  A.  G.  Humphrey,  R.  W.  Hunt,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Dieterich, 
and  Mrs.  J.  Y.  N.  Standish.  The  membership  now  is  over  200. 

GALESBURG    PHILHARMONIC    SOCIETY. 

The  Philharmonic  Society  is  a  large  and  flourishing  musical  asso- 
ciation   located    at   Gaiesburg.      It   has   for   its    object   the   mutual 
improvement  of  its  many  members  in  the  art  and  rendition  of  music, 
and  the  development  of  musical  taste  within  the  sphere  of  its  influ 
ence.     The  Board  of  Management  at  present  consists  of  five  trustees 
and  the  following  officers:  President,  Alonzo   Wookey,  Gaiesburg; 


640  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

Yice  President,  F.  G.  Sanbnrn,  Knoxville;  Secretary,  Milton  E. 
Churchill,  Galesburg;  Treasurer,  N.  C.  Woods,  Galesburg;  Musical 
Director,  Prof.  Carl  Laux,  Galesbnrg. 

• 

"THE    PIONEER    RELIEF    ASSOCIATION    OF    AMERICA." 

This  association  was  organized  in  the  city  of  Galesburg,  111.,  on  the 
22d  day  of  Feb.,  1878,  by  the  following  gentlemen,  who  are  corporate 
members  under  a  charter  granted  by  the  State,  and  who  constitute  the 
Board  of  Directors  and  officers  of  the  institution,  viz:  Hon.  Newton 
Bateman,  President;  Hon.  Francis  Colton,  Vice  President;  Capt. 
Francis  Fuller,  Treasurer;  Hon.  O.  F.  Price,  Attorney;  A.  P.  Wil- 
loughby,  Esq.,  Secretary.  The  remaining  directors  are  J.  C.  Stewart, 
Geo.  W.  Brown,  R.  L.  Hannaman,  and  Judge  Dennis  Clarke. 

This  association  is  strictly  a  benevolent  institution,  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  affording  relief  to  the  families  or  friends  of  the  mem- 
bers, when  disease  or  casualty  shall  disable  such  members.  It  is 
purely  mutual  in  its  operations.  The  well-known  character  and 
ability  of  the  officers  and  directors,  and  the  benevolent  features  of  the 
institution  have  already  made  it  popular  and  successful.  The  semi- 
annual statement  just  issued  makes  a  very  gratifying  exhibit. 

MAQUON. 

The  town  of  Maquon  was  laid  out  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  4  in  Maquon  township.  The  survey  was  completed  October 
24,  1836.  The  proprietors  were  Parnach  Owen,  John  G.  Sanburn, 
William  McGowen,  R.  L.  Hannaman  and  Richmomd  &  Beers.  Ben- 
jamin Cox  erected  the  first  building,  a  frame,  to  be  used  as  a  hotel. 
He  kept  it  for  a  while;  afterwards  kept  for  20  years  by  Nathan  Bar- 
bero,  and  was  known  as  the  "  Barracks."  Matthew  Maddox  built  the 
first  store  in  1839,  expecting  to  occupy  it  for  that  purpose,  but  never 
did.  John  Hippie  kept  the  first  store  in  the  place.  Joseph  Delay  and 
Jacob  Consor  erected  the  two  first  brick  dwellings  in  the  summer  of 
1839.  William  McGowen  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  the 
first  Postmaster  in  the  town. 

There  was  no  school-house  built  for  12  years  after  the  town  was 
laid  out,  and  Mr.  Nathan  Barbero  fitted  up  and  furnished  school- 
rooms for  the  accommodation  of  the  pupils  and  kept  them  in  repair, 
rent  free.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Harriet  Hainlin  in  1839. 
The  first  school-house  was  erected  in  1848.  The  present  school  build- 
ing is  of  wood,  54  by  36  feet,  contains  3  large  school-rooms,  was 
erected  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  about  $9,000.  Maquon  was  incorporated 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  641 

March  19,  1857.  The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  S.  A.  Huber. 
Horace  Jones,  W.  J.  Lane,  Samuel  Long  well  and  Dempsey  Capps. 
The  first  Police  Magistrate  was  Anson  S.  Potter.  The  present  Board 
of  Trustees  are:  J.  H.  "Wagnei:,  President;  J.  G.  Hamrick,  G.  W. 
Benson,  A.  C.  Housh,  L.  J.  Dawdy  and  A.  J.  Clayton.  William 
Burkhalter  is  Clerk,  and  A.  M.  Maple  Treasurer.  Police  Magistrate, 
J.  L.  Burkhalter.  The  estimated  population  of  the  town  is  now  800. 
It  is  an  important  point  on  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  for  the  shipment  of 
stock. 

Milroy. — This  place,  which  exists  only  in  name,  was  laid  out 
about  1837,  or  '38  by  Conrad  Leek,  on  section  33,  Lynn  township,  and 
named  Centerville.  The  first  house  was  built  by  Simeon  Ellis.  The 
town  grew  and  flourished  for  a  time,  but  the  railroads  attracted  trade 
and  business  to  new  towns,  and  Milroy  remains  only  a  fertile  cornfield. 

HERMON. 

This  town  is  located  on  section  19,  Chestnut  township,  and  was  laid 
out  by  Archibald  Long  in  1840,  on  land  owned  by  himself  and 
Simon  Markham.  The  surrounding  country  is  settled  by^some  of  the 
best  farmers  in  the  State, — those  who  fully  understand  the  theory 
and  practice  of  the  pursuit  of  agriculture. 

.ABINGDON. 

The  city  of  Abingdon  is  situated  on  the  Cedar  and  Indian  Point 
township  line,  upon  a  very  high  and  a  surpassingly  beautiful  prairie. 
The  eye  gazes  from  this  point  upon  one  of  the  most  beautiful  agricul- 
tural districts  in  Illinois.  In  every  direction  the  whole  country  is 
dotted  over  with  fine  farm  residences,  fertile  fields,  woody  vales  and 
high  and  densely  timbered  groves.  A  graphic  writer  who  visited 
Abingdon  in  an  early  day  speaks  of  the  freshness  of  the  atmosphere 
surrounding  it  in  this  language:  "  The  monotony  of  vast  prairie 
landscapes,  such  as  the  traveler  often  meets,  would  be  as  wearisome 
as  that  of  the  ocean  were  it  not  relieved  in  some  degree  by  elasticity  of 
the  atmosphere.  The  writer  the  last  time  he  approached  Abingdon 
was  sensible  from  its  elevation  and  its  situation  in  open  prairie  on 
every  side,  that  the  atmosphere  must  be  very  healthy  and  invigorat- 
ing. The  sky  presented  that  same  delicious  blue  for  which  the  sky  of 
Italy  is  so  renowned,  and  as  the  sun  was  sinking  behind  the  great  swell 
of  the  western  prairie,  I  thought  this  one  of  the  most  desirable  points 
for  a  residence  in  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi." 

The  original  town  of  Abingdon  was  laid  out  by  A.  D.  Swartz,  in 


642  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

May,  1836,  on  the  S.  W.  quarter  of  section  33,  Cedar  township;  and  the 
original  town  of  South  Abingdon  was  laid  out  by  Frederick  Snyder, 
April  2,  1849,  on  the  N.  W.  quarter  of  section  4,  Indian' Point  town- 
ship, immediately  south  of  the  former.  The  two  towns  with  several 
additions  were  organized  as  a  city,  April  21,  1857.  Its  first  Mayor 
was  W.  II.  Gillaspie,  who  also  served  in  1858-60.  In  1859,  Thaddeus 
Merrill  was  Mayor;  in  1861-62,  Henry  Frey;  1863,  D.  D.  Shoop; 
1864,  W.  H.  Gillaspie;  1865,  A.  J.  Thomson;  18T7,  Henry  Frey; 
1868,  C.  C.  Lewis;  1869  -70,  W.  M.  Veatch;  1871-72,  J.  B.  Strode; 
1873-74,  A.  Yickery;  1875,  Wm.  Johnson;  1876,  H.  C.  Mnrphy;  1877, 
Henry  Frey;  and  1878,  A.  Yickery. 

Abingdon  was  named  by  A.  D.  Swartz,  who  formerly  lived  in  Abing- 
don, Mo.  The  first  house  was  erected  on  Main  street  by  A.  M.  Curry. 
It  was  a  log  hut.  He  and  John  Green  built  a  log  store  near  the 
dwelling.  The  first  license  to  sell  goods  in  Abingdon  was  issued  to 
Green  &  Bowman  Dec.  4,  1837.  Public  sale  of  lots  was  held  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  some  of  which  are  now  worth  $2,000  and  upwards. 
A  Mr.  Mclntosh  taught  first  school  in  1838.  Alonzo  Iveece  was  first 
male  child  born.  Mr.  Duffield,  father-in-law  of  John  C.  Evans,  was 
the  first  person  who  died.  He  was  an  old  man,  and  died  in  1838. 

The  Postmasters  of  Abingdon  have  been  A.  D.  Swartz,  D.  Reece, 
S.  H.  Richey,  W.  Shannon,  B.  Bradbury,  Jesse  Chesney,  "W".  D. 
Lomax  and  A.  B.  Cochran.  Among  Abingdou's  chief  attractions 
are  its  churches  and  schools.  Besides  good  public  schools,  Abingdon 
and  Hedding  colleges  are  located  here.  The  North  Abingdon  High 
School  is  conducted  in  a  fine  two-story  brick  building  which  was 
erected  in  1868  at  a  cost  of  $20,000.  The  South  Abingdon  High 
School  is  successfully,  conducted  by  J.  B.  Strode,  Principal. 

Abingdon  Fire  Department  was  organized  in  Jan.,  1878.  C.  C. 
Perdue,  Fire  Marshal;  J.  S.  Richey,  Assistant.  Abingdon  Hook  and 
Ladder  Co.  No.  1  is  composed  of  28  men,  H.  H.  Bellwood,  Foreman. 
Abingdon  Chemical  Engine  Co.  No.  1  has  24  men:  C.  W.  Bassett, 
Foreman.  This  company  has  an  engine  costing  $1,000.  The  Hook 
and  Ladder  Co.  have  attended  State  tournaments,  and  have  run  300 
yards  in  53f  minutes. 

UNIONTOWN. 

This  is  one  of  the  prettiest  locations  for  a  town  in  the  county.  It 
is  situated  on  a  rolling  prairie,  gradually  descending  from  all  sides, 
making  the  location  high,  dry  and  pleasant.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest 
towns  in  the  county,  but  railroads  have  drawn  its  trade  to  other 
points,  and  but  few  houses  remain.  It  is  located  on  section  19,  Salem 
township. 


HISTOKY     OF    KNOX    COUNTY.  64:3 

VICTORIA. 

The  village  of  Victoria  was  laid  out  May  11, 1849,  by  A.  C.  Denney, 
County  Surveyor ;  the  proprietors  were  John  Becker.  John  W.  Spaul- 
ding,  George  F.  Reynolds,  Albert  Arnold,  Jonas  J.  Hedstrom,  W.  L. 
Shurtliff,  Jonas  Helstrom,  Joseph  Freed  and  John  I.  Knapp.  Old 
Yictoria  lay  one  mile  and  a  half  southeast  of  its  present  site;  but 
here  Jonas  J.  Hedstrom  had  a.  blacksmith  shop,  John  Becker  a  store, 
G.  F.  Reynolds  a  tavern,  so  that  they  with  others  concluded  to  build 
a  town,  and  laid  out  the  present  village  site. 

Formerly  the  main  route  for  the  mail  ran  through  the  place,  and  a 
four-horse  stage  run  through  twice  a  day.  The  route  ran  from  Bur- 
lington, via  Knoxville,  to  Chicago,  making  Victoria  a  place  for  the 
change  of  horses. 

George  F.  Reynolds  came  to  this  county  in  1836,  from  Barrington, 
New  Hampshire.  He  built  the  first  house  on  the  State  road  between 
Walnut  Creek  arid  Knoxville,  in  Victoria  township.  He  kept  the  first 
hotel  in  the  vicinity,  which  he  continued  for  fifteen  years.  He  has 
entertained  nearly  all  the  first  settlers  of  Galesburg  at  his  house.  His 
hotel  consisted  of  a  cabin  18  by  20  feet  in  size. 

ONEIDA. 

The  original  town  of  Oneida  was  laid  out  September  1,  1854,  by 
C.  F.  Camp  and  B.  S.  West.  It  embraced  most  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  36,  in  Ontario  township.  Subsequently  S.  V.  R- 
Holmes  and  G.  D.  Camp  became  interested  with  the  original  incor- 
porators,  and  the  firm  was  known  as  Camp,  West  &  Co.  Other  addi- 
tions were  soon  made,  and  Oneida  began  to  grow.  A  rough  board 
shanty  was  erected  that  same  fall,  and  work  was  begun  on  the  hotel. 
About  Christmas  the  hotel  warming  took  place,  and  about  the  same 
date  the  cars  on  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad  began,  to  pass  this  point. 
J.  J.  Rodgers  erected  a  house  for  himself  meanwhile,  and  these  three 
were  the  only  buildings  occupied  the  middle  of  May,  1852.  By  the 
4th  of  July  the  infant  town  contained  eight  families,  namely:  those  of. 
C.  F.  Camp,  J.  J.  Rodgers,  C.  W.  Robertson,  J.  Kinney,  S.  Cooley,  J- 
Eckley,  M.  Osgood  and  E.  Child. 

The  4th  of  July,  1855,  will  be  remembered  as  the  great  day  for 
Oneida.  From  9,000  to  10,000  people  gathered  on  the  broad  prairie? 
where  never  a  tree  had  been  planted  or  a  garden  made.  They  were 
tempted  by  the  enticing  offer  of  a  "  free  dinner  and  a  big  time."  The 
postoffice  was  established  the  previous  winter.  C.  F.  Camp  was  the 
first  Postmaster,  since  succeeded  by  E.  Collainer,  1ST.  H.  Walworth,  J. 


644  HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 

A.  Pratt,  0.  B.  Wetmore,  J.  McQuade,  K.  Yoris,  J.  B.  Shaw  and  W. 

B.  Le  Baron. 

Tlie  first  school-house  was  commenced  June  27.  The  first  school 
session  was  opened  in  September  by  Miss  Mary  Allen  West. 

"The  old  South  School- House "  was  justly  styled  "Freedom's 
Hall,"  for  any  citizen  could  appoint  a  meeting  in  it,  for  any  speaker, 
at  any  time,  provided  that  it  did  not  interfere  with  any  previous  ar- 
rangement. Oneida  became  a  station,  with  an  agent,  in  the  fall  of 
1855.  The  side  track  was  gratuitously  graded  by  the  citizens. 

Oneida  has  suffered  severely  from  fires.  The  whole  business  row 
on  Center  street,  a  grist  mill,  planing  mill,  school-house,  cabinet  shop, 
wagon  shop,  blacksmith  shop,  several  dwellings  and  other  buildings 
have  thus  been  destroyed.  The  people  of  Oneida  and  vicinity  are 
emphatically  a  reading  community.  Consequently  its  postoffice  is 
largely  patronized.  Its  cemetery  is  ample,  has  a  good  location,  con- 
tains many  fine  monuments,  and  is  well  kept. 

The  Oneida  High  School  building  is  a  handsome  and  substantial 
brick  structure  two  stories  high  with  a  stone  basement.  It  contains 
six  large  school-rooms  and  commodious  chapel,  seated  with  300  chairs. 
This  building  was  erected  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of  $14,000.  The  accom- 
panying engraving  is  a  fine  representation  of  its  exterior. 

The  town  of  Oneida  was  incorporated  in  January,  1857,  and  organ- 
ized as  a  city  in  March,  1869. 

ALTONA. 

When  the  Central  Military  Tract  E.  K. — now  C.,  B.  &  Q. — was  be- 
ing built  J.  B.  Chambers  furnished  the  men  with  supplies.  He  opened 
a  store  here,  being  the  first  one.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1864  by 
heirs  of  John  Thompson  (one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county)  and 
called  La  Pier,  and  in  1863  was  changed  to  Altona.  During  the  same 
year  an  addition  was  laid  out  by  Daniel  Allen  and  E.  B.  Main.  The 
town  is  located  on  section  16,  Walnut  Grove  township.  The  surround- 
ing country  is  unsurpassed  and  the  town  is  a  pleasant,  neat  place. 

WATAGA. 

The  village  of  Wataga  was  commenced  in  1855.  J.  M.  Holyoke 
was  the  first  resident.  The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  pri- 
vate houses  and 'then  in  the  depot  building.  The  first  store  was  built 
by  J.  M.  Holyoke  and  A.  P.  Cassel  for  the  firm  of  Willard  &  Babcock. 
The  railroad  depot  and  Wataga  House  were  built  in  1856.  Besides 
the  Town,  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  halls,  there  are  6  churches  in  the 
town.  No  people  have  been  more  enterprising  socially  and  always 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY.  645 

foremost  in  reforms,  as  her  numerous  organizations  and  6  churches  in- 
dicate. One  of  the  latest  enterprises  is  the  opening  of  a  reading  room, 
Oct.  1,  1878. 

ST.    AUGUSTINE. 

This  town  is  near  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county,  in  Indian 
Point  township,  section  32.  It  was  laid  out  by  Harry  Mattingly  in 
1856.  Previous  to  this  there  was  a  town  just  over  the  line  in  Fulton 
county  called  by  the  same  name,  which  was  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in 
this  section;  but  after  the  railroad  was  built  it  was  abandoned  and  a 
new  town  started. 

SUMMIT. 

Summit  is  located  on  the  C.,  B.  &.  Q.  railroad,  and  was  laid  out 
October  17,  1856,  by  W.  K.  "Wear,  and  named  Summit  because  it  was 
supposed  to  be  the  highest  point  of  land  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Illinois  rivers.  The  view  of  the  surrounding  country  presented  from 
this  point  is  really  grand.  This  luxuriant  prairie,  dotted  with  fine 
farm  houses,  barns,  orchards,  school-houses  and  churches,  and  skirted 
by  stately  groves,  is  seen  for  miles  on  every  hand.  Truly  Summit  is 
appropriately  named,  and  the  location  for  a  town  is  not  excelled  in 
this  part  of  the  State,  as  far  as  the  position  of  the  land  is  concerned.  It 
is  located  on  section  7,  Salem  township. 

GILSON. 

On  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7.  Haw  Creek  township,  the 
town  of  Gilson  is  located.  It  is  a  neat  little  place  on  the  Peoria 
branch  of  the  C.,  JB.  &  Q.,  11  miles  from  Galesburg.  It  was  laid  out 
by  Lennuis  Richmond  July  10,  1857.  The  county  has  been  settled 
up  around  the  town  for  many  years:  indeed  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tled communities  in  Knox  county. 

YATES  CITY 

Is  located  on  section  11  in  Salem  township.     It  was  laid  out  by  Amos 
'  C.  Babcock,  William  Babcock  and  James  Bnrson,  who  purchased  the 
land  from  R.  H.  Bishop,  Mrs.  Gray  and  "W.  D.  Dixon. 

The  town  was  surveyed  by  E.  T.  By  ram,  County  Surveyor,  in  1857. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Yates  county,  New  York,  where  "Wm.  and 
A.  C.  Babcock  were  born  and  educated.  The  first  building  was  erected 
by  James  Bnrson,  in  1857,  on  the  corner  of  Union  and  Main  streets, 
occupied  as  a  store.  In  1858  a  grocery  and  provision  store  was  built 
by  "W".  D.  Dixon  and  Mr.  Wyningee.  The  same  year  D.  B.  Coykendall, 
Mr.  Stimalt,  John  Sonnemaker  and  A.  Kerns  erected  dwelling  houses. 
35 


646  HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 

Iii  1866  and  1867  three  churches  were  erected, — the  Presbyterian,  at 
a  cost  of  $5,000;  it  has  a  membership  of  135.  The  Methodist  edifice 
cost  $5,100.  The  Universalist  building  cost  $3,400,  and  the  church 
numbers  75  members. 

The  town  has  school  buildings  valued  at  from  $5,000  to  $6,000,  and 
one  hotel.  It  is  located  at  the  crossing  of  the  Peoria  and  the  Rush- 
ville  branches  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad;  is  a  pleasant  town,  sur- 
rounded by  fine  country,  and  has  as  residents  some  wealthy,  refined 
and  influential  people. 

KIO. 

The  village  of  Rio  is  very  pleasantly  located  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  section  16  and  the  southeast  corner  of  section  17.  It  was  laid  off 
by  William  Robinson,  Deputy  Surveyor,  in  the  summer  of  1871. 
The  public  sale  of  lots  occurred  soon  after  the  plat  was  made, — the 
first  sale  being  by  G.  M.  Wetmore  to  Schroder  and  Owens,  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  section  17,  for  the  consideration  of  $125. 
Upon  this  lot  they  built  the  first  store.  The  average  price 
of  lots  was  $100.  Soon  after  L.  G.  Bair  built  a  small  house 
near  the  southwest  corner  of  section  16,  and  started  a  store  with 
a  small  stock  of  drugs,  but  afterwards  removed  to  the  building 
erected  by  the  Masonic  order,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 
Mr.  H.  P.  Winchell  represents  the  hardware  and  agricultural  interests, 
and  is  doing  a  fair  trade. 

There  is  one  church  and  one  school  building  in  the  village.  The 
town  was  originally  called  Coburg,  in  honor  of  Coe  brothers,  promi- 
nent men  there  then.  The  postoffice  was  first  named  North  Prairie, 
but  was  changed  to  Rio.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  post- 
masters, in  the  order  that  they  have  served:  Nelson  Coe,  J.  Bart- 
lett,  Sr.,  Eber  Goddard,  Larkin  Robertson,  Benjamin  Harvey,  Wm. 
Dailey,  Ira  B.  Halm,  and  Charles  F.  Schroder,  who  is  the  present 
incumbent.  Rio  contains  about  300  inhabitants. 

The  following  are  the  officials  of  the  village:  Assessor,  D.  Rusk; 
Clerk,  S.  II.  Brace;  Constables,  William  Dunlap  and  R.  Yickery; 
Commissioners  of  Highways,  G.  S.  Snow,  R.  Robson  and  H.  Gillis; 
Collector,  William  Dunlap;  Justices,  Robert  Deatherage  and  G.  M. 
Wetmore;  Pound-master,  Samuel  Lafis;  Supervisor.  L.  G.  Bair; 
Trustees,  William  Melton,  Henry  Locklin  and  Samuel  Junk;  Treas- 
urer, H.  Gillis. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


THE  NAME  AND  POST-OFFICE  ADDRESS  OF  EACH  AND  EVERY  SUBSCRIBER   FOR 
THE  HISTORY  OF  KNOX  COUNTY  is  GIVEN  BELOW,  WITH 

PERSONAL   SKETCHES   OF   MANY. 


Adams,  B.  R.,  merchant,  Gales- 
burg. 

Aldrich  D.  W.,  M.  ».,  is  a  gradu- 
ate ot'Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College, 
New  York,  1874.  He  was  born  in  Boone 
county,  111.,  April  1,1848;  is  the  son  of 
William  Aldrich  and  Sarah  (Bassett) 
Aldrich;  was  a  student  at  Knox  College, 
and  in  1869-70  attended  Rush  Medica'l 
College  at  Chicago;  was  married  Aug.  1, 
1872,  to  Margarette  Me  Bride,  and  two 
children  have  been  the  fruits  of  the  mar- 
riage; joined  the  United  Baptist  Church 
in  1877;  has  served  as  Supervisor  and 
held  the  office  of  Coroner  of  Knox  county. 
Republican  in  politics.  His  address  is 
Gilson,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

Anderson,  A.  C*-.,  conductor,  is  the 
son  of  A.  and  Anna  M.  Anderson,  of 
Sweden ;  was  born  in  that  country  Oct. 
26,  1844;  came  to  America  when  twenty 
years  of  age ;  married  Kate  Lundquist 
Sept.  13,  1870;  they  have  one  child.  Mr. 
A.  is  connected  with  the  First  Lutheran 
Church,  Galesburg,  where  he  resides.  He 
is  a  Republican. 

Anderson,  Rev.  Charles,  Presi- 
dent of  Ansgari  College,  was  born  in 
Denmark,  July  24,  1843 ;  came  to  Ameri- 
ca with  his  parents  in  1848 ;  graduated  at 
Illinois  Stale  University  in  1863 ;  in  1865 
served  as  Chaplain  of  the  46th  Wiscon- 
sin Infantry :  in  1866-9  was  pastor  of  the 
English  Lutheran  Church,  Mt.  Carroll, 
111. ;  1869  to  1873  pastor  of  Second  Luthe- 
ran Church,  Galesburg;  1871-78  editor 
of  Zion's  Banner;  1873-75  Principal  of 
the  "Mission  Institute,"  Keokuk,  la. ; 
1875  to  present  time  President  of  Ansgari 
College,  Knoxville.  He  was  married  to 
Nettie  A.  Whipple ;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren. Republican  in  politics. 

Anderson,  Miss  Clara,  resi- 
dence, Galesburg. 


Anderson,  R.l<\,farmer ;  was  born 
in  Virginia  Jan.  6, 1825;  his  parents  were 
David  and  Mary  Anderson,  of  Virginia. 
He  attended  school  in  a  log  school-house ; 
came  to  Illinois  in  1855;  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business.  Mr. 
Anderson  was  Alderman  in  1873-4,  and 
Mayor  in  1875  of  Yates  City.  He  was 
married  in  1847  to  Miss  Martha  H. 
North,  and  they  have  had  twelve  chil- 
dren. He  is  connected  with  the  M.  E 
Church,  and  is  independent  in  politics. 
Postoffice,  Yates  City. 

Anderson,  J.  1?.,  proprietor  of 
Cornucopia  restaurant,  Main  street,  Gales- 
burg. 

Anderson,  R.P.,  residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Anderson,  J.W.,merchant,  Gales- 
burg. 

Anderson,  Olof,  son  of  Peter  and 
Betsey  (Nelson)  Anderson,  of  Christian- 
stad,  Sweden ;  was  born  in  Sweden ;  is  a 
farmer  by  profession ;  removed  to  DeKalb 
county,  111.,  in  1854,  to  Knox  county,  111., 
in  1856;  was  married  to  Hannah  Ellison 
on  the  13th  of  July,  1859.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  In  1854  he 
united  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is 
a  Trustee.  He  was  shipwrecked  off'  the 
coast  of  Newfoundland  in  1857.  All  the 
passengers  were  lost  but  5.  P.  0.  Wataga. 

Anderson,  William  F.,  mer- 
chant, born  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  May 
17,  1835.  His  parents,  John  ard  Eliza- 
beth Anderson,  were  natives  of  Penn. 
Was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Penn.;  removed  to  Warren  co.,  111., 
thence  to  Knox  county  in  September, 
1858 ;  was  married  to  Sarah  Cox,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  four  children ;  fol- 
lowed farming  for  some  time ;  was  a  sol- 
dier in  102d  Illinois  Infantry ;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of 
which  he  is  Steward  and  Class  Leader 


64S 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


has  been  School  Director,  Town  Trustee 
and  Treasurer;  Democrat.  Postofflce, 
Henderson. 

Allen,  Sheldon  W.,  son  of  Ches- 
ter and  Eunice  (Baldwin)  Allen,  was  born 
in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  28,  1808. 
There  he  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  worked  at  the  tailoring  trade 
until  nineteen  years  old,  when  illness  pre- 
vented him  from  continuing  at  it  longer. 
He  then  hired  out  by  the  month,  and  sub- 
sequently went  into  the  butcher  business, 
which  he  followed  for  twenty-five  years ; 
was  first  butcher  in  Galesburg.  Mr.  A. 
came  to  Knox  county  in  1837,  lived  three 
years  in  Henderson  township,  then  moved 
into  Galesburg,  where  he  now  resides. 
His  parents  spent  the  last  days  of  their 
life  at  his  home.  In  1834  he  was  married 
to  P'idelia  Leach;  by  her  he  had  eight 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  all 
married.  She  died  Nov.  22, 1855,  and  he 
again  married  in  January,  1858,  this 
time  to  Nancy  Shaver ;  seven  children 
blessed  this  union,  three  of  whom  are 
dead.  Mr.  A.  has  reared  a  large  and 
much  respected  family.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  his  children,  with  occu- 
pation: James  S.,  butcher;  S.  O.,  farmer; 
Alden  H.,  butcher;  Henry  A.,  J.  P. ;  Nor- 
man T.,  M.  E.  preacher,  Koseville,  111.; 
Chester,  butcher;  Mary  F.,  wife  of  Job 
Wykoff,  Canton,  111. ;  John  S.,  physician, 
Keithsburg,  111. ;  Frank  S.,  car  builder, 
Chicago;  Lida  K.,  living  at  home;  Fred 
B.,  in  hotel,  Peoria ;  and  the  youngest, 
Ida  D.,  a  little  girl.  Mr.  A.  is  a  zealous 
and  practical  temperance  worker.  His 
gifts  for  this  noble  work  show  him  to 
have  his  heart  truly  in  the  cause.  He  is 
connected  with  the  1st  Church,  Gales- 
burg. Republican  in  politics. 

Allen,  S.  O.,  was  born  at  Log  City, 
Henderson  township,  Knox  county,  Sept. 
10,  1838.  He  is  son  of  S.  W.  and  Fidelia 
(Leach;  Allen,  pioneers  of  this  county; 
was  educated  in  Galesburg;  married  Zip- 
porah  Edwards  Oct.  25,  1860;  Dora  F., 
born  Aug.  30,  1862;  Edwin  A.,  born  Dec. 
8,  1866;  Geo.  S.,  born  Dec.  18, 
1870;  and  Laura  M.,  bora  Sept.  18, 
1876,  are  the  fruits  of  this  union;  joined 
Baptist  Church,  Galesburg,  in  1855.  Mr. 
A.  is  first  male  child  born  in  colony  at 
Log  City.  He  is  an  earnest  temperance 
worker.  Republican.  Runs  dairy  farm. 
Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Allen,  H.  A.,  butcher,  Galesburg. 

Alien,  Henry  C.,  editor  of  Augus- 
ta Herald,  Augusta,  111.,  formerly  a  resi- 
dent of  Abingdon. 

Allen,  Edwin,  son  of  Calvin  and 
Eunice  (Delano)  Allen,  was  born  in 
Farmington,  Geuesee  county,  N.  Y.,  June 
23,  1813.  Removing  to  Ohio  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Madison 


county.  His  early  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm,  and  been  very  successful ;  was  mar- 
ried Dec.  5, 1833,  and  has  been  the  parent 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  nine  are  liv- 
ing; removed  to  Illinois  in  1837;  was 
School  Director  three  years,  and  has  been 
Road  Commissioner  three  years ;  is  a 
Democrat.  Postoffice,  London  Mills, 
Fulton  county. 

A  ii  n  i*.  Andrew,  son  of  Eleson 
Annis  (a  native  of  Maine)  and  Catharine 
Annis,  of  Massachusetts.  Andrew  was 
born  in  Maine  April  17,  1825 ;  in  1831  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  six  years  later,  1837, 
came  to  Knox  county,  111.,  where  he 
settled  on  a  farm.  He  was  married  Aug.  30, 
1849,  to  Leah  Brown,  who  has  borne  him 
five  children — four  boys  and  one  girl;  has 
served  as  Road  Commissioner  and  School 
Director  many  years ;  was  received  into 
the  Advent  Church  by  Rev.  Daniel  Clark 
in  1862,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Deacon 
for  fourteen  years  successively.  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  Postoffice,  Victoria. 

Arnol<l,  B.  F.,  attorney,  Galesburg. 

Armstrong;,  William  H.,  son 
of  Wni.  H.  and  Saloma  (Bennett)  Arm- 
strong (the  former  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut); 
was  born  in  Connecticut  June  28,  1818 ; 
was  educated  at  a  Theological  Academy 
in  Otsego  Co.,  N.Y. ;  early  life  passed 
in  a  store,  but  subsequently  he  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  civil  engineer- 
ing, which  he  followed  to  some  extent, 
but  is  now  an  insurance  agent ;  removed 
from  Connecticut  to  New  York,  thence 
to  Galesburg,  111.,  in  1858;  served  in  in- 
fantry, Co.  D.,  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  married 
Mary  J.  Autor,  Nov.  1,  1848,  who  died 
June  1,  1875.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children.  In  1849  he  united  with 
the  Congregational  Church.  In  politics 
is  Republican.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Avery,  Geo.,  son  of  Win.  T.  and 
Phebe  (Throop)  Avery,  of  Connecticut ; 
was  born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  2,  1802.  There  in  the  common 
schools  he  received  his  education,  on  the 
farm  passed  his  early  life,  which  busi- 
ness he  has  continued  to  follow;  married 
Seraphina  P.  M.  Phelps  in  1839.  They 
have  six  children  living,  one  dead ;  has 
been  Deacon  of  First  Church,  Galesburg, 
for  12  years;  in  politics  a  Republican. 
Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Avery,  R.  H.,  Galesburg. 

Avery  C.  M..,  merchant,  Gales- 
burg. 

Atherton,  Joseph,  residence, 
section  31,  Golhen  township,  Stark  coun- 
ty. Postoffice,  LaFayette. 

Babbitt,  Mrs.  M.  A.,  Abingdon. 

Babcock,  Ransom,  Sparta  town- 
ship. Postoffice,  Wataga. 

Bacon,  I>eWitt  Clinton,  M. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


,649 


1>.  was  born  in  Onfitla  county,  N. 
Y.,  April  23,  1826.  He  is  the  son  of  Ab- 
ner  and  Martha  (Blackman)  Bacon,  the 
former  of  Declham,  Mass.,  and  the  latter 
of  New  York.  He  was  educated  in  com- 
mon and  select  schools,  and  in  the  Bap- 
tist Seminary  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.  When 
not  in  school  he  labored  in  his  father's 
shops  or  mills,  or  on  his  farm  in  horti- 
cultural pursuits ;  spent  a  year  in  Missis- 
sippi teaching  and  hunting.  On  his  re- 
turn went  to  learn  dentistry,  which  led 
to  the  study  of  medicine.  He  attended 
lectures  at  Geneva  Meclt'-al  College,  then 
went  to  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York  city,  where  he 
graduated  in  1849 ;  came  to  Oneida,  Illi- 
nois, in  1855.  He  married  Louisa  S. 
Knight  in  1855.  Two  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  the  fruit  of  their  union. 
Mrs.  B.  died  Feb.  26, 1871 ;  Dr.  B.  moved 
his  office  to  Galesburg  in  1877. 

Bair,  tevi  Cr.,  merchant,  son 
of  David  and  Mary  Ann  Bair,  of  Frank- 
lin county,  Penn. ;  was  born  at  Chambers- 
burg,  Penn.,  March  10,  1842;  received 
his  education  in  the  subscription  school 
of  Franklin  county,  Penn.;  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1851,  settling  in  Knox  county  in 
1860 ;  married  Amanda  Mann  Nov.  15, 
1866.  Three  children  were  born  to  them ; 
was  married  again  April  5,  1874,  to 
Martha  S.  Deatherage.  Democrat  in 
politics.  Was  seven  years  Collector  in 
Rio,  Town  Clerk  two  years,  and  at  pres- 
ent Supervisor;  is  in  good  circumstances. 
Postoffice,  Rio. 

Bair,  David,  residence,  Rio. 

Baker,  O.    H.,  Station  * 
Agent  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  Galesburg. 

Baker,  llorvan,  farmer,  came 
from  New  York  (where  in  Washington, 
July  30,  1819,  he  was  born)  to  Knox 
county  in  1839.  His  parents  were  New- 
ton and  Ann  (Spaulding)  Baker,  natives 
of  New  York ;  Morvan  was  reared  on  a 
farm;  had  but  little  schooling;  worked 
at  coopering  for  many  years ;  has  been 
School  Director,  Treasurer,  Trustee,  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace;  was  married  Sept. 
2,  1840,  to  Alida  Lansing.  They  have 
had  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  now 
live;  united  with  the  Christian  church  ia 
1837.  Republican.  Postoffice,  Abingdon. 

Bancroft,  Addison  Newton, 
grocer,  son  of  William  and  Sallie  (Briggs) 
Bancroft,  of  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  was 
born  in  that  county  June  4,  1820.  He 
spent  his  childhood  on  a  farm.  At  the 
age  of  16  he  learned  the  trade  of  brick 
mason,  which  he  followed  for  twenty 
years.  In  1838  he  went  to  Steuben  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  till  1842;  then 
he  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  lived  till  1849 ; 
thence  to  Galesburg.  He  married  Cath- 
arine Blair  March  15,  1849.  They  have 


had  seven  children,  only  three  of  whom 
are  living.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  has  been  an  Elder  of  the 
First  Cnurch  for  fifteen  years.  He  has 
been  in  the  grocery  business  since  1858. 
He  is  Republican  in  politics.  Mr.  B.'s 
oldest  son,  Ed  ward  A.,  a  graduate  of  Knox 
College  in  the  class  of  1878,  won  the  prize 
for  oratory  in  the  Inter-State  Collegiate 
contest  at  St.  Louis  in  June,  1878. 

Bandy,  Richard,  farmer,  son  of 
Reuben  and  Libby  (Adkasin)  Bandy,  both 
of  Virginia,  was  born  in  Tazewell  county, 
111.,  March  14, 1833;  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  county.  His  par- 
ents came  to  Knox  county  in  1837.  He 
was  married  to  Lucinda  Nelson  Jan.  15, 
1857.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  School 
Director  and  Road  Commissioner  for 
many  years;  is  a  Republican  politically ; 
and  a  successful  farmer.  P.  O.  Galesburg. 

Barber,  .1. G.,  farmer,  son  of  James 
and  Mary  ( .VlcForlard)  Barber,  the  former 
a  native  of  Maryland,  and  the  la'ter 
of  Ohio,  was  born  m  Ohio,  Oct.  7,  1848. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools ; 
early  life  passed  in  learning  a  trade;  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  engineering  and 
sawing,  which  proved  satisfactory  to  him, 
but  finally  changed  it  to  farming;  re- 
moved from  Ohio  to  Knox  county  Nov. 
28.  1868;  was  married  to  Mary  Ellen 
Fields.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children.  He  has  been  quite  successiul 
as  a  farmer,  and  is  now  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances. In  politics  he  is  Democratic. 
Postoffice,  Knoxville. 

Barbero,  Nathan,  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Van  Patten)  Barbero,  natives 
of  New  York,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  N.  Y.,  April  13,  1805;  had  a  lit- 
tle schooling  in  district  school  before  10 
years  old ;  reared  on  farm ;  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter;  built  many  carding 
machines  at  Maquon;  drove  a  team  in 
the  war  of  1812;  came  to  Knox  county 
in  1839 ;  married  Calista  W.  Loomis 
March,  1832;  parents  of  four  children. 
Mr.  B.  drove  from  New  York  once  with 
1,500  pounds  on  wagon  in  twenty-two 
days.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church ;  Republ  ican ;  residence,  Maquon. 

Barker,'.! ohn  F.,  photographer, 
is  the  son  of  Amos  and  riophia  Barker, 
both  of  Connecticut,  was  born  in  Nunda, 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  14,  1831.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Nun- 
da  and  by  study  and  observation  since. 
Most  of  his  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm. 
He  learned  photography.  He  was  As- 
sistant Postmaster  in  Belfast.  N.  Y.,  and 
.  was  Commissary  Sergeant  and  military 
detective  in  the  late  war.  He  went  from 
New  York  to  Whitewater,  Wis  ;  went 
back  to  Nunda,  and  thence  to  Galesburg. 


650 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
since  1856;  is  Steward  and  Trustee.  Is  a 
Republican. 

Barnes,  M.  S.,  editor  of  Galef<burg 
Press,  was  born  in  Malone,  N.  Y.,  March 
4,  1824.  His  parents  were  William  and 
Margaret  Barnes,  of  Vermont.  He  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education;  learned  the 
printer's  trade,  and  became  an  editor  at 
16.  He  served  in  Second  Illinois  Regi- 
ment in  the  Mexican  war;  was  at  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista — wounded  After 
war  conducted  Southport American(Wis.) ; 
1849  became  editor  of  IndependentWatch- 
man,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ;  remained  till  1856; 
he  then  removed  to  Chicago  and  became 
editor  Chicago  Daily  Ledger,  and  when 
the  war  broke  out  was  editor  Rocklsland 
Daily  Register.  Helped  raise  87th  Illi- 
nois Infantry ;  was  commissioned  Colonel 
and  served  with  distinction  and  after- 
wards was  breveted  Brigadier  General. 
Lett  army  in  1863  and  published  Rock 
Island  Union.  Raised  140lh  Regiment, 
but  did  not  enter  field.  Gen.  B.  is  per- 
haps the  oldest  newspaper  man  in  Illi- 
nois. In  political  views  a  Democrat. 

Barnes,  E.  F.,  farmer,  son  »f  Ezra 
and  Ann  C.  (Davis)  Barnes,  was  born  May 
7,  1840,  in  Clinton  county,  O.  He  was 
reared  upon  a  farm,  and  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  common  school ;  came 
from  Ohio  to  Knox  county  in  1868.  He 
married  Sarah  E.  Moon  'Sept.  29,  1859. 
They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  since  1857.  Political  views  Dem- 
ocratic. Postoffice,  Hermou. 

Barringer,  Hen  ry,  son  of  Peter 
D.  and  Elizabeth  Barringer,  natives  of 
Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  born  at  Poesten- 
kill,  Pine  county,  N.  Y.,  Sept,  14,  1821 ; 
was  blacksmith,  but  changed  his  trade 
to  that  of  carpenter  in  1874;  was  in 
Company  K,  83d  Illinois  Infantry;  in 
1853  removed  to  Pike  county,  111.,  and 
to  Wataga  in  1857;  married  Margaret 
E  Simmons  July  20,  1844,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter. He  is  a  Close-Communion  Baptist, 
uniting  with  the  church  in  1855.  Is  a 
Republican.  Post' >ffice,  Wataga. 

Barton,  I.  H.,  Galesburg. 

Bartholomew,  T.  E.,  Galesburg. 

Bartlett,  John  !>.,  Sr.,  born 
at  Norridge,  Vt.,  1805.  His  father,  Geo. 
C.  Bartlett,  a  native  of  same  place ;  his 
mother,  Anna  (Swain)  Bartlett,  was  born 
at  Newark,  N.  J. :  removed  to  New  York, 
1807,  to  Ohio,  1814;  came  to  Rio  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  1844;  was  connected 
with  U.  S.  mail  service  in  Genesee  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  Postmaster  sixteen  years  in 
Rio;  married  Sarah  Pryne;  they  have 
hree  sons  and  two  daughters;  is  a  farmer 


in  good  circumstances:  in  politics  a  Re- 
publican. Postofflce,  Rio. 

Bartlett,  I.*.  S.,  upholsterer,  Gales- 
burg. 

Bassett,  Chas.  K.,  editor  Abing- 
flon  Kfgister,  was  born  in  that  city  Feb. 
24,  1859.  His  parents  are  George  and 
Nancy  (Wilson)  Bassett,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
Charles  spent  six  years  in  the  common 
schools  of  Abingdon,  and  then  com- 
menced the  printing  business,  issuing  a 
tiny  amateur  paper.  For  his  journalist- 
ic career  we  refer  to  sketch  of  his  paper 
in  this  book. 

Bateman,Hon.Newton,  Presi- 
dent of  Knox  College,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  N.J.,  July  27,  182:4;  came 
to  Illinois  in  1833.  His  opportu- 
nities for  education  in  early  years  were 
very  limited.  In  1835  he  attended  the  an- 
niversary exercises  of  I  llinois  College,  and 
was  deeply  impressed  with  the  addresses 
of  the  graduates,  and  then  and  there 
he  formed  the  determination  that  he  too 
would  deliver  a  graduate's  oration  from 
that  platform.  Poverty  stared  him  in  the 
face,  and  for  four  years  he  was  pre- 
vented from  commencing  to  execute 
his  plans.  In  1839  he  entered  upon 
preparation.  So  zealous  were  his  ef- 
forts, and  so  remarkable  his  powers 
of  acquisition,  that  in  less  than  four 
months  he  passed  a  satisfactory  ex- 
amination, and  entered  the  freshman 
class.  The  rigid  economy  practiced,  the 
arduous  labor  performed — chopping 
wood,  sweeping  rooms,  making  fires,  and 
all  manner  of  work,  besides  teaching  at  in- 
tervals, and  his  constancy  of  purpose  and 
application,  and  the  marvelous  rapidity 
with  which  he  advanced  appear  like  a 
stirring  romance.  While  fitting  for  col- 
lege he  studied  in  the  woods  in  warm 
weather ;  but  when  the  cool  season  came 
on,  a  huge  elm  tree  which  stood  near  his 
home  was  selected.  It  was  hollow.  He 
cut  a  hole  in  one  side  for  a  door,  cleared 
it  out  and  furnished  it  with  a  rough  stool 
and  table,  and  a  piece  of  carpet.  In  this 
novel  domic il,  warmed  by  a  fire  in  front 
of  the  door,  the  master  pursued  his 
studies  for  months.  When  he  entered 
upon  his  freshman  year  his  cash  capital 
was  $2  50.  He  supported  himself  unaided 
through  his  college  course;  his  boarding 
expenses  during  the  sophomore  year  aver- 
aged only  11  cents  per  week ;  and  through 
the  whole  four  years  averaged  but  45 
cents  per  week. 

In  June,  1843,  he  did  deliver  his  grad- 
uating oration  from  that  same  platform. 
After  a  brief  attendance  at  the  Lane  The- 
ological Seminary,  at  Cincinnati,  he  ac- 
cepted a  traveling  agency  for  a  historical 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


651 


-chart,  and  traveled  extensively  in  several 
States,  which  brought  him  in  contact 
with  many  teachers  and  prominent  men, 
and  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  educational 
deficiencies  and  needs  of  the  people. 

In  1845  he  opened  a  private  school  in 
St.  Louis.  In  1847  he  was  chosen  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  in  St.  Charles  Col- 
lege, Mo.,  and  remained  till  1851,  when  he 
went  to  Jacksonville,  where  he  was 
elected  Principal  of  the  Public  Schools. 
While  there  he  was  twice  elected  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  In  1854  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  State  Teach- 
ers' Association,  and  was  one  of  the 
committee  who  established  the  Illinois 
Teacher.  He  was  one  of  the  first  board 
of  editors,  and  in  1858  principal  editor; 
same  year  he  was  chosen  Principal  of 
Jacksonville  Female  Academy.  Early 
in  the  year  he,  with  others,  began  efforts 
which  resulted  in  establishing  the  Nor- 
mal University. 

Mr.  B.  was  first  nominated  for  the  po- 
sition of  State  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  by  the  teachers  in  conven- 
tion in  1855;  and  the  following  year  by 
the  Republican  State  Convention,  but  de- 
clined. In  1858  he  was  elected  to  the 
that  office.  He  received  in  all  seven 
nominations  by  the  Republican  party, 
and  five  times  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority, — one  time  by  a  larger  major- 
ity than  any  Congressman  or  State 
officer  had  ever  received.  In  1860  ap- 
peared the  first  of  that  series  of  mas- 
terly biennial  reports  which  charac- 
terized him  as  one  of  the  leading  edu- 
cators of  this  country.  In  these  re- 
ports he  grappled  with  the  profoundest 
as  well  as  the  most  practical  educational 
questions  of  the  day.  As  a  teacher  he 
has  been  eminently  successful.  He  was 
elected  President  of  itnox  college  in  1874. 

An  interesting  volume  could  be  com- 
piled of  his  life  work,  but  our  space  for- 
bids. 

Baxter,  Joshna,  Section  26,  Hen- 
derson township.  Postoffice,  Henderson. 

Beach,  J.  "W.,  merchant,  Gales- 
burg. 

Beatty,  Zacchens,  editor  of  the 
Republican  /A.'/'V'''-  Galesburg. 

Becker,  John,  merchant  and 
farmer ;  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  N. 
Y.,  June  10,  1811 ;  his  parents  were  Philip 
and  Catherine  (Wager)  Becker,  the 
former  of  Otsego  county,  the  latter  of 
Columbia  county,  N.  Y.  He  spent  his 
childhood  on  a  farm,  and  his  educational 
-opportunities  were  limited  to  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  county.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  at  the 
:age  ot  18,  and  continued  in  it  till  1866. 
In  1844  he  came  to  Victoria,  this  county, 


and  built  a  store  and  started  in  business. 
In  1845,  June  10,  he  married-  Mary  Jane 
Smith,  by  whom  he  has  had  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  only  three  are  now  living. 
They  removed  to  Galesburg  in  1806.  Mr. 
B.'s  attention  has  been  divided  between 
merchandising  and  farming,  he  having 
purchased  and  managed  a  large  farm 
which  he  still  owns.  Republican. 

Beechtel,  George,  carpenter, 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  183 1 ;  his  parents 
are  John  Y.  and  Susanna  (Gerhart)  Beech- 
tel, of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  educated 
in  common  schools ;  was  musician  in  the 
16th  Illinois  Infantry ;  came  to  Illinois 
in  1856,  went  to  Kansas  in  1870,  and  re- 
turned in  1874;  married  Miss  E.  S. 
Haines  in  1868;  two  children  of  the  four 
born  to  them  are  living.  Postoffice, 
Galesburg;  politics.  Republican. 

Behringer.  George,  farmer,  son 
of  Michael  and  Helen  Behringer,  natives 
of  Germany;  was  born  in  Galesburg 
Ncv.  4,  1856 ;  moved  to  Sparta  township 
in  1875 ;  independent  in  politics.  Post- 
office,  Wataga. 

Belden,  Marcus,  farmer  and 
grain  merchant,  was  born  in  Greenfield, 
Saratoga  county,  N,  Y.,  April  1,  1815. 
He  is  the  son  of  Aaron  and  Sarah  (Wood) 
Belden,  of  the  same  county;  his  early 
life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his  educa- 
tion obtained  in  the  common  schools  and 
by  individual  effort.  When  he  was  10 
years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y. ;  he  came  to  Galesburg  in 
the  spring  of  1840;  since  he  settled  in 
Illinois  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  dealing  heavily  in  grain.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Mayor  of  Galesburg, 
and  has  been  Alderman  for  six  years; 
April  21,  1846,  he  married  Ann  Norton, 
who  was  the  mother  of  four  girls.  He 
married  Louvica  B.  Rigby  for  his  second 
wife,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons  and  two 
daughters;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church  for  years,  and  an 
Elder  in  the  "  First  Church  of  Christ" 
for  twenty  years.  He  was  a  strong  Abo- 
litionist, and  an  active  member  of  the 
Underground  Railroad  Company ;  he  has 
hauled  many  loads  of  wheat  to  Chicago, 
and  has  camped  opposite  the  Tremont 
House.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Belden,  H.  W.,  proprietor  Depot 
Hotel,  Galesburg. 

Belden,  Clark,  farmer,  son  of  W. 
O.  and  Nancy  Belden,  of  New  York ;  was 
born  in  Cedar  township,  Knox  county, 
111.,  in  1855;  was  educated  at  the  district 
school ;  he  removed  to  fowa,but  returned 
after  a  short  stay.  Mr.  B.  has  always 
been  quite  active  in  society  circles.  He 
is  a  Republican.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Bell  wood.  James, farmer ;  son  of 
Seth  M.  and  Polly  C.  (Shumaker)  Bell- 


652 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


wood,  natives  of  Ohio ;  was  born  in  this 
county  March  3,  1845,  where,  in  the  com- 
mon schools  he  was  educated ;  served  as 
School  Director,  and  is  Constable;  was 
married  Aug.  11,  1870,  to  Sarah  E.  Shu- 
maker  ;  two  children  have  blessed  this 
union ;  one  dead.  Democrat.  Postofflce, 
St.  Augustine. 

Bellows,  Frank  D.,  foreman 
molding  shop,  Frost  factory,  Galesburg. 

Belknap,  Erwin  H.,  conductor 
C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R. ;  residence,  Galesburg. 

Bennett,  William,  farmer,  son 
of  George  and  Betsey  Bennett,  of  Eng- 
land ;  was  born  in  England  in  1831 ;  he 
spent  his  early  life  till  25  years  of  age  in 
a  cotton  manufactory,  utter  which  he 
'turned  his  attention  to  farming;  his  edu- 
cation was  obtained  chiefly  in  evening 
schools ;  he  came  from  England  to  Knox 
county,  111.,  in  1856;  he  has  filled  the  of- 
fice of  school  director  for  six  years  in 
this  county.  He  married  Sarah  Chap- 
man in  1860,  by  whom  he  has  had  th.ee 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living ;  his  po- 
litical views  are  Republican.  Postoffice, 
Douglass. 

Berggren,  Augustas  W.,  Sher- 
iff ;  was  born  in  "  Arnot,"  Sweden,  Aug. 
17,  1840.  He  is  the  son  of  Johan  and 
Karin  Berggren ;  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  country  schools  of  Sweden 
and  by  instructions  from  his  father,  who 
was  a  well-read  man.  He  spent  his  early 
life  until  14  on  a  farm.  At  that  time  he 
contracted  to  serve  a  five-year  apprentice- 
ship at  the  tailor's  trade,  the  first  three  for 
his  board,  the  last  two  for  a  very  small 
additional  compensation.  In  1856,  his 
father,  five  brothers  and  one  sister  and 
himself  started  to  America,  and  after  a 
nine  weeks'  voyage  in  a  small  sailing  ves- 
sel they  reached  New  York,  from  whence 
they  proceeded  to  Oneida,  Knox  county. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Victoria  the  first  year  after  his 
arrival,  for  $8  per  month,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  came  to  Galesburg, 
where  he  has  lived  since,  except  four 

Ssars  spent  in  Monmouth,Warren  county. 
e  was  elected  City  Justice  in  1869,  at 
the  age  of  29,  and  while  filling  that  office 
in  1872,  was  elected  Sheriff  by  the  Re- 
publican party;  he  was  again  re-elected 
in  1874,  1876,  and  1878  nominated  for  the 
fourth  term,  and  again  re  elected.  Mr. 
Berggren  has  a  fine  talent  for  music, 
and  for  several  years  teaching  music 
was  his  principal  occupation;  he  was 
leader  of  a  string  band  at  Monmouth 
and  at  Galesburg ;  taught  and  arranged 
music  for  bands.  He  was  married  to 
Christine  Naslund,  March  10,  1866, 
which  has  resulted  in  a  family  of  one 
daughter  and  three  sons;  he  is  a  promi- 


nent member  of  both  the  Masonic  and 
Odd  Fellow  orders,  and  a  high  official  in 
each ;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Swe- 
dish M.  E.  Church  since  1870,  and  is 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
church  in  Galesburg.  Politically  he  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  P.  O.  Galesburg. 
Beyarcl,  George,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Huntington  county,  Pa.,  April 
16,  1801 ;  he  is  the  son  of  John  B.  and 
Hester  (Smith)  Bevard;  father  born  in 
Ireland,  mother  in  Maryland ;  his  early 
life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  such  as  the  common  schools 
.afforded;  he  removed  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Ohio  when  that  country  was  new;  left 
Ohio  and  came  to  Fulton  county,  111.,  in 
1845,  from  there  to  Knox  county  in  1854;, 
he  was  married  to  Hannah  Crone  Sept. 
21,  1826,  which  union  resulted  in  ten 
children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  living.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church  since 
1837 ;  is  a  Republican.  P.  O.  Hernion. 

Bevier,  Celia  B.  A.  L.  R.  Bevier,. 
her  father,  was  born  in  Ulster  county, 
N.  Y.,  July  16,  1820,  and  her  mother, 
Adaline  (Misner)  Bevier  was  a  native  of 
Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.,  born  April  20r 
1826 ;  Celia  was  born  at  LaFayette.  Stark 
county,  111.,  May  23,  1855,  united  with 
the  Stark  County  Congregational  Church, 
was  received  by  Elder  Delle,  of  La- 
Fayette. Postoffice,  Mitchellville,  Iowa. 

Biggerstaft*,  William,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Athens  county,  Ohio,  Sept. 
11,  1803;  he  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary 
Biggerstaff,  the  former  of  Virginia,  the 
latter  of  Pennsylvania;  he  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  learned  the 
harness-maker's  trade  in  youth  ;  later  in 
life  abandoned  that  business  and  devoted 
himself  to  farming ;  he  also  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Gilson  for  a 
time;  he  came  to  Knox  county  in  1851; 
in  1823  he  married  Mary  Kirgan,  and  as 
his  second  wife  he  married  Debora 
Ducenberry,  in  1877;  he  joined  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  1833.  Politically  he  is  Dem- 
ocratic. Postoffice,  Elba  Center. 

Binge, George  P.,  farmer ;  resides 
on  section  1,  Walnut  Grove  township. 
Postoffice,  Galva,  Henry  county,  111. 

Bishop,  Samuel  H.,  farmer,  was 
born  Feb.  24,  1837,  in  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania; his  parents  were  John  M.  and 
Jane  Elizabeth  Bishop,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  New  Fork,  and  the  latter  of  New 
Jersey;  he  enjoyed  only  the  advantages 
of  a  common  school  education ;  he  came 
West  to  Indiana  in  1852,  and  to  Knox 
county,  in  1860.  He  was  married  Jan. 
27,  1864,  to  Amelia  Calkins,  and  lias- 
three  sons  and  one  daughter  living,  and 
one  daughter  deceased;  joined  the  M.  E. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


653 


church  in  1861,  is  Class-leader  and  Sec- 
retary of  the  church.  Politically  is  a 
Republican.  Postofflce,  Oneida. 

Blair  John  L<.,  physician,  Abing- 
clon ;  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pa., 
Sept.  18,  1845;  his  parents  were  James 
and  Mary  (Lawton)  Blair,  the  former  of 
Maryland,  the  latter  a  native  of  Ireland. 
Dr.  B.  was  educated  at  Dickinson  Sem- 
inary and  Marshall  College,  Pennsyl- 
vania, regularly  preparing  himself  for 
the  study  of  medicine ;  he  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  after  which  he 
went  to  the  University  of  Maryland, 
where  he  graduated,  holding  a  place  in 
front  rank.  He  has  also  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  Universities  of  New  York 
and  Edinburgh.  In  a  scientific  point  of 
view  the  Dr.  has  but  few  equals,  which 
is  shown  in  a  clock  constructed  by  him 
alone  and  inside  of  a  period  of  a  year, 
during  leisure.  As  a  piece  of  mechan- 
ism it  has  no  equal.  In  it  are  combined 
the  sciences  of  astronomy,  anatomy, 
mathematics  and  mechanics.  It  tells  the 
minutes  and  hours,  and  has  but  one 
hand;  it  tells  the  day  of  the  week,  the 
week  of  the  year,  the  month  and  the  day 
of  the  month.  It  also  tells  the  time  of 
day  in  any  part  of  the  world ;  it  explains 
longitude  and  time.  There  are  three 
skeletons:  One  strikes  the  time  of  day, 
one  plays  a  tune  every  hour  five  minutes 
before  striking,  the  third  represents 
Father  Time.  On  the  top  of  the  clock 
stands  two  small  forts— Moultrie  and 
Sumter — mounted  with  small  cannons; 
Sumter  is  fired  on  by  Beauregard,  giving 
the  date.  It  also  shows  the  assassination 
of  Lincoln  by  Booth,  who  fires  at  Lin- 
coln and  he  drops  forward;  this  is  only 
visible  the  day  of  the  year  the  President 
was  killed.  It  also  shows  any  historical 
scene  you  may  want,  and  as  many.  It 
represents  the  fall  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy with  Jeff  Davis  in  petticoats. 
Astronomically  this  clock  shows  the 
earth  passing  around  the  sun  every  365J^ 
days,  and  on  its  own  axis  each  day;  in 
passing  through  its  orbit,  goes  through 
the  twelve  constellations  or  signs  of  the 
zodiac,  as  well  as  through  her  seasons 
she  enters*  her  solstices.  It  shows  the 
moon  and  all  its  movements,  and  all  the 
planets  and  their  movements.  Hal- 
ley's  comet  is  shown,  and  other  wonders. 
He  was  married  to  Sadie  Ann  Anderson 
Feb.  27,  1867,  who  has  borne  him  two 
children. 

Biakeslee,  Sal  a.  farmer,  son  of 
Sala  and  Mary  (Merchant)  Blakeslee,  of 
Connecticut;  was  born  Jan.  14,  1805,  in 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  His  education 
was  limited  to  the  common  schools;  he 
worked  a  while  at  the  blacksmith  trade 
in  his  youth,  but  abandoned  it  for  the 


the  farm :  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1817,  and  he  came  to  Knox  county  in 
1834;  he  was  married  on  Jan.  10,  1830; 
he  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Director 
and  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  many 
years.  Postofflce,  Douglass. 

Blanch ard,  Jonathan,  was 
born  in  Buckingham,  Vt,  Jan.  19,  1811; 
he  shared  the  labors  and  the  sports  of 
New  England  farmer  boys,  laying  there 
the  foundation  for  that  superb  physique . 
for  which  he  has  since  been  so  distin- 
guished. He  attended  the  district  school 
of  his  native  place,  going  thence  to  Ches- 
ter Academy,  where  he  fitted  for  college ; 
he  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in 
1832.  Though  but  21  years  of  age,  he 
was  immediately  elected  Preceptor  of 
Plattsburg  Academy,  where  he  taught 
two  years  to  earn  money  to  continue  his 
studies.  Prior  to  this,  however,  be  had 
consecrated  himself  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  in  1834  he  entered  Ando- 
v.er  Theological  Seminary,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

About  this  time  the  cause  of  human 
freedom  began  to  revive ;  the  smoke  of 
the  slavery  controversy  began  to  blacken 
the  air,  the  war  in  words  waxed  fierce, 
and  the  valiant  little  band  of  anti-slavery 
workers  sent  up  a  cry  for  help.  Mr. 
Blanchard  responded;  leaving  the  sem- 
inary, he  spent  a  year  in  Pennsylvania 
battling  for  the  right,  where  he  soon  be- 
came a  leader  of  the  noble  band  of  re- 
formers. He  then  finished  his  theologi- 
cal course  and  graduated  at  Lane  Sem- 
inary, Cincinnati;  was  ordained  and  then 
installed  over  the  Sixth  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  city,  Oct.  31,  1838,  where 
he  remained  nine  years,  serving  with  so 
great  fidelity  that  500  were  added  to  the 
church.  He  was  also  active  in  the  va- 
rious forms  of  Christian,  temperance  and 
other  philanthropic  work  in  the  city. 
Stationed  thus  on  the  boundary  between 
the  slave  States  and  the  free,  his  anti- 
slavery  zeal  was  kept  well  fired  up ;  he 
was  sent  in  18413  as  a  delegate  to  the  sec- 
ond World's  Anti-slavery  Convention  in 
London,  and  was  there  elected  the  Amer- 
ican Vice-president  of  that  body. 

In  1846  he  was  called  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  Knox  College.  So  promptly 
and  completely  did  he  and  his  amiable 
wife  identify  themselves  with  every  in- 
terest of  the  college  that  before  they  had 
been  here  a  month  every  citizen  felt  that 
they  had  always  lived  here.  During  the 
fourteen  years  of  his  presidency  here 
there  was  not  one  agency  in  the  village 
for  the  promotion  of  good  which  did  not 
receive  their  aid;  he  was  35  years  of  age 
when  he  eame  to  Galesburg.  Teaching 
all  clay,  writing  much  of  the  night, 
preaching  a  great  portion  of  the  time, 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


taking  the  lead  in  all  good  enterprises, 
caring  with  fatherly  kindness  for  all  the 
students,  spending  his  vacations  in  travel- 
ing and  striving  to  enlist  his  friends  in 
the  interests  of  the  college. — with  all  these 
labors  abundant,  it  is  no  wonder  that  he 
grew  aged  before  his  time.  He  came 
here  in  his  early  prime,  he  left  Here  an 
old,  gray-haired  man. 

When  he  came,  the  college  was  in  its  in- 
•  fancy ;  he  graduated  its  very  first  class  and 
the  13  following.  The  "[Seminary"  had 
no  existence,  the  ladies'  collegiate  course 
being  organized  under  his  direction. 
Financially,  al^o,  his  administration  was 
a  success.  He  found  the  college  in  debt 
several  thousand  dollars  and  running 
behind,  and  for  several  years  before  he 
left  it  each  annual  report  of  its  treasurer 
showed  it  free  from  debt;  the  main  col- 
lege building  and  the  seminary  was 
erected  and  paid  for,  and  when  he  re- 
signed, the  college  property  was  estima- 
ted at  $400,000  to  $500,000.  Much  of 
this  increase  was  of  course  clue  to  the  rise 
in  real  estate;  but  credit  is  due  to  Mr. 
Blanchard,  as  he  collected  or  received 
from  personal  friends  and  paid  into  the 
treasury  over  $50,000,  which  obviated 
the  necessity  of  sacrificing  real  estate  be- 
fore it  attained  its  highest  value. 

He  was  naturally  a  teacher,  and  in- 
spired his  pupils  with  such  a  love  for 
learning  thatall  their  future  lives  felt  the 
influence  of  that  inspiration.  He  possesses 
in  a  wonderful  degree  that  personal 
magnetism  which  draws  people  unto 
him.  In  spite  of  all  the  seeming  hard- 
ness which  his  life-long  conflict  with  evil 
has  developed,  or  rather  with  which  it 
has  encased  him,  underlying  the  strength 
of  his  character  is  a  vein  of  tenderness 
which  makes  children  always  recognize 
in  him  a  friend. 

When  his  resignation  was  accepted  he 
was  invited  to  continue  in  charge  of  the 
college  the  following  year,  which  he  did. 
At  its  close  he  became  pastor  of  the  First 
Church.  He  was  closely  identified  with 
all  kinds  of  Christian  work  throughout 
this  county.  The  first  sermon  in  Oneida 
was  preached  by  him.  In  1860  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  Presidency  of  Whea- 
ton  College,  where  he  has  labored  un- 
tiringly for  these  18  years. 

He  has  his  faults,  but  they  are  the 
faults  of  a  strong  nature,  and  such  as 
necessarily  arise  from  his  hand-to-hand 
conflicts  with  evil.  A  reformer  by  na- 
ture, he  must  ever  suffer,  as  all  reformers 
do,  from  being  misunderstood  by  his  fel- 
lows, because  he  is  in  advance  of  them. 

During  these  years  the  part  which  Mrs. 
B.  took  was  scarcely  less  important  than 
his.  She  gave  gentleness,  regularity  and 
cheerfulness  to  their  whole  work. 


,  Cyrus,  farmer,  was  born  in 
1834,in  Chautauqua,  N.Y. ;  son  of  Z.G.  and 
Mabel  (Gillett)  Bliss,  the  former  a  native 
of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Connecti- 
cut ;  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm. 
His  general  character  in  youth  was  hon- 
est and  upright;  moved  toPeoria  county, 
111.,  in  1837,  and  settled  there  until  1853, 
when  he  moved  to  Knox  county;  in 
1855  was  married  to  Angelina  Smith,  and 
now  are  the  parents  of  six  children ;  in 
1859  united  with  the  Christian  Church ; 
has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  and 
been  quite  successful.  P.  O.  Yates  City. 

Block,  Charles  Owen,  mer- 
chant, Galesburg ;  was  born  in  Muscatiue, 
la.,  May  8,  1846;  had  a  good  common 
school  education;  embarked  in  dry -goods 
and  notion  business  several  years  ago  in 
Galesburg  with  small  capital,  but  now 
has  an  extensive  trade  and  carries  a 
large  stock. 

Blood,  B.,  Deputy  Sheriff,  Gales- 
burg. 

Bloomfield,  John  L,.,farmer,  son 
of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Halm)  Bloomfield,  of 
Hamilton  county,  O.;  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  O.,  June  9,  1836 ;  spent  his  youth 
on  a  farm,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  His  parents  re- 
moved to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  in 
1837,  and  he  came  to  Knox  county  in 
1845.  He  fl rst  married  Elizabeth  Coziah 
April  1,  1858;  and  as  his  second  wife  he 
married  Hannah  C.  Gritton  June  25, 
18;>8.  He  has  two  sons  by  his  first  wife, 
and  four  sons  by  his  second  wife,  three 
living  and  one  dead.  Politically  he  is  a 
liberal  Democrat.  Postoffice  Rio. 

Bloomfield,  William,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Indiana  Aug.  18,  1837.  He 
is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Halm) 
Bloomfield,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio, 
the  latter  of  Indiana.  He  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools;  spent  his  youth  on 
a  farm,  and  his  mature  life  in  the  same 
vocation.  Came  west  and  settled  in  Rio 
township  in  1S45.  He  was  married  to 
Euphemia  Reed  Oct.  13,  1865.  Their 
union  has  resulted  in  three  sons  and  two 
daughters ;. one  s.n  deceased.  P.  O.  Rio. 

Bine,  Eleanor  (Rice).  Mrs.  Blue 
was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Ind.,  Jan. 
17,  1826.  Her  parents,  Jonathan  and 
Margaret,  were  natives  of  Harclin  county, 
N.  Y. ;  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion ;  was  married  to  Wm.  B.  Blue,  and 
is  the  mother  of  five  children.  Postofiice 
address,  Henderson. 

Bodeii.  Samuel,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  March  14,  1809. 
He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret 
(Fitchjarves)  Boden,  the  former  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  latter  born  in  Ireland. 
His  education  was  limited  to  the  common 
schools  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  reared 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


655 


on  a  farm,  and  continued  a  farmer  from 
choice;  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio 
in  1838,  thence  to  Knox  county  in  1848. 
He  was  married  Sept.  25,  1832 ;  has  been 
a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since 
1842 ;  in  politics,Democrat.  P.O.  Maquon. 

Boggx.  James  Buchanan,  at- 
torney, Galesburg,  son  of  John  and  Isa- 
belle  C.  Boggs,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  in  Green  Castle,  Franklin 
county,  Pa.,  Oct.  20,  1828;  studied  law  in 
Chandlersburg,  Pa.,  with  McGanahan  & 
Keilly.  He  came  to  Galesburg  June, 
1856 ;  served  as  City  Attorney  five  years ; 
married  Susan  C.  Weeks,  who  has  borne 
eight  children,  but  three  of  whom  are 
living ;  is  member  of  Presbyterian  Church 
and  Trustee.  Republican  in  politics. 

Holier,  David,  farmer,  son  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Lewis)  Boher  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; was  born  July  1, 1835,  in  Summer- 
sett  county,  Penn.,  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  never  attended  school  a  day  in  his 
life.  In  1847  his  parents  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, thence  to  Ohio  in  1848,  and  Mr.  B. 
came  to  Knox  county,  111.,  in  1858.  He 
married  Martha  Gooch  in  November, 
1860.  Two  children  are  the  result  of 
their  union ;  one  daughter  living.  He 
has  filled  the  offices  of  City  Marshal  of 
Faruiiugton,  111.,  and  Road  Commission- 
er and  School  Director.  P.  O.  Yates  City. 

Holding,  Wni.,  son  of  Thos.  and 
Sally  (Wayman)  Bolding,  the  former  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  the  latter  of  New 
York,  who  were  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances; was  born  in  Kentucky,  Oct.  9, 
1825,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
school ;  was  of  good  moral  character  in 
youth ;  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Koox 
county;  in  1865  went  from  the  county 
and  served  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion; 
was  a  School  Director  in  1874 ;  learned 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  also  fol- 
lowed the  life  of  a  farmer;  has  been  quite 
successful,  and  is  now  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances; in  1875  united  with  the 
Methodist  Church  of  Victoria;  Oct.  20, 
187  ",  was  married  1o  Maria  Wayman.  Is 
Demo-  ratic  in  politics.  P.  O.  Kiioxville. 

Bond,  L<evi,  was.borri  June  !),  1852, 
in  Ohio.  His  parents,  Walter  and  Eleanor 
Bond,  were  natives  of  Maryland  and 
Tennessee  respectively;  was  educated  in 
common  schools  of  Hernion,  Knox  coun- 
ty, parents  coming  to  the  county  in  1852 ; 
was  married  to  fcjarah  Drumm,  Nov.  11, 
1875,  had  one  child,  died  May  18,  1878; 
joined  the  Christian  Church  in  1874;  in 
politics  a  Democrat.  Postoffice,  Hernion. 

Bond,  Henry,  sec.  8,  Chestnut 
township.  Postoffice,  Hernion. 

Bond,  Cynthia  A.,  Hermon. 

Bond,  Klemeiider,  farmer,  son  of 
Walter  and  Eleanor  (Moon)  Bond,  the 


former  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Tennessee;  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ohio,  Dec.  15,  1834;  received  a 
common  school  education;  moved  to 
Knox  county,  Sept.  7,  1852 ;  was  married 
Feb.  27,  1862,  and  has  been  the  parent  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  are  liv- 
ing ;  was  School  Director  for  four  years 
and  Pathmaster  in  Chestnut  township;  is 
a  Democrat.  Farming  has  been  very  sat- 
isfactory, and  he  has  been  successful. 
Postoffice,  London  Mills,  Fulton  county. 

Booue,  Mrs.  JL.,  residence,  GaleV 
burg. 

Booth,  Jacob,  son  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Gernell)  Booth,  natives  of  Maine, 
was  born  June  1,  1821,  in  Maine.  His 
early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ;  re- 
ceived his  education  from  the  common 
schools;  learned  the  trade  of  wagon 
maker;  also  followed  other  business,  but 
changed  to  farming,  in  which  he  has 
been  successful ;  married  Melinda  Housh 
Sept.  17,  1844,  and  was  again  married 
Oct.  24,  1869,  to  Edith  Martin;  moved  to 
Illinois,  then  to  Iowa,  returning  to  Knox 
county  in  1865;  was  School  Director  for 
five  years.  Is  Republican.  P.O. Maquon. 

Borg,  Rev.  John  F.,  pastor  of 
Lutheran  Church,  Knoxville,  was  born 
in  Sweden,  Dec.  13,  1849;  his  parents 
were  G.  A.  and  sGrata  (Johnson)  Borg, 
natives  of  Sweden ;  came  to  Galesburg  in 
1869 ;  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  fin- 
ished his  education  at  Augustana  College, 
Rock  Island,  111.,  and  chose  the  ministry ; 
was  married  June  28,  1878,  to  Miss  M. 
Clay  Anderson.  Republican. 

BoweiiS,  Jacob,  born  April  11, 
1816,  in  Frankfort,  Ohio;  his  parents 
were  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Bush) 
Bowens,  natives  of  Virginia,  educated  in 
the  old  log  school-house  in  Indiana ;  he 
has  been  Road  Commissioner  and  School 
Director  in  Schuyler  county,  where  he 
moved  in  1854;  he  came  to  Ontario  in 
1865:  he  was  married  June  2,  1842,  to 
Esther  Hadley,  ot  Indiana,  and  Aug.  2, 
1855,  to  Zelinda  Fuller;  had  six  boys  by 
the  first  wife,  and  three  girls  and  one 
b°y  by  the  second;  joined  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  18 13 :  Steward  and  Class-leader. 
Republican.  Postoffice,  Ontario. 

Bowhay,  Joseph,  farmer,  son  of 
William  and  Mary  Bowhay,  the  former 
of  England,  the  latter  of  Ireland;  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1825;  his  early 
life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools;  he  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Knox  county,  in 
1855;  married  Elizabeth  Householder. 
He  has  filled  the  offices  of  School  Direc- 
tor and  Road  Commissioner;  he  is  Dem- 
ocratic in  politics.  Postoffice,  Yates  City. 


656 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


Boyer,  Aaron,  Galesburg.  (We  re- 
fer to  Broom  Manufacturers,  in  Chapter 
XXII.) 

Bradbury,  James  JT.,  artist,  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Hannah  A.  (IStevens) 
Bradbury,  the  former  of  Ohio  and  the 
latter  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Knox 
county,  Indian  Point  township,  April  17, 
1848 ;  was  educated  at  Abingdon  (_  ollege ; 
•married  July  20,  18G9,  to  Belle  S.  Mc- 
Kinnie,  who  has  borne  him  one  child ;  he 
has  studied  art  Irom  childhood,  and  is 
occupied  at  his  chosen  calling  now  in 
Abingdon,  where  for  the  last  few  years 
he  has  been  a  Professor  in  Hedding  Col- 
lege, teaching  drawing  and  painting;  he 
has  been  very  successful  in  enlarging 
pictures. 

Bradbury,  Otis  T.,  of  the  firm  of 
Bradbury  &  McOniber,  planing  mill, 
Galesburg. 

Bradfield,  E.  H.,  farmer,  son  of 
E.  H.  and  M.  A.  Bradfield;  was  born  in 
England  in  1828;  educated  in  common 
schools.  His  early  life  was  spent  in 
market  gardening;  later,  spent  four  years 
in  lithographing,  and  some  time  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  business;  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1854;  married  Mary  Crandel  in 
1802;  has  six  children.  Is  a  Republican. 
Postoffice,  Elba  Centre. 

Bradford,  Harvey  SL,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Maine,  Sept.  27,  1809;  par- 
ents were  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Brown) 
Bradford,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  latter  of  Maine;  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools;  his 
early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ;  learned 
the  tanner's  trade,  but  gave  it  up  for 
farming;  removed  from  Maine  to  Ohio, 
thence  to  Knox  county;  married  to  Hes- 
ter Whitter  Oct.  24,  1836.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  six  are  now  living;  he  has  been 
very  successful  in  business  and  well 
prospered.  In  political  views  he  is  Re- 
publican. Postoffice,  Gilson. 

Bradford,  Winslow  W.,  son  of 
Win.  S.  and  Nancy  (Youngs)  Bradford, 
both  natives  of  Ohio ;  was  born  in  Per- 
sifer  township,  Knox  county,  Aug.  13, 
1843 ;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm :  received  his  education  from  the 
common  schools;  was  drummer  in  com- 
pany H,  102nd  Illinois  Infantry.*  April 
26,  1866,  married  Victoria  S.  Beck.  They 
have  been  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  five  are  now  living;  removed 
from  Knox  county  to  Galena,  111.,  but 
returned;  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
Township  Clerk  and  Road  Commis- 
sioner in  1869  and  1872;  in  1870  joined 
the  church  of  United  Brethren,  of  which 
he  was  Trustee  and  Treasurer  in  1871 ;  he 


has  been  very  much  prospered  as  a 
farmer  He  is  a  Republican.  Postoffice, 
Knoxville. 

Brainard,  Jeptha,  son  of  Jeptha 
and  Catharine  (Comstook)  Brainard,  the 
lormer  of  Connecticut,  the  latter  of  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  he  was  boro  in  western  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  March  17,  1822,  and  came 
to  Ontario  township,  this  county,  where 
he  now  lives,  in  1860;  educated  in  com- 
mon schools  and  at  the  Liberal  Institute, 
New  York ;  raised  as  a  farmer,  he  has 
continued  that  occupatiun  ever  since. 
Postoffice,  Oueida. 

Brainard,  Edwin,born  in  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  9,  1809 ;  his  father, 
Jeptha  Brainard,  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut, his  mother,  Catharine  Brainard, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Edwin 
received  an  academic  education  at 
Whitestown,  N.Y.,  and  chose  the  life  of  a 
farmer-,  served  in  the  militia;  married 
Mercy  White  Dec.  21, 1842,  four  children 
being  the  fruits  of  the  marriage;  came  to 
Oneida  in  1855,  where  he  now  lives, 
still  pursuing  his  chosen  occupation  of 
farmer. 

Brechwald,  Charles,  liquor 
dealer,  Galesburg,  was  born  at  Klein 
Winterheim,  Germany;  he  is  the  son  of 
Michael  and  Margaret  (Fleck)  Brech- 
wald; came  to  United  States  in  185o,  and 
to  Galesburg  in  1856;  in  1863  engaged  in 
the  retail  liquor  trade,  and  in  1872  in  the 
wholesale  trade;  he  was  married  April 
2,  1854,  to  Barbara  Waltz,  and  is  the  par- 
ent of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are 
dead. 

Bridson,  Samuel,  farmer,  was 
born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  Dec.  25,  1827; 
his  parents  were  John  and  Margaret 
(Tier)  Bridson,  both  natives  of  the  Isle 
of  Man;  his  education  was  confined  to  a 
few  months  in  a  common  school.  He 
emigrated  from  his  native  country  to 
New  York,  and  thence  to  Knox  county 
in  1853.  April  2,  1851,  he  married  Dolly 
Cole,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Farming  has  been  the  occu- 
pation of  his  choice;  he  is  a  Republican. 
Postoffice,  Hermon. 

Briley,  Benjamin,  farmer,  was 
born  fn  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  Feb.  22, 
1825.  Parents  were  Samuel  and  Catha- 
rine (McGarvey)  Briley,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Delaware  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ; 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
moved  to  Knox  county  Maroh  31,  18(!2; 
was  married  March  4,  1851  to  Cassandra 
Smiser.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children.  Mr.  Briley  is  a  Democrat;  was 
Road  Commissioner  in  Ohio  six  years 
and  six  years  here;  united  with  Christian 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


657 


church    in    1870.      Postofflce,   Hermon. 

Bristol,  H.  €.,  conductor  C.,  B.  & 
Q.  Railroad,  Galesburg. 

Bristol,  Richard,  son  of  Rich- 
ard and  Lucy  (Edgerton)  Bristol,  of  New 
York,  was  born  in  Wyoming  county, 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  29,  1818;  was  married  to 
Laura  J.  Smith,  Oct.  8,  1845.  One  boy 
and  one  girl  laas  blessed  the  union; 
learned  the  trade  of  carriage-maker  and 
trimmer.  Moved  to  Oneida,  where  he 
now  lives,  1855. 

Brooks,  T.  C.,  farmer,  resides  on 
section  3,  Victoria  township.  Postoffice, 
Victoria. 

Brown,  Aaron  B..  farmer;  was 
born  in  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  18, 
1831.  His  parents  were  William  and 
Eunice  (Kinney);  they  were  both  born  in 
New  York  State.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools.  His  parents  moved 
west  to  Cook  county,  111.,  in  Oct.  1843; 
thence  to  Knox  county  in  1853.  He  set- 
tled in  Oneida  township;  he  has  held  the 
offices  of  School  Director  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years.  On 
Oct.  8,  1854,  he  married  Alvira  Buck, 
formerly  of  Jefferson,  N.  Y.  They  have 
one  son.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Universalist  church  for  ten  years,  and  is 
Trustee  of  the  church.  Postoffice,  Oneida. 

Brown,  Benjamin  F.,  M.  D., 
was  born  in  Troupsburg,  Steuben  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  5, 1839.  He  was  educated 
at  Troupsburg  Academy ;  studied  medi- 
cine three  years  with  Dr.  McFarling,  and 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, N.Y.  He  was  Alderman  two  years 
in  the  city  of  Oneida.  Dr.  Brown  was 
Assistant  Surgeon  three  years  during  the 
rebellion ;  he  was  married  Nov.  20,  1866, 
to  Jennie  McCornack,  has  five  children, 
all  boys.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church ;  held  the  office  of  Steward  for  the 
past  five  years.  Political  views,  Repub- 
lican. Postoffice,  Oneida. 

Brown,    Frank    A.,  merchant,  • 
Galesburg. 

Brown,  James  Harvey,  son  of 
James  and  Polly  (Baker)  Brown,  was 
born  in  Clinton,  Ohio,  Sept.  4,  1823;  edu- 
cated in  common  schools,  and  reared  on 
the  farm  which  he  continued  to  follow; 
married  in  Nov.,  1846,  toLyda  L.  Barnes, 
who  bore  him  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  now  live;  joined  Christian  Church 
in  1855 ;  has  been  Deacon  for  several 
years;  Democratic  in  politics.  Postoffice, 
St.  Augustine. 

Brown,  George  W.,  inventor  of 
"Brown's  Corn-Planter"  and  proprietor 
of  the  extensive  corn-planter  works  loca- 
ted at  Galesburg,  was  born  in  Saratoga 
county,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  29,  1815 ;  he  remained 
upon  the  farm  where  he  was  born  until 
he  was  14  years  old,  when  he  learned  the 


carpenter's  trade,  in  which  he  worked 
many  years.  In  July,  1836.  ke  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  near  Galesburg,  being 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  section. 
Previous  to  coming  west  Sept.  1,  1835, 
he  was  married  to  Maria  Terpening. 
They  did  not  live  in  the  lap  of  luxury, 
but  were  hard-working  pioneers,  and  he 
earned  a  living  by  farming  and  working 
at  his  trade.  Many  houses  through  the* 
county  were  erected  by  him.  On  his 
arrival  in  Warren  county,  he  traded  his 
team  for  a  piece  of  land  and  Avent  to 
farming;  he  had  a  log  house  to  build  for 
himself,  and  his  neighbors  needed  his 
mechanical  services.  For  a  long  time 
he  went  out  to  work  at  his  trade,  and  his 
wife  conducted  the  farm. 

In  1848  Mr.  B.  conceived  the  idea  of 
turning  a  cultivator  into  a  corn-planter; 
he  saw  the  great  need  of  a  machine  that 
would  plant  the  grain  which  was  so 
universally  cultivated  as  corn  was  in 
Illinois.  Nature  had  gifted  him  with 
faculties  of  genius  of  superior  quality, 
and  with  untiring  energy  and  persever- 
ance belabored  on  until  he  gave  to  the 
civilized  world  one  of  the  most  useful 
implements  ever  invented.  As  we  speak 
of  this  great  invention  at  great  length  in 
a  sketch  of  ''Brown's  Corn-planter  Fac- 
tory," we  will  not  repeat  here. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  no  office-seeker, 
nor  has  he  held  many  public  official  po- 
sitions, his  large  business  commanding 
his  attention.  In  1876,  however,  he  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Galesburg  and  served 
the  city  well;  he  joined  the  Methodist 
Church  in  1835,  and  ever  since  has  lived 
a  faithful,  consistent  and  conscientious 
Christian  life.  He  is  eminently  noted 
for  his  zeal  and  earnestness  in  religious 
works.  No  man  in  this  part  of  the  State 
gives  more  abundantly  and  from  purer 
motives  than  he.  To  him  the  M.  E. 
Church,  Galesburg,  is  indebted  for  the 
finest  church  edifice  in  Knox  county,  and 
the  city  of  Galesburg  for  much  of  its  bus- 
iness ;  he  is  the  parent  of  three  children, 
one  son  and  two  daughters ;  James  E., 
born  April  12,  1837,  is  married  and  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  tlie  corn-planter 
business;  Elizabeth  A.,  born  March  21, 
1839,  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  T.  L  Perrin,  a 
banker  of  Creston,  Iowa,  and  Sarah  J., 
born  June  12,  1844,  is  the  wife  of  W.  S. 
Cowan,  merchant  in  Galesburg.  Mr.  B. 
has  not  only  blessed  his  race  by  giving 
the  corn-planter,  but  also  for  his  practi- 
cal philanthropy  thousands  bless  his 
name.  He  has  no  great  scholastic  at- 
tainments but  is  endowed  with  those 
eminently  superior  faculties,  rare  prac- 
tical judgment  and  knowledge,  and  great 
native  genius. 

Brown,  Harmon  G.,  farmer,  son 


658 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


of  Samuel  and'  Henrietta  (Hobbs) Brown  ; 
was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Ky  ,  Dec. 
20,  1803 ;  his  father  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, his  mother  of  Kentucky;  he 
was  educated  in  a  private  school  in  Ken- 
tucky; brought  up  on  a  farm.  Came  to 
Knox  county  in  1831,  and  located  on  Hie 
farm  where  he  now  lives  in  1832.-  He 
participated  in  the  Black  Hawk  war; 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  but  de- 
clined 1o  serve;  was  married  to  Nancy 
Hogan  Sept.  1,  1840,  who  has  borne  him 
twelve  children,  of  whom  six  sons  and 
two  daughters  are  living.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church.  A  Republican 
in  politics.  Postoffice  Galesburg. 

Brown,  John  V.,  son  of  Andrew 
J.  Brown,  whose  nativity  is  Jackson 
county,  Ohio,  and  Mary  A.  (Ferguson) 
Brown,  native  of  Hart  county,  Ky;  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  111.,  April  23,  1844, 
has  always  been  a  fanner  from  choice ; 
enlisted  in  company  D,  7th  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, Nov.  9,  1863"  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war  in  1865.  Was  married 
to  Alice  Harshborger,  Jan.  31,  1869; 
joined  the  United  Brethren  Church  in 
Ib74.  in  which  he  was  chosen  Class-leader 
in  1875.  Postoffice,  Maquon. 

Brown,  Rev.  R.  A.  student 
Hedding  College,  Abingdon.  Prominent 
member  of  the  Oliniana  society. 

Brown,  V.  R.,  Galesburg. 

Rrnner,  Henry,  was  born  in 
Breckenridge  county,  Ky.,  Dec.  12,  1812 ; 
his  parents  were  Henry  and  Eves  (Fry- 
mire)  Brunei-,  of  Kentucky.  He  only 
attended  school  a  few  weeks,  in  a  log 
house  without  a  floor ;  moved  to  Warren 
county  at  a  very  early  date,  where  he 
lived  for  some  years ;  filled  the  office  ot 
Road  Commissioner  there;  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1856;  he  was  married  Jan. 
8,  1833;  he  has  ten  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  since  1840, 
is  now  a  Deacon  in  the  congregation  at 
Galesburg.  Mr.  Bruner  has  been  a  hard- 
working man  and  very  successful  in  life. 
When  he  arrived  in  Warren  county  he 
had  but  75  cents. 

Bmner,  Francis  M.,  President 
of  Abingdon  College,  is  the  ^on  of  Hemy 
and  Matilda  (Claycomb)  Bruner,  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  was  born  in  Breckenridge  county, 
Ky.,  Dec.  28,  1833.  When  about  one  year 
old  his  parents  moved  to  Warren  county, 
111.,  locating  on  a  farm,  where  he  attend- 
ed the  country  schools  until  19  years  old. 
The  first  school  he  attended  was  three 
miles  or  more  from  his  home.  His 
father  attended  the  same  school,  carrying 
his  son  behind  him  on  a  horse.  Presi- 
dent Bruner  gives  his  father  credit  for 
giving  him  the  best  part  of  his  education 
in  the  persevering,  industrious  habits 


which  he  cultivated  in  him  under  the 
arduous  labors  and  trials  of  pioneer  life. 
At  the  age  of  19  he  entered  Knox  Col- 
lege, where  he  spent  5  years,  graduating 
in  1857  from  the  classical  course.  Not 
being  content  with  this,  he  earned  about 
$400  teaching,  received  more  from  his 
father,  married  and  went  to  Germany, 
where  he  spent  nearly  two  years  in  the 
Royal  University  at  Halle  on  the  Sarle 
in  Prussia,  Here  he  enjoyed  the  benefit 
of  eminent  lecturers;  he  became  profi- 
cient in  the  German  language.  He  vis- 
ited Berlin  and  studied  the  city,  then 
went  to  Paris,  where  he  spent  five  months 
acquiring  the  French  language  and  hear- 
ing lectures  on  botany,  physiology  and 
anatomy,  zoology,  anthropology,  etc.,  by 
eminent  scholars.  He  then  went  to  Lon- 
don and  home,  after  three  years  absence. 
President  B  has  always  had  a  love  for 
farming,  but  from  early  youth  his  mind 
has  turned  to  preaching;  while  following 
the  plow  he  frequently  became  highly 
exalted  of  religious  sentiments.  He  has 
loved  the  languages,  and  while  in  Europe 
combined  the  ancient  and  modern  lan- 
guages with  his  Bible,  thus  ably  fitting 
himself  to  both  teach  and  preach.  One 
reason  for  so  much  special  preparation 
was  to  be  correct  in  religious  matters ; 
his  study  of  the  languages,  although 
never  teaching  them,  has  been  a  source 
of  much  strength  in  preaching.  On  re- 
turning from  Europe  he  labored  as  an 
evangelist  for  about  four  years ;  was  then 
ordained  Elder  in  the  Christian  church, 
Monmouth,  111.,  where  he  preached  five 
years ;  resigned  and  became  President  of 
Oskaloosa  College,  Oskaloosa,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained  for  six  years ;  he  then 
returned  to  Monmouth  and  preached, 
and  July  24,  1877,  accepted  the  Presi- 
dency of  Abingdon  College,  where  his 
labors  have  already  been  felt  for  good  to 
the  school  and  community.  In  1863  he 
was  appointed  Captain  of  Company  A, 
7th  United  States  Colored  Infantry,  doing 
much  service  in  the  South :  from  ill- 
health,  resigned.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Warren  cocnty  in  1866 ; 
was  married  to  Miss  Esther  Lane  Apri. 
1, 1858,  a  graduate  of  Knox  College ;  made 
a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ  at  the  age  of 
14,  and  united  with  the  Christian  church. 
Republican  in  politics.  President  .  B. 
envies  no  man  because  of  his  success, 
nor  tries  to  pull  him  down  that  he  might 
get  his  place,  for  it  has  so  happened 
that  most  of  the  positions  he  has  filled 
have  been  such  as  others  had  abandoned 
or  would  not  have. 

Bruner,  Mrs.  Elijah,  section 
25,  Rio  township.  Postoffice,  Rio. 

Rrnington,  Benjam  in,  farmer, 
is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  Bruing- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


659 


ton,  the  former  born  in  Maryland  in  1776, 
the  latter  in  Pennsylvania  in  1782.  Ben- 
jamin was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1810;  he 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm.  At  the 
age  of  25  he  eame  to  Warren  county, 
thence  to  Knox  county,  111.  On  Dec.  6, 
1836,  he  married  Mary  Scott,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  has  borne  him  two  sons  and 
one  daughter,  all  living.  He  had  one 
son,  Thomas  P.,  in  the  102nd  Regiment 
Illinois  Volunteers  in  the  late  civil  war; 
he  has  filled  the  offices  of  School  Direc- 
tor and  Supervisor.  Votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Bnlkley,  John  Adams,  photo- 
grapher, Galesburg,  is  the  son  of  A.  W. 
and  Margaret  A.  (Coenhoven)  Bulkley, 
the  former  of  Connecticut,  the  latter  of 
New  York  City.  He  was  born  in  Cau- 
ton.  111.,  Sept.  23,  1842;  reared  on  a  farm ; 
served  in  the  late  war  three  years  in  Com- 
pany I,  102nd  Illinois  Infantry;  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1871.  Was  married  Sept. 
23,  1872,  to  Emma  H.  Copley,  and  has 
one  son;  joined  the  M.  E.  Church  in 
1872.  In  politics  a  Democrat. 

It ii fl'n in.  Matthew,  farmer,  son  of 
Stephen  and  Esther  BurTum,  the  former 
a  native  of  Vermont,  the  latter  of  Ohio ; 
was  born  in  Ohio,  Nov.  31,  1820.  He 
grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation in  a  log  school-house.  He  lelt 
Ohio  and  came  to  Knox  couiity  [in  1837]. 
He  married  Lidia  J.  Jobes. 

Hunker.  Dwight  W.,  merchant, 
son  of  Samuel  and  Silvia  (Walton)  Bun- 
ker, was  born  Nov.  4,  1846,  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio.  He  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  45th  Illinois  Infantry,  Oct.  20,  1861 ; 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He 
was  left  on  the  field  to  die.  He  so  far 
recovered  that  he  walked  from,  the  battle 
field  to  the  river,  where  he  remained  for 
seven  days  in  an  old  tent,  upon  wet 
straw  without  blankets  or  covering,  his 
wounds  not  being  dressed.  From  1864 
to  1873  he  was  engaged  in  railroad  build- 
ing ;  served  as  County  Clerk  of  Harvey 
county,  Kansas,  came  to  Galesburg  and 
embarked  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  in 
June,  1874.  He  married  Mary  Bell  Car- 
penter, who  has  borne  him  one  son.  Re- 
publican. 

Bnrkhalter,  James  L-.,  County 
Treasurer,  is  the  son  of  David  and  Mary 
A.  (Marks)  Burkhalter,  of  Pennsylvania; 
was  born  in  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  April  15, 
1835.  Educated  in  common  schools  and 
academy,  and  reared  on  a  farm.  He 
learned  the  carpenter  trade  and  com- 
menced the  building  business  in  1852 
and  has  followed  it  since ;  came  to  Knox 
county  in  April,  1856.  Was  married  to 
Martha  E.  Adle  Nov.  2,  1858,  who  has 
borne  him  eight  children,  six  living.  In 


1862  he  recruited  a  company  for  the 
Union  army ;  commenced  July  23,  com- 
pleted Aug*.  10 ;  was  chosen  Captain  and 
kept  recruiting  until  he  raised  nearly  two 
companies.  His  was  the  first  recruiting 
commission  obtained  by  a  Knox  county 
man.  He  was  often  detailed  in  various 
staff  positions,  much  of  the  time  in  charge 
of  sappers  and  miners.  During  his 
last  year  he  served  as  Assistant  Adjutant 
General,  and  always  received  favorable 
mention  in  Gen.  Buell's  reports ;  for  meri- 
torious services  at  Beatonsvilie,  North 
Carolina,  was  promoted  lo  Major;  was 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 
He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  Knox  county  in  1875,  and 
re-elected  in  1877.  Residence,  Maquon. 

Eiii  E-iia  u^ii.  George  W.,  carpen- 
ter and  farmer ;  was  born  Oct.  28, 1830,  in 
Clermont  county,  Ohio.  He  is  the  son 
of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Black)  Burnaugh, 
both  from  the  Eastern  States.  He  passed 
his  early  life  on  a  farm,  and  his  educa- 
tional facilities  were  confined  to  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  four  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  worked  at  it  five  years,  until  his 
health  failed,  when  he  changed  to  farm- 
ing, in  1855.  He  came  from  Ohio  to  Illi- 
nois in  1844;  lived  in  Knox  county  since 
1856.  He  married  Rebecca  Cramer, 
March  8,  1855.  They  have  one  daughter, 
who  is  married,  living  in  Orange  town- 
ship. He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church;  has  been  a 
Trustee  of  Orange  township.  Postofiice, 
Knoxville. 

Kilt  lor.  James  W.,  has  for  many 
years  been  proniineutly  before  the  pub- 
lic as  an  educator  and  preacher  of  the 
Gospel  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  was 
born  in  Warren  county,  Ky.,  Oct.  2, 1826. 
His  father,  Peter  Butler,  moved  to  War- 
ren county,  111.,  in  1829,  hence  was  among 
the  earliest  settlers  in  this  part  ot  the 
State.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Polk 
county,  Oregon,  where  he  died  in  1856. 
His  mother  was  Rachel  (Murphy)  Butler, 
of  Kentucky.  The  first  school  attended 
by  Mr.  B.  was  taught  in.  a  log  school- 
house  in  Warren  county,  111.  His  first 
teacher  was  Alexander  Reynolds,  a 
preacher;  subsequently  he  received  train- 
ing of  that  successful  teacher,  officer  and 
farmer,  Howell  Haskell.  In  1845  he  en- 
tered Knox  Academy,  Galesburg,  and 
after  two  years  entered  Knox  College. 
In  1847  he  entered  Bethany  College, 
Bethany,  Va.,  where  he  graduated  in 
1850,  and  soon  entered  upon  the  ministry. 
It  was  under  the  preaching  of  Alexander 
Campbell  while  at  Bethany  that  he  made 
a  profession  of  religion  and  was  im- 
mersed by  W.  K.  Pendleton,  the  present 
President  of  Bethany.  Among  his  class- 


660 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


mates  were  J.  B.  New,  late  Treasurer  of 
United  States,  and  J.  W.  McGarvy,  Pro- 
fessor in  Kentucky  University.  July  1, 
1851,  he  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Ground, 
daughter  of  Henry  Ground,  who  resides 
two  miles  west  of  Abingdon.  Mi>.  B. 
has  ever  been  a  faithful  and  devoted  wife. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  War- 
ren county,  which  position  he  held  until 
called  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics  in 
Abingdon  College  in  1855.  The  princi- 
pal work  of  his  life  was  performed  while 
President  of  that  college,  which  position 
he  filled  for  fourteen  years.  During  the 
war  it  seemed  the  College  must  fail,  the 
trustees  could  not  pay  the  Faculty,  but 
President  B.  assumed  all,  and  by  his  un- 
tiring labors  raised  it  to  prominence 
among  Western  Colleges.  In  1867  he 
was  called  to  the  Presidency  of  Christian 
College,  Monmouth,  Oregon.  The  trus- 
tees of  Abingdon  College  would  not  ac- 
cept his  resignation,  but  consented  to  his 
absence  six  months.  In  Aug.,  1867,  he 
and  his  family  sailed  from  New  York 
city  for  California,  whence,  after  a  short 
visit,  they  went  to  Oregon.  Feb.  2,  1868, 
they  started  home  by  rail.  At  Rowling 
Springs  a  heavy  snow  storm  was  en- 
countered, which  stopped  the  train  and 
cut  off  all  communications  either  way. 
The  snow  filled  the  cuts  to  the  depth  of 
25  feet.  After  three  weeks  delay,  and  in 
great  danger  they  proceeded  on  their 
way.  In  1874  he  was  called  to  the  Pres- 
idency of  Christian  College,  Santa  Rosa, 
California,  which  position  lie  filled  for 
one  year,  where  he  also  was  Pastor  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  is  logical  arid  for- 
cible in  argument,  pleasing  and  courte- 
ous in  manner,  and  possesses  rare  good 
judgment.  In  1877  he  was  elected  Su- 
pervisor, and  re-elected  in  1878.  He  has 
but  one  child  living  His  son,  Seldon 
H  ,  is  a  graduate  of  Abingdon  College, 
also  of  the  Law  Department  of  the  North- 
western University,  Chicago. 

ISu ( I.  Charles  N  orris,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
March  10,  1833.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
D.  and  Sarah  (Williams)  Butt,  of  Green- 
briar  county,  West  Virginia.  His  parents 
cametoKnox  county,  111.,  in  1837.  He 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
Persifer  township.  He  still  lives  on  the 
old  farm  six  miles  east  of  Knoxville, 
where  his  parents  selt  ed  forty-one  years 
ago.  He  filled  the  office  of  Road  Com- 
missioner in  Knox  township,  in  the 
years  of  1875-6-7.  Dec.  31,  1857,  he 
married  Sarah  S.  Montgomery,  who  has 
borne  him  one  child,  a  son.  Politically, 
he  is  Republican.  Postofflce,  Knoxville. 

Byram,  Nelson  B.,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Abigail  L.  (Harris)  Byram ,  natives 
of  New  Jersey;  was  born  in  Dayton, 


Ohio,  April  4,  1818,  educated  in  common 
schools  in  Indiana,  and  reared  on  the 
farm ;  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,which 
he  changed  to  farming ;  was  married  Dec. 
24,  1847,  to  Rebecca  Jane  Hamilton,  who 
has  borne  him  three  children ;  united 
with  M.  E.  Church  in  1857 ;  has  been 
Collector,  Town  Clerk  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  Republican  in  politics.  Post- 
office,  Knoxville. 

Cad  well,  J.  P.,  Postoffice,  Altona. 

Cadwallader.  William  O., 
miller,  of  London  Mills,  Fulton  county, 
111.,  was  born  Sept.  10, 1830,  in  Hahoning 
county,  Penn. ;  his  parents  were  Eli  and 
Catharine  (Hank)  Cadwallader,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
latter  of  Maryland.  He  received  a  com- 
mon school  education ;  worked  at  shoe- 
making  until  1858,  then  followed  other 
professions  and  business  until  he  changed 
to  milling,  in  which  he  has  been  very 
successful.  June  11,  1855,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Isabel  Sence ;  they  have  been  the 
parents  of  one  child,  a  toy,  who  died  at 
three  years  of  age.  He  removed  to  Ohio, 
thence  to  Iowa,  and  to  Illinois  in  1866 ; 
he  is  Republican;  he  clings  to  the  Uni- 
nitarian  doctrine;  was  Township  Clerk 
in  Iowa,  Postmaster  in  Ohio,  and  is  now 
Postmaster.  Postoffice,  London  Mills, 
Fulton  county. 

Calkins,  Win.  C.,  attorney,  Gales- 
burg,  of  the  firm  of  McKenzie  &  Calkins. 

Calkins,  Edwin  J.,  son  of  Elijah 
and  Philena  (Coleman)  Calkins,  was  born 
.  Oct.  23, 1811,  in  Hillsdale,  Columbia  coun- 
ty, N.  Y. ;  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade 
in  his  youth,  and  followed  the  business 
until  1837,  when  he  quit  it  and  went 
to  farming;  he  settled  in  Sparta  town- 
ship in  1837,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided; he  was  united  in  matrimony  with 
Harriet  Alvira  Park  in  1836,  who  bore 
him  three  sons  and  two  daughters;  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  is  one  of  its  Trustees;  polit- 
ically he  is  a  Republican.  Postoffice, 
Oneida. 

Campbell,  Orange  L-.,  editor 
Knox  Republican,™  the  son  of  Elisha 
and  Mary  A.  (Lowell)  Campbell,  the  for- 
mer of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  Maryland ;  he 
was  born  in  Knoxville  March  7,  1852; 
educated  in  public  schools  and  the  print- 
ing office;  learned  the  printer's  trade 
quite  young ;  is  City  Clerk  of  Knoxville ; 
was  married  June  19,  1873,  to  Miss  A. 
S.  Bull,  who  has  borne  him  two  children ; 
a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith  and  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

Cardiff,  Mrs.  Edward,  Section 
2,  Lynn  township.  Postoffice,  Galva. 

Carr,  Clark  E.,  Postmaster  Gales- 
burg. 

Carr,  M.  S.,  M.  IK,  Galesburg. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


661 


Carpenter,  Asaph  Newton,  is 

the  son  of  Asaph  and  Caroline  Carpen- 
ter, of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
born  June  2,  1828;  his  parents  lived  on 
a  farm.  Early  in  life  he  manifested  a 
genius  for  invention,  which  took  the  di- 
rection of  landscape  architecture;  he 
kibored  at  his  chosen  art  with  an  inten- 
sity of  devotion,  without  an  instructor, 
until  it  can  be  truthfully  said  he  is  mas- 
ter of  it,  having  conceived  and  executed 
some  of  the  most  extensive  and  beautiful 
scenic  effects,  in  both  private  and  public 
grounds,  to  be  found  iiv  America.  His 
love  for  his  calling  amounts  to  a 
fascination,  and  he  still  plies  himself  to 
it  with  an  unabated  zeal.  On  the  20th 
of  November,  1853,  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Elizabeth  Winter ;  their  family  con- 
sists of  two  daughters.  They  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1854. 

Cashman,  I>.  A.,  Indian  Point 
township.  Postomce,  Hermon. 

Cashmau,  J.  I*.,  farmer,  the  son 
of  George  and  Rebecca  J  (Murphy) 
Cashman,  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
O.,  Jan.  6, 1836 ;  he  had  such  educational 
advantages  as  the  common  schools  of 
Ohio  afforded  till  he  was  14  years  of  age, 
when  his  parents  came  and  settled  in 
Tazewell  county,  111. ;  he  removed  to  Knox 
county  in  1850,  where  he  has  since  lived ; 
he  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Director 
and  Road  Commissioner  in  Indian  Point 
township;  he  married  Martha  E.  Bond 
Dec.  31,  1858,  by  whom  he  has  one  son 
and  one  daughter ;  he  is  a  Deacon  in  the 
Hermon  Christian  Church ;  has  been  a 
member  since  1852 ;  Democratic  in  poli- 
tics. Postofflce,  Abingdon. 

Cashman,  I.  M.,  farmer,  whose 
parents  were  George  and  Rebecca  J. 
(Murphy)  Cashman,  formerly  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  111., 
Feb.  11, 1850;  his  educational  advantages 
were  the  High  School  of  Cherry  Grove 
and  a  course  in  the  Abingdon  College ;  he 
was  married  Jan.  1C,  1873,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  Knox  county;  Tie 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  since  1870;  politically  he  is  a 
Democrat.  PostofBce,  Hermon. 

Cassel,  Elmer,  Sparta  township. 
Postofflce,  Wataga. 

Castle,  Reuben,  farmer,  was  born 
at  Green  Prairie,  W.  Va.,  Sept.  15,  1813; 
his  parents,  Henry  and  Sarah  (Curry) 
were  natives  of  Virginia;  he  was  raised 
on  a  farm,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  old  log  school-house;  came  to  Knox 
county  in  1834;  was  married  March  18, 
1841,  to  Mary  Long;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren ;  lias  been  ochool  Director  and  Road 
Commissioner ;  is  member  M.  E.  Church, 
joined  in  1831 ;  Republican.  Postomce, 
Knoxville. 
36 


Catterton,  J.  K.,  farmer,  son  of 
Diler  and  Sarah  Ann  Catterton",  was  born 
in  the  State  of  Kentucky  Aug.  20,  1819 ; 
his  only  opportunity  for  education  was 
in  common  schools;  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at.  the  harness  trade  at  the 
age  of  14 :  he  followed  the  business  for  a 
time,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing ;  he  served  in  the  Mexican  war  under 
General  Scott,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
102d  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  from 
1863  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion;  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Ann  Organ  on  the  18th  day  of 
February,  1849;  they  have  had  nine  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living;  he  joined 
the  Christian  Church  in  1844;  politically 
is  a  Republican.  Postomce,  Elba  Center. 

Caulkins,  Samuel,  farmer,  born 
in  Washington  county,  Ind.,  Oct.  21, 1821 ; 
married  Sarah  Ann  Stewart  Dec.  8,  1842 ; 
they  have  a  family  consisting  of  eight 
children  living,  2  having  died,  making 
ten  in  all;  he  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  United  Brethren  faith  1840,  in  which 
he  served  as  Steward  and  in  1843  as  Class 
Leader;  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Hen- 
derson township  in  1868 ;  came  to  Knox 
county  in  1855  and  has  never  desired  to 
remove.  Postomce,  Gilson. 

Cawlkins,  Albert  A.,  farmer, 
son  of  Stephen  and  Anna  (Smith)  Cawlk- 
ins, both  of  New  York,  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbia county,  N.  Y.,  June  1,  1803;  his 
childhood  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his 
only  educational  facilities  were  the  com- 
mon schools;  he  learned  the  trade  of 
house  carpenter  and  plied  himself  to  it 
for  many  years,  but  turned  his  attention 
to  farming  later  in  life;  he  came  to  Knox 
county  in  1836,  and  settled  on  section  2, 
Sparta  township,  where  he  has  lived  ever 
since ;  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  on 
the  prairie;  May  1,  1837,  he  married 
Louise  M.  Park ;  they  have  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living ;  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
since  1832;  he  has  been  a  pronounced 
Republican  since  1850.  Postofflce, Oneid a. 

Chaifin.  !S.,  Galesburg. 

Chambers,  Jacob  S.,  retired 
merchant,  was  born  in  Addison  county, 
Vt.,  March  14,  1816;  h\s  parents  were 
Matthew  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Chambers, 
the  former  born  in  New  Hampshire,  the 
latter  in  Vermont ;  Jacob  was  educated 
in  the  common  and  select  schools  of  his 
native  State;  he  began  the  mercantile 
pursuit  in  his  boyhood  and  continued  in 
it  until  18'J8;  his  father,  Matthew  Cham- 
bers, purchased  property  in  Galesimrg 
with  the  colony,  and  erected  tna  second 
store  in  the  place;  he  settkd  however  in 
Knoxville,  where  he  remained  several 
years ;  then  came  to  Galesburg,  where  he 
died  in  1869.  Jacob  went  from  Knox- 
ville to  Whitcside  county,  but  finally 


662 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


settled  in  Altona,  and  opened  the  first 
store  in  the  town;  after  conducting  his 
business  there  successfully  for  a  number 
of  years  he  came  to  Galesburg,  where  he 
now  lives,  retired.  On  Sept.  28,  1857,  he 
married  Amanda  M.  Parsons,  who  is  the 
mother  of  three  children  living  and  one 
dead;  he  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Church ;  politically  a  Republican ;  he  was 
for  several  years  Supervisor,  and  filled 
the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  in  "Wal- 
nut Grove  township. 

Chandler.  Charles  P.,  mer- 
chant, of  Galesburg,  was  born  in  Scioto 
county,  O.,  Aug.  2,  1817 ;  his  parents 
were  Ellis  and  Deborah  Chandler,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  lat- 
ter of  Vermont;  his  education  was  lim- 
ited to  the  common  schools  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  23  years  old ;  on  Nov.  10, 
1840,  he  married  Azuba  G.  Miles,  who 
has  borne  him  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living;  Ellis  Chandler 
was  born  Feb.  12,  1846;  A.  Deborah, 
born  Oct.  29,  1848;  Sally  Miles,  born 
Oct.  o,  1851 ;  Joseph  Barton,  born  June 
20,  1854;  Charles  P.,  Jr.,  bora  Jan.  17, 
1859;  Stephen,  born  April  1,  18P.2;  Har- 
riet M  ,  born  May  26,  1868.  Ellis  died 
Oct.  5,  1847.  Moved  to  Missouri  in  1841 ; 
remained  until  1844,  when  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  in  1867  came  to  Galesburg, 
where  he  now  resides;  he  was  Sheriff"  of 
Scioto  county,  O.,  two  terms,  and  Treas- 
urer one  term ;  served  as  Provost  Mar- 
shal during  the  rebellion,  and  in  Mis- 
souri was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace ; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and 
politically  a  Republican. 

Chapman,  .Ezra,  son  of  Asa  and 
Susanna  (Berry)  Chapman,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  born  in  Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28, 
1797;  had  only  a  common  school  educa- 
tion ;  machinist  by  trade,  at  which  he 
has  worked  thirteen  years,  and  followed 
farming  since ;  has  held  offices  of  Justice 
of  Peace  and  Postmaster ;  married  Sarah 
Ann  Lanfear  April  8,  1825;  they  have 
had  two  boys  and  three  girls ;  one  girl 
dead  and  one  boy  received  a  wound  in 
army  from  which  he  died.  After  working 
in  machine  factory  about  three  years  it 
stopped ;  he  then  went  to  Western  Penn- 
sylvania and  worked  at  a  variety  of  oc- 
cupations, barely  making  a  living,  being 
just  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812; 
at  the  end  of  five  years  Mr.  Walcott  pro- 
posed to  open  his  works,  when  Mr.  C.  re- 
turned and  went  to  work;  the  fellow 
workmen  indulged  in  gambling,  but  Mr. 
Chapman  would  never  take  part;  he  ad- 
vised all  young  men  to  abstain  from  it. 
Postofflce,  Ontario. 

Chapman,  $anmel,Jr.,  section 
29,  Ontario  township.  Postoftice,  Oneida. 


Chappell,  Robt.,  clerk,  Gales- 
burg. 

Charlson,  Moils,  iron  molder, 
son  of  Charles  Frederick  and  Catharine 
(Solclwin),  was  born  in  Sweden,  Oct.  24, 
1822;  his  early  life  was  spent  on  alarm, 
and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  of  Sweden;  he  learned 
the  tailor's  trade  and  followed  it  for  six- 
teen years;  came  to  this  country  and  set- 
tled in  Victoria,  Knox  county,  in  1852; 
he  married  Ellen  Peterson  July  4,  1856, 
bv  whom  he  has  had  five  children,  four 
of  whom,  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
are  living;  he  removed  to  Galesburg, 
where  he  now  lives,  in  1868 ;  he  lias  been 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  for 
over  forty  years. 

Chesney,  John  E.,  wagon  and 
carriage  maker,  Abingdon,  is  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Hannah  (Mitchell)  Chesuey, 
of  Maryland ;  was  born  in  Hartford  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  in  April,  1815;  was  edu- 
cated in  common  schools  of  Indiana; 
learned  his  trade  with  his  father;  came 
to  Abingdou  April  21, 1842;  was  married 
to  Hannah  J.  Svvartz  June  6,  1844,  and 
the  second  time  to  Eliza  E.  Foster  Dec. 
21, 1854 ;  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
and  Class  Leader;  Republican  in  politics. 

Chesney,  Mrs.  J.  H .,  residence 
Abingdon. 

Child,  Erastus,  son  of  Charles 
T.  and  CJarissa  Child,  of  Connecticut, 
was  born  Oct.  4,  1817,  in  Exeter,  N.  Y. ; 
his  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm ;  think- 
ing to  become  a  public  speaker,  entered 
Oneida  Institute,  New  York,  in  1838, 
graduating  in  1841 ;  that  not  proving  sat- 
isfactory, and  after  teaching  school  for  a 
long  time,  settled  down  as  a  mechanic, 
still  clinging  in  some  form  to  books  and 
the  press;  has  been  a  regular  newspaper 
correspondent  for  twelve  years;  was  the 
Oneida  correspondent  for  the  Oaltsburg 
Republican  from  the  first,  and  since  for 
the  Republican-Register;  he  also  deals 
in  the  Simmons'  sash  supporter;  was 
married  April  29,  1846,  to  Rachel  Foster, 
of  Whitestowu,  N.  Y. ;  of  their  children 
Sarah  E.  is  now  the  wife  of  F.  B.  Webb, 
Bedford,  la. ;  Charles  F.  met  his  death 
by  scalding  when  young,  and  Julia  I.  is 
with  her  parents;  he  came  to  Oneida  in 
1855;  was  a  radical  Abolitionist,  now 
Republican.  Postoffice,  Oneida. 

Chittenden,  Martin  W.,  book- 
keeper, Galesburg. 

Christianer,  Frederick,  den- 
tist and  jeweler,  Abingdon,  is  the  sou  of 
August  T.  and  Dorothea  J.  (Obrock) 
Chrisiianer,  natives  of  Germany,  where, 
in  Ostercappeln,  Nov.  22,  182'J,"  he  was 
born ;  when  16  years  old  he  came  to 
America,  going  to  St.  Louis;  in  1846, 
commenced  business  for  himself;  moved 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


663 


to  Canton  in  1849  and  to  Abingdon  in 
1856,  where  he  has  since  lived;  he  has 
served  as  City  Clerk  ten  years,  Justice 
of  Peace  and  Police  Magistrate  for  eight 
years,  also  Township  Clerk  and  School 
Director;  in  1869  was  elected  County 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  and 
served  four  years ;  married  Dec.  5, 1850,  to 
Jane  E.  McMillan. 

Churchill,  Geo.,  Principal  of 
Knox  Academy,  Galesburg,  was  born  in 
Winfield,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1829 ;  he  is  the 
son  of  Norman  and  Anna  (Eggleston) 
Churchill,  Hie  former  born  at  Hubbard- 
ton,  Vt.,  Nov.  5,  1799,  his  mother  in  Ba- 
tavia,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  24,  18')6.  George  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  attended  school  and 
worked  at  mechanical  labor,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Knox  College  in  1851 ;  he  came 
to  Galesburg  with  his  parents  in  1839, 
and  since  remained  here  save  two  years 
passed  at  Farmington,  111.,  where  he  had 
charge  of  the  High  School ;  he  has  given 
particular  attention  to  educational  mat- 
ters, and  has  done  much  to  give  Gales- 
burg  the  excellent  school  system  she 
now  enjoys ;  he  visited  schools  in  different 
parts  of  Europe,  especially  in  Germany, 
and  studied  their  systems;  he  worked 
faithfully  4  years  to  consolidate  the  8 
district  schools  of  Galesburg  and  inau- 
gurate the  present  system ;  was  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Citizens  who  pre- 
pared the  charter  of  the  schools  and  got 
it  through  the  Legislature,  and  finally 
effected  the  organization;  he  employed, 
mostly  at  his  own  expense,  Hon.  William 
Baker,  of  Connecticut,  to  labor  in  the 
city  for  this  end ;  he  served  as  Alderman 
4 years;  is  present  City  Engineer  and  has 
been  for  8  years ;  is  member  of  both  the 
Board  of  Park  Commissioners  and  Li- 
brary Board ;  was  member  of  Board  of 
Education  14  years :  was  em  ployed  1  year 
as  Assistant  Civil  Engineer  on  the  Cen- 
tral Military  Track  Railroad,  and  has 
done  much  surveying  through  the  coun- 
try. He  has  been  Principal  of  Knox 
Academy  since  1855 ;  he  joined  First 
Church  Galesburg  in  1846 ;  he  is  deacon, 
and  has  been  for  20  years,  and  is  also  Su- 
perintendent of  Sunday-school,  which 
position  he  has  occupied  with  great  suc- 
cess for  21  years.  He  prepared  an  elab- 
orate history  of  Galesburg  in  1S76,  to 
which  we  are  indebted  for  much  valuable 
information.  Prof.  Churchill  was  mar- 
ried first  time  in  1855  to  Clara  A.  Hurd, 
again  to  Ada  A.  Hayes  in  1858,  and  the 
third  time  to  Ellen  S.  Walker  in  1869 ;  is 
the  parent  of  4  sons  Republican. 

Churchill,  Norman,  Jr.,  ice 
dealer,  son  of  Norman  and  Ann  (Eggle- 
ston) Churchill,  the  former  a  native  of 
Vermont,  the  latter  of  New  York,  was 
born  in  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  July  16, 


1883 ;  educated  in  common  schools  and 
reared  on  a  farm ;  came  to  Galesburg 
with  parents  when  6  years  old ;  was  mar- 
ried Nov.  20,  1863,  to  Ann  E.  Hinsey; 
they  have  three  children.  Republican  m 
politics. 

Clark,  Dennis,  County  Judge, 
was  born  Aug.  14,  1817,  in  Washington, 
Ind  ;  his  parents  were  Walter  and  Mary 
(Young)  Clark,  the  former  of  Virginia, 
and  his  mother  a  native  of  New  Jersey ; 
he  was  educated  in  common  schools, 
and  attended  Cherry  Grove  Seminary  in 
1841-2;  his  early  boyhood  days  were 
passed  on  a  farm,  and  in  the  year  1837 
commenced  teaching  school  in  winter 
and  farmed  in  summer;  followed  this 
for  several  years ;  after  he  was  married 
commenced  the  study  of  law  at  home; 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1866 ;  he  was  mar- 
ried April  10,  1845,  to  Martha  Meadows, 
who  has  borne  him  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  are  dead.  Judge  C.  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Illinois:  he  came  to  the  State 
in  1823  with  his  father,  who  moved  to 
Wisconsin  in  1828,  where  shortly  after 
he  was  poisoned  drinking  mineral  water, 
when  the  whole  charge  of  the  family 
fell  upon  Dennis;  with  an  ox  team 
he  has  made  trips  nO  miles  to  provide 
food  for  the  family;  in  1829  family 
moved  to  St.  Louis,  then  to  Sangamon 
county.  111.,  where  he  was  bound  out  to  a 
farmer;  he  got  $5  ahead,  left  and  came 
to  Knox  county  in  1833,  settling  near 
Abingdon;  he  served  as  Captain  of  mili- 
tary company  in  1836  and  for  several 
years  afterwards;  has  been  Township 
Clerk,  Overseer  Poor,  and  in  Nov.,  1865, 
was  elected  County  Judge,  and  re-elected 
three  times  since ;  during  the  war  he  was 
enrolling  officer,  and  labored  earnestly  to 
relieve  the  families  of  soldiers  who  were 
in  the  field;  he  is  possessed  of  good 
practical  judgment,  sympathetic,  always 
ready  to  accommodate,  benevolent,  and  is 
highly  respected  and  honored;  in  politics 
he  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  now  a  Re- 
publican ;  he  resides  at  Abingdon. 

Clark,  W.  E.,  farmer;  Postoffice 
Abingdon;  Republican;  was  born  in 
Haw  Creek  township,  Knox  county,  Feb. 
28,  1838;  he  is  the  son  of  Wm.  M.  and 
Lydia  (Carmichael)  Clark,  the  former  of 
Kentucky,  the  latter  North  Carolina;  was 
educated  at  select  school  Knoxville  and 
Heckling  Seminary,  Abingdon ;  in  1861 
enlisted  in  8th  Missouri  Zouaves;  dis- 
charged July  9,  1864 ;  was  married  July 
4,  1866;  joined  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1853, 
wife  joined  in  1860;  served  as  Class 
Leader,  and  been  an  Exhorter. 

Clark,  I/nther,  son  of  Abrarn 
and  Anna  (Wise)  Clark,  natives  of  New 
York,  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  N.  Y., 
July  1,  1829;  was  raised  on  farm  and 


664: 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


educated  in  common  schools;  came  to 
Orange  township  in  1843,  where  he  still 
resides;  was  married  Feb.  3,  1859,  to  Sa- 
rah Yeager,  who  has  borne  six  children, 
all  living;  politically  a  Democrat.  Post- 
office,  Knoxville. 

Clay,  A.  C.,  section  20,  Galesburg 
township.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Clay,  H.  H.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Windsor  county,  Vt ,  in  1838.  His  pa- 
rents were  John  and  Louisa  M.  Clay; 
they  came  to  Knox  county  in  1840.  He 
attended  the  common  schools,  and  was 
one  year  at  Lombard  College.  His  early 
life  was  passed  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  in  which  vocation  he  has  been 
quite  successful.  He  enlisted  in  the  103d 
Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  in  1861  as  a 
Lieutenant,  was  promoted  to  Captain, 
and  afterwards  to  Major,  for  bravery.  He 
commanded  the  regiment  from  Atlanta 
to  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  under  Sherman  dur- 
ing his  famous  "March  to  the  Sea,"  and 
was  with  the  regiment  in  every  battle. 
He  is  a  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Clearwater,  Abraliam  JS.,  son 
of  Jacob  and  Esther  (Shealy)  Clearwater, 
natives  of  New  York,  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  N.  Y.,  May  3,  1818; 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  educated  in  com- 
mon schools;  came  to  Knox  county  in 
1843;  was  married  April  1:},  1856,  to 
Margaret  J.  McGreggon,  who  has  borne 
him  one  boy  and  one  girl.  He  joined 
the  Baptist  Church  in  1837,  and  is  con- 
nected with  Ontario  Church.  Republi- 
can in  politics. 

C  lesson,  Joseph,  farmer,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Mehetabel  Clesson,  was  born 
in  Deerfield,  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  in 
1818,  where  he  received  a  common 
school  education.  He  came  west  and 
settled  in  Shelby  county.  111.,  in  1837, 
where  he  remained  until  1842,  when 
he  removed  to  Knox  county,  where 
he  still  resides.  He  has  filled  the  offices 
of  School  Trustee  and  Road  Commis- 
sioner. He  was  married  in  1844 ;  is  now 
living  with  his  third  wife,  Hepsia  Carr; 
is  a  professor  of  religion,  but  not  con- 
nected with  any  church ;  is  a  Democrat. 
Postoffice,  Yates  City. 

Cleveland,  Mrs.,  Superintendent 
County  Aims-House,  Knoxville. 

Cochran,  Andre w,  son  of  Simon 
and  Margaret  Cochran,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  born  in  Franklin  county,  O., 
Aug.  27,  1809 ;  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and 
attended  the  subscription  schools  ;learned 
blacksmithing,  and  in  1867  went  into  the 
drug  business;  came  to  Illinois  in  1837; 
was  married  to  Nancy  I.  Cannon  Aug. 
22,  1833;  has  been  School  Director.  As- 
sessor and  Postmaster;  joined  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  1825,  held  church  offices ;  Re- 
publican; resides  in  Abingdon. 


Cochran,  Josiah  C.,  Abingdon, 

Cochran,  Asbnry,  Yardmaster, 
Galesburg  stock  yards,  Galesburg. 

Codding,  Albert  S.,  son  of  Al- 
bert and  Abigail  Codding,  of  Canan- 
daigua,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  on 
section  6,  Victoria  township,  Knox 
county,  May  1st,  1846.  His  education 
was  acquired  at  a  district  school  half  a 
mile  distant;  is  a  farmer  from  choice ; 
served  five  months  as  a  private  in  the  war 
of  the  rebellion.  He  was  married  to 
Eleanor  Clesson  Aug.  4,  1874.  They 
have  two  children,  both  girls.  He  is  a 
professor  of  religion,  but  is  not  con- 
nected with  any  church.  His  postoffice 
is  Victoria. 

Codding,  Mrs. A.  B  ,  sec.  6,  Vic- 
oria  township.  Postoffice,  Victoria. 

Coft'man,  William,  farmer  and 
stock  dealer,  was  born  in  Chestnut  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Aug.  12,  1858.  His 
parents  were  Samuel  and  Mary  (Burn- 
side)  Coffrnan ;  his  father  was  a  native  of 
Clinton  county,  O.,  and  his  mother  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia.  He  was  educated  in 
the  graded  schools  of  Chicago  and  in 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College. 
He  lived  with  his  parents  in  Chicago 
from  the  age  of  thirteen  till  he  was 
eighteen,  since  which  time  he  has  resided 
in  Knox  county.  His  postoffice  address 
is  Maquon. 

Coleman,  James,  son  of  James 
&  Sarah  Coleman,  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
born  in  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  Dec.  27, 
1830;  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  sent  t'> 
common  schools;  was  married  Nov.  1, 
1859,  to  Charlotte  Kane;  they  have  four 
children;  is  a  strong  Republican.  Post- 
office,  West  Jersey,  111. 

Cole,  C.  A.,  sec.  7,  Walnut  Grove 
township.  Postoffice,  Altona. 

Cole,  George  ~W.,saddle  and  har- 
ness maker,  Prairie  street,  Galesburg. 

Collier,  Mrs.  Helen  M.,teacher, 
Galesburg. 

Collinson,  Charles,  farmer,  son 
of  Thomas  and  Hannah,  natives  of 
England,  was  born  at  Yorkshire,  Eng., 
May  14,  1826.  and  spent  his  early  life 
in  the  coal  mines  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  went  with  his  parents  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  came  to  Knox 
county  in  1852;  was  married  July  17, 
1847;  is  the  father  of  eleven  children; 
united  with  M.  E.  Church  in  1857,  has 
acted  as  Steward  and  Sunday-school 
Superintendent;  served  three  years  in 
the  war  for  the  Union  as  Corporal ;  Dem- 
ocrat. P.  O.,  Galva,  111. 

Collinson,  Geo.  M.  Thomas,  his 
father,  was  born  in  England,  and  his 
mother,  Louisa,  was  a  native  of  France ; 
George  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  April 
12,  1846;  spent  his  early  days  on  a  farm; 


H-ISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


removed  to  Lynn,  Mass.,  in  1851,  and 
soon  after  came  to  Illinois;  married  Mary 
A.  Murray  May  22,  1868,  and  they  have 
three  children,  all  girls ;  has  been  a  mem- 
tier  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  the  Col- 
linson  Academy  nine  years;  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  Postoffice,  Altona. 

Collinson,  Henry  €r.  His  father, 
Simon  L.  Collinson.  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  his  mother,  Mary  M.  Collinson, 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  Henry  was  born 
in  Lynn  township,  Knox  county,  Jan.  4, 
1840,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm.  He 
has  always  been  a  farmer  from  choice ; ' 
served  in  the  war  for  the  Union  three 
years;  married  March  7,  1867,  Miss  Jan- 
nett  McKie,  who  bore  him  two  sons, 
neither  of  whom  is  living;  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1870.  Post- 
office,  Altona,  where  he  now  resides. 

Collinson,  Simeon  L..  is  the 
son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Kirby)  Collin- 
son, natives  of  Yorkshire,  England;  Sim- 
eon was  born  July  7,  1806,  in  Yorkshire, 
England ;  spent  his  youth  and  received 
his  education  in  his  native  country ;  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  spent  five  years  in  the  coal 
mines;  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  accumulating  a  large 
property,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  1,700 
acres  of  beautiful  farm  land;  has  been 
twice  married;  Nov.  5,  1834,  to  Mary 
Graver,  who  bore  him  nine  children,  five 
boys  and  four  girls;  Nov.  21,  1874,  to 
Mrs.  Jane  McClure,  one  son  being  the 
issue.  Has  held  the  office  of  School 
Trustee  eight  years;  first  Assessor  after 
township  organization  two  years ;  Road 
Commissioner,  ten  years;  served  seven 
years  in  Pa.  Light  Inf.  under  the  State 
law;  always  led  a  moral  life,  resolving 
when  young  never  to  gamble  or  lead 
others  by  his  example  into  bad  habits. 
Postoffice,  Altona. 

Collinson,  Thomas  W.,  born 
in  Pennsylvania  July  2,  1835,  is  the  son 
•of  Simeon  Collinson,  native  of  England, 
and  Mary  Collinsou,  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1838,  when  but  three  years  of 
age,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Knox  county.  He  chose  the 
best  of  all  occupations,  that  of  farmer,  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful;  was 
married  on  Nov.  25,  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Brooks,  from  which  union  sprang  eight 
children,  seven  boys  and  one  girl,  two  of 
whom  are  dead;  has  served  as  School 
Director  ten  years.  Postoffice,  Altona. 

Colton,  Clianncy  S.,  retired 
merchant  and  capitalist*  was  born  in 
Springfield,  Luzerne  co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  21, 
1800.  His  parents  were  Justin  and  Abi- 
gail (Sill)  Colton:  and  were  both  natives 
of  Now  England.  Soon  after  tbe  birth 


of  Chauncy  they  returned  to  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  State.  In  1820  they  re- 
moved to  Maine,  where  five  years  later 
he  was  married  to  Emily  H.  McLaria- 
than.  In  1836  he  came  west.  In  the 
spring  of  1837  he  was  the  first  to  break 
ground  for  building  on  the  site  of  Gales- 
burg.  He  erected  the  first  store  in  the 
infant  village  that  summer,  and  filled  it 
with  the  first  stock  of  goods  ever  brought 
to  this  part  of  the  county.  For  thirty 
years  he  carried  on  a  general  merchan- 
dising business.  At  the  close  of  this 
long  and  successful  career  he  retired 
from  mercantile  life.  He  has  been  al- 
ways actively  identified  with  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  county;  he  has  for 
many  years  been  Trustee  of  Knox  Col- 
lege, and  is  now  its  Financial  Agent, 
and  has  by  his  wise  counsels,  ardent  la- 
bors and  generous  donations  been  effici- 
ent in  building  up  this  institution.  He 
was  one  of  the  chief  originators  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway, 
and  has  been  one  of  its  Directors  ever 
since  the  company  was  organized  until 
recently.  Its  present  charter  was  ob- 
tained by  him.  Though  Mr.  Colton  is 
verging  upon  four-score  years  he  is  re- 
markably wrell  preserved  and  active,  and 
has  personal  management  of  the  affairs 
incident  to  his  large  estate. 

Colton,  Hon.  Francis,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Farmers  &  Mechanics'  Bank, 
Galesburg,  was  born  in  Monsoh,  Mass., 
May  22, 1834.  He  is  the  sin  of  Chauncy 
and  Emily  H.  (McLanathan)  Colton;  his 
parents  came  to  Galesburg  in  1837 ;  he 
grew  up  amid  the  native  beauty  and  ex- 
pansive freedom  of  the  broad  prairies, 
and  spent  his  early  school  days  in  the 
public  schools  of  Galesburg.  finishing  up 
with  a  classical  course  in  Knox  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  1855.  On  leaving 
school  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  his  father,  in  which  he  contin- 
ued until  1864,  when  he  was  elected  Vice 
President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Galesburg.  He  filled  this  office  for  two 
years,  and  at  the  same  time  held  the  office 
of  Internal  Revenue  Collector.  In  1866 
he  was  appointed  U  S.  Consul  to  Venice, 
and  held  the  position  four  years,  return- 
ing to  Galesburg  in  the  fall  of  1869.  He 
assumed  the  duties  of  a  general  officer  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  in  October  of 
the  same  year,  and  had  charge  of  the 
general  passenger  traffic.  In  1870  he 
was  appointed  Foreign  Agent  of  the  U. 
P.  and  C.  P.  Railways ;  and  sent  to  Japan, 
China  and  India  to  arrange  for  the  tea 
and  silk  trade  of  the  Orient.  He  also  at 
the  same  time  made  a  circuit  of  the 
globe,  and  established  several  thousand 
agencies  in  Europe  and  Asia,  for  a  gen- 


666 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


eral  passenger  and  freight  business  be- 
tween Europe  and  Asia  via  the  United 
States.  To  him  is  also  due  the  honor  of 
introducing  "round  the  world"  tickets. 
In  1871  he  was  elected  to  tne  presidency 
of  the  Farmers  &  Mechanics'  Bank, 
which  position  he  now  fills.  He  again 
went  to  Europe  in  a  semi-official  capaci- 
ty; he  was  chosen  Centennial  Commis- 
sioner for  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1876. 
During  his  residence  in  Europe  he 
achieved  some  journalistic  honors  as  Vi- 
enna correspondent  for  the  Tribune  and 
other  New  York  journals,  which  he 
maintained  during  and  subsequent  to  the 
Austrian-Prussian  war. 

4  'ah on.  Gad  Dudley,  manufac- 
turer, was  born  Jan.  10,  181(5,  at  Monson, 
Mass.,  which  was  also  the  native  place  of 
his  parents,  Justin  and  Abigail  (Sill)  Col- 
ton.  He  was  educated  in  common 
schools ;  learned  the  building  and  cabi- 
net trade;  came  to  Galesburg  in  1837, 
where  he  built  the  first  store  building. 
In  1854  built  first  shop  run  by  steam  in 
Galesburg;  in  1856  erected  a  planing 
mill;  was  burned  out  Nov.  17,  1864.  In 
1865  G.  D.  Colton  &  Co.  added  a  foun- 
dry and  machine  shop  and  denominated 
it  Novelty  Machine  Works.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church,  hav- 
ing joined  in  1839.  He  has  been  four 
times  married,  and  is  the  father  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  only  four  are  living. 
Residence,  Galesburg. 

Colville  &  fltro..  editors  and  pub- 
lishers of  Galesburg  Review,  Galesburg. 
Comstock,  Milton  Lemmon, 
was  born  in  Hamilton  co.,  O.,  Oct.  19, 
1824.  His  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Comstock, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county;  his 
mother,  Jane  (Lemmon;  Comstock,  was 
a  native  of  Hartford  co ,  Md. ;  was  reared 
on  the  farm  from  his  early  boyhood, 
spending  the  winters  in  the  district 
school  until  1839,  when  the  family  re- 
moved to  Des  Moines  co.,  la.  There  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  lived  until  Septem- 
ber, 1844,  with  little  schooling.  He  then 
spent  a  year  in  Knox  Academy,  Gales- 
burg; after  which  he  spent  two  winters 
in  teaching  in  Des  Moines  co.,  la.  He 
entered  Knox  College  in  September, 
1847,  and  received  the^  degree  of  A.  B.  in 
June,  1851.  He  chose  the  profession  of 
teaching;  he  was  Principal  of  Knox 
Academy  three  years,  then  for  three 
years  he  engaged  in  horticultural  pur- 
suits, being  also  editor  of  the  Iowa 
Farmer.  A  year  was  then  spent  as  pro- 
fessor in  Yellow  Springs  College,  Des 
Moines  co.  In  September,  1858,  he  re- 
turned to  Knox  College  as  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics,  and  in  1861  be- 
came Professor  of  this  department,  a  po- 
sition he  now  holds.  July  30,  1851,  he 


married  Cornelia  Ann  Churchill ;  six 
children  have  been  the  fruit  ol  their  mar- 
riage, of  whom  four  are  living;  is  a 
member  of  the  "First  Church  of  Christ  " 
Galesburg,  since  1851 ;  has  been  Elder 
and  Clerk. 

Coners,  James. 
<  on  k  I  i  ii.  John  R.,butcher,  Gales- 
burg, is  the  son  of  John  and  Maria 
(Richey)  Conklin,  both  from  Ohio.  He 
was  born  in  Muskingum  co.,  O.,  Dec.  18, 
1838;  raised  on  farm,  educated  in  com- 
mon schools,  and  has  followed  stock-rais- 
•  ing  and  the  meat  business ;  enlisted  April, 
1861,  in  Co.  E.,  20ih  111.  Inf.,  served  three 
years,  pro.  Sergeant,  then  Major,  and 
then  was  a  member  of  Gen.  Leggett's 
staff;  was  married  March  29, 1866,  to  Al- 
bina  M.  Pharis;  is  the  parent  of  four 
sons,  two  living;  of  the  Universalist  be- 
lief. Republican. 

Co  ok,  E.  C.,  Victoria  township.  P. 
O.,  Victoria. 

Cook,  Giles,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Lebanon,  N.  H.  His  father,  Giles  Cook, 
was  a  native  of  Lebanon,  and  his  mother, 
Parthena  (Allen)  Cook,  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  He  came  west  and  settled 
in  Victoria,  Knox  co.,  at  which  place  he 
has  been  Postmaster  for  six  years.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Abial  Johnson  Jan. 
2,  1821,  who  has  borne  to  him  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  sons.  He  em- 
braced the  Mormon  faith  in  1832,  and 
has  since  been  a  believer  in  that  doctrine. 
Republican.  Address,  Victoria. 

Cook,  James,  born  in  Roxbury- 
shire,  Scotland,  Oct.  22, 1816;  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Jeannette  Cook,  natives  of  Scot- 
land. He  is  a  farmer  by  profession ;  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1836,  from  that  State 
to  Knox  co  ,  111  ,  in  1842;  was  married 
March  3,  1853,  to  Agnes  Stine  of  Edin- 
burg,  Scotland,  They  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  one  son  and  five  daughters. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  Republican.  P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Cook,  J.  P.,  merchant,  Galesburg, 
of  the  firm  of  Cook  &  Beach,  dealers  in 
paints,  oils,  wall  paper,  etc. 

Cooke,  M.  D.,  magistrate,  was  born 
in  Cornwall,  Addisoii  co.,  Vt.,  June  4, 
1819.  He  availed  himself  of  the  superior 
educational  advantages  afforded  in  his 
native  State,  finishing  up  witli  a  com- 
plete course  at  Middlebury  College,  Vt., 
in  1842.  After  leaving  colleere  he  spent 
several  years  in  teaching.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1852  and  located  in  Hender 
son,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  for 
three  years.  In  1856  he  removed  to 
Galesburg;  and  in  the  spring  of  1857,  at 
the  first  election  of  officers  under  the 
city  charter,  was  elected  Police  Magis- 
trate, which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1862 
he  was  licensed  by  the  Supreme  Court 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


667 


to  practice  law,  but  owing  to  the  duties 
of  his  official  position  he  has  not  at- 
tempted to  engage  in  his  profession. 
Forest  F.  Cooke,  now  practicing  law  in 
Galesburg,  is  his  son. 

Cooley,  Orin  P.,son  of  Samuel  H. 
and  Mary  M.  Cooley  of  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Suffield,  O.,  Sept.  30,  1843.  He  was 
educated  in  common  schools  and  read 
law.  Has  been  Town  and  City  Clerk  and 
Tax  Collector;  enlisted  in  42d  111.  Inf., 
Co.  C.,  Aug.  10, 1861 ;  discharged  July  20, 
1865 ;  was  captured  by  rebels  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  and  taken  to  Castle  Morgan,  Cata- 
ba,  Ala. ;  kept  five  months ;  was  appointed 
Judge  Advocate  2d  Brigade  I.  N.  G. 
July  25,  1877.  Belongs  to  Episcopal 
Church.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Coombs,  Andrew  Jackson, 
son  of  James  and  Henrietta  Coombs, 
natives  of  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y. ;  was  born 
March  25,  1855,  in  Faberg,  Oneida  co,, 
N.  Y. ;  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion ;  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm ; 
worked  four  years  in  the  cotton  factories 
of  his  native  State;  came  west  in  1870, 
and  to  Knox  county  in  1872;  remained 
here  since,  engaged  in  farming  and 
cheesemaking,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful,  and  now  in  good  circum- 
stances. Republican  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Cooper,  E.  SL,  M.  I>.    The  ances- 
tors of  Jacob  Cooper,  the  doctor's  father, 
were  Welch,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  under  Wm.   Penn   in  1635.     His 
mother's  ancestors  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
origin.    Dr.  C.  was  born  Jan.  1,  1820,  in 
Butler  co.,   0-,  near  Oxford,  the  seat  of 
Miami  University,  where  he  received  his 
education.     He,  however,  obtained  his 
apademic  degrees  from   the  college  of 
South  Hanover,  Ind.,  and  several   other 
colleges  have  also  conferred  on  him  the 
degree  of  A.  M.     He  spent  a  portion  of 
his  early  life  working  on  a  farm,  and  on 
every  occasion  engaged  in  the  study  of 
mathematics.     He  has  taken  great  inter- 
est in  botany,  and  the  sciences  of  mathe- 
matics and  astronomy.    He  calculated 
all  the  eclipses  of  this  century  at  the  age 
of  17;  is  familiar  with  the  name  and 
properties  of  almost  every  plant  in  North 
America.     He  was  com.  Surgeon  of  the 
83d  111.  Inf.  Dec.  1, 1862 ;  in  August,  1863, 
detailed  to  take  charge  of  the  United 
States     General    Hospital,    Clarksville, 
Tenn.,  where    he    remained    until    dis- 
charged from  service  July  3,  1865.     He 
was  also  Medical  Director  of  the  District 
of  Middle  Tennessee.     He  came  to  Hen- 
derson,  this   county,   in   1843,   and   has 
continued  to  reside  there.    About  that 
time  married  Mary  E.  Martin,  and  they 
have  four  sons  and  two  daughters.     He 
especially    qualified     himself    for    his 
chosen  profession  by  four  years'  study 


under  eminent  medical  men  at  the  Cin- 
cinnati Medical  College;  three  of  his 
sons  are  physicians.  Dr.  C.  is  deeply 
read  in  the  holy  scripture  in  the  old 
tongues  as  well  as  in  t neology  as  taught 
by  St.  Augustine,  St.  Thomas  Aquinas, 
St.  Liguori  and  other  standard  theolo- 
gians. He  is  a  scholar  of  great  attain- 
ments. Republican, 

Copley,  Joseph  H,,son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  Copley  of  Connecticut,  was 
born  at  Harpersfield,  Delaware  co.,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  9, 1814 ;  educated  in  common  schools 
of  New  York;  raised  on  a  farm,  but 
learned  the  tanner's  trade,  which  proved 
unsuccessful,  when  he  changed  to  farm- 
ing, which  he  follows  at  present.  Has 
represented  Victoria  tp.  in  Board  of  Sup- 
ervisors four  years ;  and  has  held  all  the 
minor  town  offices ;  School  Director  for 
seventeen  years ;  Captain  of  militia ;  came 
to  this  county  in  1856 ;  married  to  Ruth 
Ann  Hinman  March  6,  1848;  they  have 
five  children  living,  three  girls  and  twof 
boys ;  one  son  dead.  He  is  a  member  o 
the  M.  E.  Church,  joined  1852;  Class- 
leader.  Republican.  P.  O  ,  Altona. 

Corbin,  Emery  J.,  farmer,  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Olive  (Harris)  Corbin, 
both  natives  of  South  Carolina.  They 
came  to  Knox  county  in  1840,  and  on  ar- 
riving had  twenty-nve  cents  in  money. 
Emery  was  born  in  Truro  township, 
Knox  co.,  111.,  March  10,  1847,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  township.  Having  been 
brought  up  on  a  farm  he  chose  the  voca- 
tion of  his  father.  He  married  Sept.  10, 
1872,  and  now  resides  on  a  160-acre  farm 
of  his  own  in  Truro.  He  has  served  as 
Assessor  and  Commissioner  of  Highways 
in  the  township.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Eugene. 

Corey,  David.  Dec.  24,  1824,  in 
Cheshire  county,  N.  H.,  there  was  born 
to  David  and  Betsey  Corey  their  fourth 
son,  David.  He  grew  up  under  the  pa- 
rental roof,  working  on  the  farm  in  sum- 
mer, receiving  only  a  common-school 
education  with  an  occasional  term  in  the 
town  academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  was  employed  as  teacher.  Dec.  29, 
1850,  he  married  Charlotte  English  of 
Marcus  Hook,  Pa ,  and  soon  after  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Kent  co.,  Md.  He  trav- 
ersed the  country  from  Red  Wing,  Minn., 
to  Cario,  III.,  in  September,  1855.  March, 
1856,  he  came  to  Salem  township,  Knox 
co.  February,  1848,  he  formed  a  busi- 
ness partnership  with  his  brother  J.  M. 
There  have  been  born  to  David  and 
Charlotte  Corey  two  sons.  P.  O.,  Yates 
City. 

Cotbreii,    James   W.,    freight 
agent  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad,  Galesburg. 
Cover,  J.  Calvin,  son  of  Jacob 


668 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


and  Mary  (Jones)  Cover,  natives  of  Mary- 
land ;  was  born  in  Adams  co.,  Pa.,  March 
29,  1829,  where  he  remained  until  his  re- 
moval to  Knox  county  in  1856,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  an  activ  e  enter- 
prising citizen  of  the  county.  In  youth 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  which 
business  he  followed  for  some  years.  He 
is  at  present  engaged  in  the  book  busi- 
ness in  Knoxville,  also  Postmaster  of  the 
city.  Republican.  He  served  the  county 
as  Sheriff  during  the  trying  days  of  the 
rebellion,  being  elected  in  1862.  He  also 
has  held  the  office  of  Mayor  of  Knoxville 
for  two  terms.  Mr.  Cover  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Cooper  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1852.  They  have  four 
children.  He  is  genial,  generous  and  en- 
terprising, possessing  rare  business  capa- 
bilities and  fine  personal  appearance, 
thus  making  him  well  calculated  for 
public  life. 

Cox,  O.  W.    P.  O,  Yates  City. 

Cox,  Li.  J.,  sec.  16,  Ontario  tp.  P. 
O.,  Oneida. 

Craig,  Alfred  M.,  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  residence, 
Galesburg. 

Crane,  Edward,  sec.  32,  Ontario 
tp.  P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Crane,  J.  W.,  sec.  33,  Ontario  tp. 
P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Cranston,  Charles  E.,  was  born 
in  Champaign  co.,  O..  April  19,  1833. 
His  parents  were  Christopher  and  Sara 
(Parks)  Cranston;  the  former  born  in 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Connecticut. 
Mr.  Cranston,  Sr.,  was  a  well-to-do  farm- 
er, and  his  son  chose  the  same  voca- 
tion. His  education  was  limited  to  the 
common  schools  of  Ohio.  He  came  from 
Ohio  to  Knox  county  in  1863,  where  he 
has  since  lived.  He  married  Keturah  T. 
Park  March  15,  1860.  He  has  at  various 
times  held  the  offices  of  Postmaster,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  Revenue  Collector. 
Republican.  Pecuniarily  well  fixed.  P. 
O.,  Knoxville. 

Crocker,  E.  O.,  residence,  Copley 
township. 

Crossett,  Samuel,  is  the  son  of 
Liberty  and  Lydia  Crossett,  both  of 
Massachusetts.  He  was  born  in  Geneseo, 
Henry  co.,  111.,  Jan.  7,  1857.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm ;  attended  the  com- 
mon school  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
spent  some  time  at  the  High  School  at 
Abingdon,  III.  He  learned  the  telegraph- 
ing business  with  B.  F.  Davis  at  Abing- 
don, in  the  years  1875-6,  and  is  now  op- 
erating in  the  employ  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q. 
Railway.  He  came  from  Henry  to  Knox 
co.  in  1865.  Republican.  P.O.,  Abiugdon. 

Cross,  It.  TX.,  farmer,  was  born  April 
19,  1858,  in  Ohio;  passed  his  early  life  in 
the  rolling  mills  of  Ohio  and  on  the  farm. 


His  parents,  H.  E.  and  Sarah  J.  Cross, 
were  both  natives  of  the  Old  Keystone 
State.  Republican.  Lives  on  a  farm  near 
Gilson,  his  postoffice  address. 

Cninmiiigs,  William  J.,  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Mary  Cuminings. 
He  was  born  in  Brinfield,  Mass.,  March 
27,  1842.  His  education  was  limited  to 
the  common  schools  of  that  State.  His 
early  life  was  spent  chiefly  in  the  New 
England  cotton  mills.  He  has  spent 
much  of  his  life  in  traveling,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  in  business  in  Maquou. 

Cnmmings,  William.  P.  O., 
Maquon. 

Cunningham,  W.,  farmer.  P.  O., 
Yates  City;  was  born  Jan.  7,  1834,  in 
Pennsylvania;  his  parent?  were  Joseph 
and  Sarah  Cunningham  of  that  State;  at- 
tended common  schools  of  his  native 
State;  came  to  Illinois  in  1865;  is  Assess- 
or for  1878-9;  served  in  the  Pennsylvania 
militia;  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Buchan- 
an ;  they  have  had  seven  children,  five 
now  living;  is  a  Presbyterian.  Mr. 
Cunningham  has  been  a  successful  farm- 
er. Republican. 

Davidson,  George  W.,  son  of 
Robert  and  Julia  A.  (Lasher)  Davidson ; 
born  at  Springfield,  111.,  Dec.  28,  1846. 
Educated  in  the  common  schools ;  chose 
agricultural  pursuit.  Democrats  in  poli- 
tics; served  as  Postmaster  and  School 
Director.  Removed  to  Henderson,  thence 
to  Galesburg  and  back  to  Henderson. 
Married  Sarah  J.  Bair  Oct.  8, 1870 ;  joined 
the  United  Brethren  Church;  was  chosen 
Class-leader  and  Stewart.  Is  now  owner 
of  a  good  farm  in  Henderson  township. 
Postoffice,  Henderson. 

I>avis,  Mrs.  I).  W.,  was  born  in 
Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  April 
5,  1840.  Her  parents,  Garrett  and  Har- 
riet White,  were  natives  of  the  same 
State,  the  former  born  in  Greenfield,  the 
latter  in  Mt.  Vernon.  Mr.  D.  W.  Davis, 
her  husband,  was  a  native  of  Farming- 
ton,  Me.,  and  was  born  June  21, 1828,  and 
was  a  mason  by  trade.  He  commenced 
his  trade  in  Knoxville  in  1848;  was  mas- 
ter builder  of  the  Town  Hall  and  High 
School  of  Wataga,  and  the  Aims-House 
at  Knoxville.  Died  Nov.  21,  1873.  They 
were  married  Nov.  27,  18li7.  They  had 
but  one  child,  a  son.  Mrs.  Davis  has 
been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since 
1860.  Postoffice  address,  Wataga. 

]>avis,  E.  F.,  dentist,  Galesburg. 

Davis,  George,  Treasurer  of  Koox 
College,  Galesburg;  was  born  in  Ireland 
in  1814.  That  country  is  also  the  native 
place  of  his  parents,  Robert  and  Mary 
A.  (Earls)  Davis.  He  received  a  sound 
English  education,  as  far  as  it  went,  in 
Ireland.  Has  been  City  Treasurer, 
Township  Treasurer,  County  Treasurer. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


669 


and  Assistant  United  States  Assessor.  He 
was  married  in  1843  to  Sarah  Books; 
they  have  one  daughter ;  he  is  a  member 
of  First  Congregational  Church,  and  in 
politics  Republican. 

Davis,  Cceorge  R.,  son  of  Solo- 
mon and  Lucinda  Davis,  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  was  born  in  Henderson  township 
in  1845.  His  early  life  was  passed  on 
the  farm.  Received  a  common  school 
education.  In  politics  he  is  a  liberal 
Democrat.  From  choice  he  has  always 
followed  farming  and  been  very  success- 
ful. At  present  is  Road  Commissioner. 
Postofflce,  Galesburg. 

Davis,  Jefferson  T.,  farmer,  son 
of  Solomon  and  Lucinda  Davis,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  Aug.  26, 1826.  His  parents 
came  to  Knox  county  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 32,Hendersontownship,inJune,l829, 
where  Jefferson  still  lives.  His  education 
was  limited  to  the  common  schools.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Collector  two  years, 
that  of  Constable  fifteen  years,  and  School 
Director  twenty  years.  He  is  Demo- 
cratic in  politics.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

I>avis,  John  A.  "IV.,  dentist, 
Galesburg. 

J>avis,  Mary  E.  Her  father,  Rob- 
ert H.  Davis,  was  born  in  Livingston 
co.,  Ky.,  and  her  mother,  Elizabeth  Davis, 
was  born  in  Athens  county,  Ohio.  Mary 
E.  Davis  is  a  native  of  Knox  county,  111., 
born  Feb.  14,  1858.  Her  parents,  being 
in  good  circumstances,  gave  her  a  lib- 
eral education  in  the  high  schools  of  her 
native  county.  She  also  has  a  line  mu- 
sical education,  having  qualified  herself 
for  a  teacher  of  music.  Miss  Davis  in- 
herited a  strong  love  for  individual  lib 
erty,  and  advocates  the  right  of  her  sex 
to  elective  franchise.  Postoffice,  Maquon. 

Davis,  Samuel,  farmer,  son  of 
James  and  Martha  (Edwards)  Davis, 
natives  of  England ;  was  born  in  Eng- 
land April  10,  1826.  His  early  life  was 
passed  on  the  farm ;  received  his  educa- 
tion from  the  night  and  day  schools  of 
England,  and  Knox  College,  Galesburg. 
.He  learned  the  mason's  trade,  but 
changed  afterward  to  farming,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful  and  well 
prospered.  Removed  from  England  to 
Canada  in  1846,  thence  to  Cook  county, 
111.,  in  1847,  and  to  Knox  county  in  1848. 
Dec.  26,  1858,  was  married  to  Lucy  Jane 
Bond.  They  have  been  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now 
living.  In  1866  he  was  baptized  by  Rev. 
David  Thompson,  and  united  with  the 
Christian  church,  of  which  he  is  Deacon 
and  Trustee.  He  is  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. Postoffice,  Hermon. 

Davis,  William,  attorney;  post- 
office,  Galesburg;  born  in  England  Sept. 
24,  1824 ;  parents  were  James  and  Martha 


Davis,  natives  of  England.  He  removed 
to  Canada  in  1S47;  learned  his  profession 
partly  in  England  and  partly  in  Canada ; 
married  in  1861  to  Anna  M.  Hewson,  of 
Canada.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children,  of  whom  one  is  dead.  He 
moved  from  Canada  to  Galesburg  in 
1862 ;  is  a  Republican ;  was  baptized  in 
England,  and  upon  a  confession  of  faith 
united  with  the  First  Church  of  Christ 
(Congregational)  in  1863 ;  has  been  very 
successful  as  a  lawyer. 

Dawdy,  Jefferson  M.,  farmer, 
son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Morse) 
Dawdy,  natives  of  North  Carolina ;  was 
born  in  Kentucky  Jan.  24,  1812;  received 
a  common-school  education;  moved  to 
Knox  county  in  1847 ;  married  Elizabeth 
Amos  May  24,  1833.  They  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children.  In  1848  he 
united  with  the  Christian  Church  of  Ab- 
ingdon ;  was  Township  Collector  for  sev- 
eral years;  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Dayton,  Benjamin,  son  of 
Byron  C.  and  Lydia  (Copley)  Dayton,  of 
Delaware  county,  N.  Y. ;  was  born  March 
13,  1834,  in  Harpersfield,  N.  Y.;  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education ;  came 
to  Knox  county,  111.,  in  1854,  walking 
from  Peoria;  has  devoted  most  of  his 
time  to  farming;  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director,  Trustee,  Commissioner 
Highways  and  Assessor.  Politically  al- 
ways Republican.  Postoffice,  Altona. 

Dean,  Joseph  H.,  farmer.  Sam- 
uel L.  Dean,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Nashville,  Tenn..  and  his  mother,  Julia 
Ann  (Halm)  Dean,  was  born  at  Craw- 
fordsville,  Ind.  Joseph  Dean  was  born 
July  21,  1836,  on  section  27,  Rio  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  111. ;  was  twice  mar- 
ried, Sept.  2, 1858,  to  Melvina  J.  Coleman. 
They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
and  Feb.  3,  1870,  married  Abbie  Dalton, 
who  bore  him  one  son.  Abbie  Dalton  is 
a  native  of  Rio;  went  to  Kansas  in  1856: 
returned  in  1870.  Mr.  Dean  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  butchering  business  in  Rio, 
his  present  address.  Conservative  in 
politics. 

Dechant,  Peter,  son  of  John  P. 
and  Louisa  Dechant,  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  17,  1815;  reared 
on  farm  and  educated  in  common  schools ; 
learned  brick-mason  trade,  also  farming; 
has  been  School  Director,  and  is  Road 
Commissioner  at  present ;  came  to  Knox 
county  in  1864:  was  married  Oct.  12,1843, 
to  Nancy  J.  Hall,  who  has  borne  him 
twelve  children,  eleven  living.  Repub- 
lican. P.  O  ,  Abingdon. 

DeGroot,  Edward  H.,  conduc- 
tor C  ,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R ,  Galesburg. 

DeGrummond,  J.  J.,  son  of 
Wm.  J.  and  Julia  Ann  DeGrummond ; 
was  born  in  Reading,  Pa.,  Jan.  4,  1838. 


670 


FTTSTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools ; 
his  early  life  was  passed  as  a  painter  and 
cabin  boy  on  steamboat  on  Lake  Erie ; 
learned  the  trades  of  painter  and  miller, 
and  was  a  clerk  in  a  store,  but  changed 
his  business  to  that  of  grocery  and  dry- 
goods  merchant,  and  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. Was  married  Aug.  21,  1858,  to 
Mary  Ann  Corbin ;  they  are  the  parents  of 
one  adopted  son ;  he  has  traveled  through 
Pennsylvania  and  Canada,  and  finally 
removed  to  Knox  county ;  was  in  ser- 
vice during  the  Kansas  troubles  in  1856; 
served  in  Co.  C,  47th  Reg.  111.  Vol.  in  the 
rebellion ;  was  taken  prisoner  in  Missis- 
sippi and  confined  four  months  in  prison 
at  Macon,  Ga.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Delano,  Isaac,  son  of  Barnabas 
and  Ruth  (Ladd)  Delano,  of  Connecticut; 
was  born  in  Williamstown,  Vt.,  Feb.  12, 
1802;  raised  on  a  farm  and  attended 
common  schools ;  engaged  in  mercantile 
trade;  kept  temperance  store  in  native 
town;  came  west  to  Bureau  co.,  111.,  in 
1838,  and  to  Galesburg  in  1848,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  trade  till  1856; 
was  City  Treasurer  of  Galesburg  six 
years.  Married  Alice  Smith  Oct.  1825, 
who  bore  him  five  children,  two  living, 
son  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  since  1862 ; 
member  Congregational  Church.  Re- 
publican. Residence,  Prairie  St.,  Gales- 
burg. 

DeLong,  J.  Frank,  engineer, 
Galesburg. 

Dennis,  Albert.  Nathaniel  Den- 
nis, the  lather  of  Albert,  was  a  Pennsyl- 
vania farmer,  and  was  a  native  of  that 
State,  and  his  mother,  Margaret  Dennis, 
was  born  in  Indiana.  Albert  Dennis 
first  saw  the  light  in  Knox  co.,  Ill ,  May 
7,  1857,  where  his  parents  had  settled, 
preferring  the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois 
to  the  stony  hills  of  Pennsylvania.  Al- 
bert has  chosen  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
now  lives  on  a  farm  near  Maquon,  his 
P.  O.  address. 

Dennis,  Rev.  I*.  B.,  Hermon. 

Dickerson,  James,  son  of  a 
farmer,was  born  in  Knox  county,  Jan.  21, 
1848.  Being  raised  on  a  farm,  he  con- 
tinued in  agricultural  pursuits  from 
choice.  His  father,  William  W.,  was  a 
native  of  White  co.,  III.,  and  his  mother, 
Sarah  E.,  was  born  in  Indiana.  James 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
county ;  married  March  28,  1876.  Dem- 
ocrat. P.  O.,  Gilson. 

Dickerson,  Win.  W.,  son  of 
Louis  Dickerson,  of  Georgia,  and  Eliza- 
beth (Beck)  Dickerson,  native  of  South 
Carolina.  He  was  born  in  White  co., 
111.,  Aug.  3,  1820;  married  March  10, 
1842,  to  Miss  Sarah  Houst,  the  union 


being  blessed  with  eleven  children,  and 
just  twenty  years  from  date  of  marriage 
Mrs.  Dickerson  died ;  he  was  married 
again,  Nov.,  1865,  to  Elizabeth  Highfield; 
they  have  two  children.  He  has  been 
School  Director  twenty  years,  Road  Com- 
missioner three  years,  and  Overseer  of 
Roads  many  times ;  is  a  farmer.  Demo- 
crat P.  O.,  Gilson. 

Dickinson,  John  T.,  A.  M., 
Professor  in  Hedding  College  ;\vas  born  in 
Cincinnatus,  N.  Y.,  July  7,  18S2.  He  is 
the  son  of  Abel  and  Mary  M.  Dickinson. 
His  early  life  was  spent  in  district  school, 
on  the  farm  or  in  shoe  shop.  In  1847 
entered  Oneida  Seminary,  Cazenovia, 
N.  Y. ;  graduated  from  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, Middletown,  Ct.,  in  1853,  after 
which  he  taught  select  school.  Since 
1855  has  been  professor  in  different  in 
stitutious  of  learning ;  has  been  identified 
with  schools  of  Knox  co.  13  years ;  now 
fills  chair  of  Mathematics  in  Hedding 
College. 

Diefendorf,  J.  W.,  P.  O.,  Doug- 
las. 

Dilley,  Levant,  machinist,  Gales- 
burg. 

Doak,  John,  son  of  Wm.  and 
Helen  Doak,  natives  of  Scotland;  was 
born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  May  22, 
1822.  He  has  always  followed  farming; 
in  1848  removed  to  Copley  township, 
Knox  co. ;  Oct.  10,  1855,  married  Jane 
Morrison.  They  are  the  parents  of  eight 
children ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  ;  Republican.  P.O., Oneida. 

Dodd,  Horace  F.,  son  of  John 
W.  and  Sarah  Dodd,  the  former  of  New 
York,  his  mother  native  of  Vermont; 
was  born  in  Waterford,  Pa.,  Sept.  20, 
1837;  educated  in  schools  of  Oshkosh 
and  Whitewater,  Wis.  He  is  train-mas- 
ter C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  at  Galesburg ;  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Duncan  Jan.  31, 
1860,  who  bore  him  one  son,  Frank  S. ; 
he  was  again  married  to  Rosie  Naper 
Feb.  20, 1878.  Resides  in  Galesburg. 

Donason,  Alexandra,  son  of 
Alexandra  and  Kirdelia  (Weaden)  Don- 
ason; was  born  in  Belmont  co ,  Ohio, 
Oct.  10,  1834 ;  received  a  common-school 
education,  also  attended  at  Lombard, 
Galesburg;  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing. March  11,  1855,  married  Ann  M. 
Barbero,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children.  Greenback er.  P.  O., 
Maquon.  Has  been  Road  Commissioner, 
Supervisor,  and  is  Road  Commissioner 
at  present  time 

Dore,  Alfred  E.,  grocer,  Gales- 
burg; is  the  son  of  Franklin  and  Harriet 
Dore.  and  was  born  in  Canada  near  Mon- 
treal ;  educated  at  Mt.  Morris  and  Evans- 
ton,  111. ;  engaged  as  a  traveling  s-alesman 
for  a  wholesale  drug  house,  Chicago,  at 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


671 


the  age  of  19  and  traveled  seven  years; 
commenced  the  grocery  business  in 
Galesburg  in  1876;  has  an  extensive 
trade;  was  married  Jan.  4, 1871,  to  Addie 
Sargent.  They  have  two  children. 

I>orman,  Jacob,  farmer,  son  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Hendricks)  Donnau, 
the  former  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  the 
latter  of  North  Carolina ;  born  in  Scott 
co.,  Ind.,  March  19,  1824;  educated  in 
the  common  schools;  moved  to  Fulton 
co.,  111.,  in  1839;  thence  to  Knox  co.  in 
1864;  married  Mary  Ogden  Dec.  9, 1851. 
They  are  the  parents  of  nine  children. 
Democrat.  P.O.,  St.  Augustine ;  owns  160 
acres  of  land;  was  School  Director  for 
six  years  in  Knox  county. 

Dossett,  James,  son  of  James 
and  Thorny  (Williams)  Dossett,  both 
natives  of  Virginia,  and  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances; was  born  in  Virginia  Oct. 
27,  1827;  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor 
in  which  business  his  early  life  was 
passed,  but  afterwards  became  a  farmer 
so  that  his  trade  and  profession  have  been 
that  of  farmer  and  tailor;  removed  from 
Virginia  to  Illinois ;  thence  to  California 
and  Oregon,  and  from  those  States  to 
Knox  co.,  111.  Aug.  7,  1851,  was  mar- 
ried to  Cynthia  A.  Butts.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  eight  are  now  living.  In  1863-4 
he  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  and  Col- 
lectoi  of  Perfiser  township.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Douglass,  Beamier,  attorney, 
Galesburg. 

I>owns,  William  M.,  sec.  3, 
Victoria  township.  P.  O.,  LaFayette. 

Dowsoii,  \oah  Clark,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Ohio  Jan.  2,  1828.  His 
early  life  was  passed  in  the  mill  and  on 
the  farm ;  in  youth  was  always  noted  as 
being  generous-hearted ;  educated  in  the 
common  schools;  April  18, 1850,  married 
Minerva  Wynian;  in  J849  was  baptized 
by  Rev.  Wm.  Haney  and  united  with  the 
Church  of  United  Brethren ;  removed  to 
Knox  co.  in  1853 ;  was  elected  to  the  of- 
fices of  Assessor,  Town  C.eik  and  Com- 
missioner in  1872-7-8;  was  Class-leader 
of  the  church  in  1872.  Farming  has 
been  very  satisfactory  to  him  and  he  is 
now  in  quite  prosperous  circumstances. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Draweker,  Mary  A.,  Salem 
township.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Driggs,  Win.  M.,  merchant;  born 
May  26,  1837,  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Millicent  Driggs, 
both  natives  of  Rome,  N.  Y.  He  en- 
listed as  private  in  Co.  B,  13Sth  111.  Vols. ; 
was  married  to  Miss  Lucia  F.  Higsins, 
of  Mecklinburg,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  15,1869; 
united  with  the  Congregational  Church 


in   1855.      Republican.     P.  O.,  Wataga, 
Knox  co.,  111. 
Driscol,  Cjrny  Carlton,  son  of 

Rev.  Luther  Driscol  (who  was  born  May 
14,  1791,  in  Connecticut,  and  died  April 
5,  1858,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
preachers  of  this  county)  and  Mary 
(Neal)  Driscol,  who  was  born  Dec.  28, 
1809,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  July  30, 
1876.  Guy  C.  was  born  in  Victoria, 
Knox  co.,  July  23,  1854;  reared  on  farm; 
was  married  Oct.  24,  1877,  to  Mary  C. 
Haynes.  They  have  one  boy.  Repub- 
lican. P.  O.,  LaFayelte,  111. 

Duflield,  C.  W.,  farmer,  son  of 
David  and  Martha  (Cattle)  Duffield,  of 
Virginia;  was  born  in  Nickles  co.,  Va., 
Oct.  24, 1816;  came  to  Henry  co.,  111.,  in 

1837,  and  from  there  to  Knox  co. ;  reared 
on  a  farm,  attended  common  schools  and 
learned  the  trade  of  boat-building;   has 
served  as  School  Director  and  Trustee  of 
Hedding  College;  married  Sabina  Walk- 
up  May  26,  1840,  who  bore  him  eleven 
children,   only  six  living  now;  member 
of  the  M.  E.   Church;   Class-leader  and 
Steward.    Republican.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Dnnlap,  «.  W.  &  Bro.,  thor- 
oughbred stock-raisers,  sec.  19,  Cedar 
township.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Omni.  Joseph  H..,  grocer ;  is  the 
son  of  Augustus  and  Mrs.  Wyckoff  Dunn, 
the  former  of  Georgia,  and  the  latter  a 
native  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  born  in 
Peoria  co.,  111.,  on  Dec.  3, 1845 ;  spent  his 
early  life  in  town,  and  attended  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  worked  a  year  and  a 
half  at  the  printing  business,  commenc- 
ing at  the  age  of  13  years,  in  the  town  of 
Cambridge,  111.  He  came  to  Galesburg 
and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
when  18  years  old,  in  which  he  is  still 
engaged;  he  married  Anna  A.  Soule 
March  22,  1 870,  by  whom  he  has  one  son 
and  two  daughters.  Republican.  Pecu- 
niarily, comfortable. 

Dunn,  Kev.  Frederick  J.,  son 
of  David  and  Philenda  (Cady)  Dunn,  na- 
tives of  New  York,  born  in  Oneida  co., 
N.  Y.,  May  22,  1819;  educated  in  com- 
mon schools,  academy  and  seminary  of 
Whitestown,  N.  Y. ;  followed  farming, 
but  became  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in 

1838,  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  but 
in   1858    joined    the    United    Brethren 
Church;  joined  the  Conference  in  J861, 
and  was  ordained  in  1854;  March  4  1864, 
married   Susan  P.  Wetmore.     They  are 
the  parents  of  4  children.     He  moved  to 
Kuox  co.    in  June,   1853.     Republican. 
P.  O.,  Ontario. 

DIE ii  h;i i .  Oeo.  Wr.,  Jr.,  son  of 
G.  W.  and  Milly  (Colins)  Dunbar,  was 
born  in  Stark  co.,  111.,  March  8,1846; 
reared  on  a  farm;  was  in  Co.  E,  83d  111. 
Inf.;  married  Eva  McElhany,  Feb.  23, 


672 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


1863.  They  have  3  girls.  Member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church;  Class-leader. 
Kepublican.  P.  O.,  Henderson. 

Duval.  Thomas  C..  farmer;  was 
born  in  Culpepper,  Ya.,  Feb.  28,  1802; 
son  of  James  and  Judith  (Jennings) 
Duval,  who  were  ia  very  poor  circum- 
stances. His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812;  moved  to  Bath  co.,  Ky.,  in 
1809:  to  Warren  co..  111.,  in  1835,  and  to 
Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1837;  married  April  2, 
1822,  to  Nancy  Shumale.  They  are 
parents  of  10  children;  he  united  with 
the  Christian  Church  about  1850.  Re- 
publican. Commenced  with  nothing, 
but  has  been  very  successful  in  business. 
P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Dyer,  Clarion,  farmer;  son  of 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (McClintock)  Dyer, 
natives  of  Ohio,  born  in  Fulton  co.,  111., 
Aug.  12,  1836.  His  early  life  passed  on 
the  farm ;  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation. Dec.  25, 1855,  married  Hannah 
Hall.  They  are  the  parents  of  5  chil- 
dren, of  whom  4  are  living.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  47th  111.  Inf.,  and  was  in 
several  battles  and  skirmishes.  March 
1,  1864,  moved  to  Knox  co.  Was  School 
Trustee  for  8  years,  and  now  holds  the 
offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  School 
Director.  P.  O.,  London  Mills,  Fulton 
county. 

Edward*,  dreorge,  residence  sec- 
tion 23,  Ontario  tp.  P.  O  ,  Oneid*. 

Edwards.  John,  was  born  in  In- 
diana Territory,  Dec.  1,  1814:  he  is  the 
son  of  Isaac  and  Racbael  Edwards ;  he 
had  fifteen  months'  schooling,  mostly  in 
a  log  school-house,  with  oilecT  paper  win- 
dows; he  started  in  business  with  75 
cents  capital ;  has  spent  most  of  his  life 
on  a  farm;  in  1 841  he  was  elected  to  the 
Indiana  Legislature ;  was  once  a  Whig, 
now  a  Republican.  Postoffice,  Galesburg. 

Edwards,  Oeo.  L.,  born  at  Som- 
erton,  Eng.,  March  3,  18*3;  his  parents 
were  George  and  Elizabeth  Edwards,  of 
England,  who  were  in  good  circum- 
stances; he  was  educated  in  common  and 
select  schools  of  England  and  district 
schools  in  Illinois ;  has  always  followed 
farming;  resides  in  Ontario  township; 
postoffice,  Oneida;  married  Mary  J.  Xo- 
ble  Xov.  6,  1867;  they  have  one  child,  a 
girl.  Republican  in  politics. 

Edwards.  Samuel,  son  of  Geo. 
•and  Elizabeth  Edwards,  of  England, 
was  born  in  England  June  26,  1847; 
educated  in  common  schools  of  Eng- 
land and  Illinois:  came  from  England 
to  Ontario,  where  he  resides  on  a  farm, 
which  occupation  he  has  always  fol- 
lowed: married  Dec.  9,  1838.  to  Amy 
Roe :  they  have  five  children,  three  boys 
and  2  girls.  Republican  in  politics.  Post- 
office.  Oneida. 

Eiker.  David  H.,  miller,  Knox- 


ville,  son  of  John  and  Charlotte  (Myers) 
Eiker,  was  born  in  Hagerstowu,  'Md., 
Feb.  11,  1826;  reared  on  farm:  educated 
in  common  schools;  learned  milling 
trade  young;  has  been  Alderman  of 
Knoxville  sixteen  years,  and  Supervisor 
five  years;  came  to" Knox  county  in  1854; 
married  Oct.  1,  1850.  to  Helen  Jacobs; 
they  have  five  children.  Member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Republican. 

Eiker.  Mrs.  E.,  Postoffice,  Knox- 
ville. 

Eiker.  John  C.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Adams  co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  24,  1833;  he  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Charlotte  (Myers) 
Eiker,  both  of  Maryland ;  they  removed 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Knox  co..  111.,  in 
1852 ;  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools ;  he  was  married  March 
4,  1858,  to  Sarah  A.  Armstrong,  who  has 
borne  him  six  children;  Mr.  Eiker  has 
held  the  offices  of  Supervisor,  Assessor 
and  School  Director  in  Orange  township ; 
Republican;  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  for  fifteen  vears. 
P.  O..  Knoxville. 

Ellis,  Mrs.  Laura 31.,  Postoffice, 
Oneida. 

Ellett,  Edwin  T..  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Mary  (Anderson)  Ellett,  natives 
of  Virginia,  was  born  in  Virginia  June 
30, 1810 :  he  received  a  good  English  and 
Latin  education,  and  his  early  life  was 
passed  in  teaching  school;  he  chose  the 
business  of  merchandising,  but  changed 
to  farming;  moved  from  Virginia  to  Illi- 
nois in  1836;  July  14,  1837,  married 
Francis  W.  Snead ;  they  are  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  but  three  are 
living;  united  with  the  Baptist  Church 
in  1829,  and  afterward  joined  the  Chris- 
tian Church ;  held  the  office  of  Postmas- 
ter sixteen  years ;  was  Justice  of  Peace 
thirty-six  years,  County  Treasurer  four 
years,  and  Town  Treasurer  twenty-four 
years ;  is  a  Democrat ;  at  one  time  was 
Elder  in  the  Christian  Church.  Post- 
office,  Henderson. 

England,  Andrew,  farmer,  son 
of  Peter  and  Catherine  Englund,  was 
born  in  Sweden,  Sept.  5,  1848;  came  to 
this  county  in  1853;  educated  in  High 
School.  Galva;  has  served  as  Collector  of 
Victoria  township;  married  Ann  Hed 
Jan.  31,  1871;  they  havel  boy  and  4  girls. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Ennis.  Jo'^n,  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Kelley)  Ennis,  natives  of  Xew 
York,  was  born  in  New  York,  June  24, 
1806;  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Whitesborough  Seminary, 
X.  Y. :  his  early  life  passed  in  lumber- 
ing, farming  and  teaching  school ;  he 
studied  engineering,  surveying,  and  has 
followed  farming:  was  married  in  1828 
to  Sally  Loomis ;  they  are  the  parents  of 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


673 


11  children,  of  whom  8  are  living:  re- 
moved to  Knox  co.;  was  School  Com- 
missioner, Commissioner  and  Inspector 
of  Highways  in  New  York,  and  School 
Director  and  Road  Commissioner  in  Illi- 
nois; he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Church  in  1860 ;  Republican.  P.O.,  Yates 
City. 

Emmens.  Henry,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Ashland  co.,  O.,  Oct.  15, 1816 ;  his 
parents,  Benjamin  and  Anna  (Adams) 
Emmens,  were  both  natives  of  Jefferson 
co.,  O. ;  he  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
educated  in  district  schools;  he  came 
from  Ohio  to  Knox  co.  in  1837 ;  removed 
from  Knox  to  Fulton  co.,  111.,  and  in  1862 
came  back  to  Knox  co. ;  Republican; 
comfortably  circumstanced  pecuniarily. 
P.  O.,  Eimwood,  Peoria  co  ,  111. 

Entry,  John  €r.,  farmer,  born  Sept. 
24,  1839,*at  West  Jersey,  Stark  co.,  111. ; 
his  parents,  Frederick  and  Hannah  (Gaff- 
ney)  Einry,  were  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  came  west  at  an  early  day :  was 
sent  to  the  common  schools  of  Stark  co. ; 
removed  to  Henry  co.  in  1860  and  to 
Knox  co.  in  1866 ;  was  married  to  Ruth 
A.  Friend  Dec.  24,  1872,  6  sons  being  the 
issue  of  the  union,  5  of  whom  are  now 
living;  Republican;  has  held  the  office 
of  Road  Commissioner  and  been  School 
Director  for  many  years.  P.O.,  Galva,  111. 
Epperson,  Pedro  W.,  whose 
parents.  Charles  aud  Sarah  Epperson, 
were  Virginia  farmers,  was  born  in  Al- 
bemarle  co.,  Va.,  April  13,  1800;  when  3 
years  old  his  parents  removed  with  him 
to  Hawkins  co.,  Tenn.,  where  he  spent  his 
school-boy  days;  went  to  Kentucky  in 
1812,  where  he  married  Dec.  4, 1824,  Miss 
Elizabeth  H.  Dalton,  which  union  was 
blessed  with  11  children,  7  sons  and  4 
daughters;  4  years  later,  1828,  removed 
to  Indiana,  and  in  1836  to  Knoxville  in 
this  county;  in  1823,  at  Richmond,  Ky., 
he  joined  the  Drownding  Creek  Baptist 
Church,  in  which  church  his  father  served 
as  Deacon  10  successive  years;  owns  a 
fine  farm  in  Rio  township,  where  he  now 
lives.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Epperson,  Thomas  P.,  born 
in  Rio  township,  Knox  co.,  Ill ,  in  1842; 
married  Oct.  16,  1862,  to  Miss  Sophronia 
Abbott  Oris ;  engaged  in  farming  from 
choice,  and  has  always  continued  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful ;  served  in  the  I02d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  during  the  late  war ;  has  acted 
as  School  Director  in  Rio  township ;  Dem- 
ocrat. P.  O.,  Rio. 

Epperson  William  !>..  farmer, 
was  born  in  Madison  co.,  Ky.,  Xov.  17, 
1^7  :  his  parents  were  P.  WVand  Eliza- 
beth (Dalton)  Epperson,  both  of  Virginia ; 
the  family  moved  from  Kentucky  to  In- 
diana in  1828,  thence  to  Knox  co.,  111., 


in  1836.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
moved to  Iowa  in  1868,  and  eaine  back 
to  Knox  co  in  1877;  his  education  was 
limited  to  the  common  schools  of  Knox 
co. ;  he  now  resides  on  his  farm  in  Rio 
township,  and  devotes  himself  to  farming 
and  dealing  in  coal :  he  married  Mary 
J.  Westfall  Sept.  27, 1848,  which  marriage 
has  resulted  in  a  family  of  7  sons  and  5 
dauehters ;  has  been  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  since  1847;  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Rio,  111. 

Erickson.  Olof.  born  in  Sweden, 
Jan.  12,  1837;  parents,  Etick  and  Martha 
(Olson)  Erickson,  were  natives  of  North- 
ern Sweden;  received  a  common  and 
high-school  education  in  Sweden ;  came 
to  Knox  county  in  1855 ;  married  Marga- 
ret Ann  Emberg  Sept  19,  18B7;  has  5 
children,  3  boys  and  2  girls ;  follows  farm- 
ing: united  with  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  Sweden;  now  attends  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Victoria ;  was  in  a  railroad  ac- 
cident near  Mendota  in  1865,  while  re- 
turning from  a  trip  to  Sweden,  in  which. 
6  emigrants  were  killed.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Evans.  Charles  B.,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Knoxville,  Knox  co.,  III.,  Feb. 
22,  1846:  his  parents,  Charles  and  Ann 
Evans  are  natives  of  New  York ;  his  ed- 
ucation was  obtained  in  the  public  schools 
of  Knoxville.  For  three  years  he  resided 
three  miles  west  of  Galesburg,  since  that 
time  in  Henderson  township ;  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Government  in  the  Quar- 
termaster's department  at  SL  Louis  dur- 
ing the  rebellion ;  in  March,  1867,  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  B.  Frans ;  the  result  of  the 
union  is  2  sons  and  1  daughter.  Demo- 
crat. P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Ewing.  James  P.,  millwright, 
son  of  James  and  Gennette  (Scott)  Ew- 
ing,  was  born  in  Lancaster  co.,  Pa. ;  his 
parents  came  to  Tazewell  co.,  111.,  in 
1834;  moved  to  Franklin  co.  in  1837; 
when  the  California  fever  ran  high  in 
1850,  Mr.  Ewing  went  there  to  seek  his 
fortune;  he  remained  there  6  years,  en- 
gaged chiefly  in  building  mills ;  was  Su- 
perintendent of  Sacramento  water  works 
for  two  years;  he  came  home  and  re- 
mained in  Galesburg  for  one  year,  then 
returned  to  the  "Golden  State,"  where  he 
died  in  1868 ;  he  married  Adeline  Clen- 
dennin  in  February,  1836,  and  has  2  sons 
and  4  daughters :  Mrs.  Ewing  has  been 
a  member  of  the  First  Church  during  her 
22  years'  residence  in  Galesburg. 

Farnham.  Eli,  son  of  Capt.  Levi 
and  Eunice  (Judd)  Farnham,  who  emi- 
grated from  Connecticut  to  New  Y'ork  in 
1800,  and  lived  on  a  farm  near  Pompey 
Hill,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  Dec.  1,  1803;  came  to  Galesburg  in 
1839,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  in 
which  he  has  been  Successful ;  married 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


to  Jerusha  BrewsterLoorais  in  1834;  they 
have  had  5  children;  united  with  thie 
Congregational  Church  in  1829;  on  com- 
ing "to  Galesburg  united  with  First 
Church,  and  was  soon  elected  Elder  and 
holds  the  office  yet;  Republican;  in  1845 
was  elected  Trustee  of  Knox  College 
which  he  continues  to  be.  P.  O..  Gales- 
burg. 

Fargo.  Rev.  Isaac,  son  of  Isaac 
and  Sarah  L.  (Rogers)  Fargo,  of  Connecti- 
cut, was  born  in  Salem,  Conn ,  Jan.  10, 
1817;  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1862;  P.  O., 
Ontario;  his  early  youth  was  passed  on  a 
farm;  he  attendee!  Middlebury  Academy 
and  Madison  University,  and  entered  the 
ministry,  which  he  loves;  was  married 
May  11,  1846.  to  Elizabeth  Chapman; 
Alida  E.,  Geo.  L.  and  Kate  K.  are  the 
fruits  of  the  union;  joined  the  Baptist 
Church  in  1837. 

Faulkner.  Thomas  B_  farmer, 
the  son  of  William  J.  and  Isabella  Faulk- 
ner, of  New  York  State,  was  born  in 
Orange  co.,  N.  T.,  Jan.  17,  1819.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Michigan 
in  1828;  and  in  1838  came  to  Knox  co., 
111.,  and  settled  in  Sparta  township,  where 
he  has  since  lived;  June  21, 1855,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Goff;  married  Paulina  Shanon 
May  5,  1865;  he  has  3  sons  and  2  daugh- 
ters; in  the  fall  of  1873  he  took  a  trip  to 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  by  rail,  and  thence 
by  boat  to  Portland,  Ore.,  and  from  there 
home  overland,  consuming  2  months;  he 
came  near  losing  his  life  by  robbers  on 
the  route;  Republican.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Fenniger.  Frank.  Yates  City. 

Ferris.  Mrs.  H.  T. 

Ferris.  Henry,  son  of  Sylvanus 
and  Sally  (Olmsted)  Ferris,  was  "born  in 
Herkimer  co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  18,  1809;  was 
raised  on  farm  and  sent  to  the  common 
schools;  came  to  Galesburg  in  1835, 
beine  the  first  colonist :  was^inarried  to 
Elizabeth  Hudson  in  1836;  of  7  children 
born  to  them  1  boy  and  3  girls  are  living ; 
has  been  successful  in  life;  Republican ; 
resides  at  Galesburg. 

Ferris,  Sylvanus  H., Galesburg. 

Fetters.  Joseph.  Salem  town- 
ship. P.  O..  Yates  City. 

Field.  Loyal  C..  manufacturer, 
was  born  in  Cornwall,  Vt,  Feb.  28,  1824; 
his  parents  were  Simon  and  Abigail  Field, 
both  of  Vermont ;  his  education  was  lim- 
ited to  the  common  schools:  he  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1852,  and  for  a  number  of 
the  last  years  of  his  life  was  President 
of  Frost  Manufacturing  Company;  he 
served  as  Alderman  in  Galesburg  2  "terms 
and  Mayor  1 ;  in  1848,  Sept.  28,  he  married 
Clara  A.Davison,who  bore  him  2  children; 
he  died  July  17, 1878.  Artumas  Davison, 
father  of  Mrs.  Field,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, 1793;  settled  in  Henderson  in  the 


spring  of  1839;  was  a  Presbyterian;  mar- 
ried Polly  Smith  in  Marathon.  X.  Y..  in 
1817 ;  Whig;  was  accidentally  killed  while 
hunting  turkeys  in  Henderson  Grove,  by 
hi-  son-in-law,  J.  L.  McHaughlen,  Xov. 
17,  1842,  leaving  a  wife  and  11  children, 
six  of  which  are  living. 

Finley.  J.  A.,  residence  section  24, 
Ontario  township.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Finley,  Mrs.S.  A.  P.  O..  Oneida. 

Fill k.  William  F..  farmer,  P.O., 
Yates  City,  was  born  in  1839,  in  Freder- 
ick co.,  Md.;  parents  were  Solomon  and 
Sarah  (Bixter)  Fink,  both  natives  of  Car- 
roll co.,  Md.;  removed  from  Maryland  to 
Indiana,  thence  to  Ohio,  and  to  Illinois 
in  1846;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Fulton  co  ;  Democrat; 
has  held  the  office  of  School  Director  for 
some  time;  he  has  been  successful  in 
farming. 

Fisher.  Joseph,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Oneida,  was  born  in  England  May  27. 
1831;  his  parents,  David  and  Jane  Fisher, 
were  natives  of  England;  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  settled  iu  Ohio,  then  moved 
to  Illinois.  Joseph  was  educated  in  com- 
mon schools  in  Ohio  and  Illinois ;  mar- 
ried Oct.  20,  1852,  to  Emily  Fisher;  pro- 
fessor of  religion,  but  not  a  church  mem- 
ber; Republican. 

Fitch.  John  C.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  April  9,  1836;  is  the 
son  of  Gideon  and  Mary  (Lynch)  Fitch, 
natives  of  Maryland;  was  educated  in 
schools  of  Baltimore;  engaged  in  butcher 
business,  which  be  changed  for  farming; 
has  moved  many  times ;  was  married  July 
6. 1858,  to  Margaret  De  Haven ;  they  have 
1  girl  living;  member  of  the  Christian 
Church:  Democrat  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Fitch.  Luther.  His  parents  were 
Luther  aud  Mary  (daughter  of  Capt. 
Smith,  of  Oneida,  N.  Y.)  Fitch;  Mr. 
Fitch  was  born  in  Westmorland  town- 
ship, Hampton  village,  Oneida  co.,  X. 
Y.,  June  10,  1814 ;  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Whitesboro  and  Hamp- 
ton :  married,  March  19,  1835,  Miss  Ann 
Harvey,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Harvey, 
of  Xew  York  Mills,  4  children  being  the 
issue  Amos  S.,  John  H ,  Mary  A.  and 
Elizabeth  H. ;  became  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  in  1832;  formerly  Whig, 
now  Republican:  was  member  of  the 
Whitesboro  cavalry  in  1832 ;  served  in 
Rio,  his  present  address,  as  School  Di- 
rector. 

Fletcher.  L.awrence  D^,  farmer, 
was  born  in  the  great  Prairie  State  of 
Illinois  in  1851 ;  his  parents,  Elias  and 
Margaret  Fletcher,  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
but  came  to  this  State  at  an  early  day ; 
Lawrence  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  S'a- 
lem  township,  this  coun'ty ;  accepted  from 


HISTORY   OF    KXOX    COCNTY. 


675 


choice  the  occupation  of  farmer,  which 
he  has  pursued  with  much  vigor  and 
ability:  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness one  year,  but  returned  to  the  farm ; 
was  married  in  1871  to  Mary  E.  Ander- 
son. Democrat.  P.  O.,  Tales  City. 

Flynn.  John,  son  of  William  and 
Mary'Flynn,  natives  of  Ireland,  was  born 
Xov"  7,  1811 ;  came  to  America  when  a 
child ;  at  the  early  age  of  13  engaged  as 
bar  tender  in  a  saloon;  came  west  in 
1834,  settling  in  Illinois;  July  27,  1838, 
he  married  ^ary  Spears,  who  bore  him 
13  children,  9  of  whom  are  living.  Dem- 
ocrat In  1861,  when  our  country's  flag 
was  fired  upon,  he  was  the  first"  in  his 
township  to  offer  his  services;  he  is  a 
radical  temperance  man  and  a  hard 
worker  in  the  cause ;  on  the  22d  day  of 
May,  1878,  he  gave  a  large  temperance 
picnic  at  his  place,  at  which  over  600 
people  assembled ;  he  formerly  was  very 
intemperate,  but  has  thoroughly  re- 
formed, and  is  a  member  of  temperance 
organizations  and  the  Baptist  Church; 
he  has  held  local  offices  for  over  20  years. 
P.  O.,  Knoxville 

Foote.  George  W.,  physician, 
Galesbur?. 

Ford^  Dyer.    P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Foster.  James  H.,  farmer,  son 
of  Zebulon  and  Elizabeth  (Win£»te)  Fos- 
ter, the  former  a  native  of  Xew  York  and 
the  latter  of  Xew  Jersey,  was  born  Jan. 
2,  1808,  in  Hamilton  co.,  O. ;  moved  to  In 
diana  in  1814 ;  received  a  common-school 
education  moved  to  Illinois  in  1830,  set- 
tling in  Fulton  co.  until  1833,  when  he 
moved  to  Knox  co. ;  was  married  June 
13, 1841  to  Eliza  Combs,  then  again  to  a 
second  wife,  Louisa  Roads,  Sept  1848; 
he  is  the  parent  of  9  children,  of  whom 
7  are  living ;  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war;  has  been  School  Director, 
School  Trustee  and  Supervisor:  Repub- 
lican. P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Frail.  J.  C..  residence  section  12, 
Walnut  Grove  township.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Freer.  F.  A^,  residence  Henderson. 

Freeberg.  Andrew  €'.,  farmer, 
son  of  S.  T.  and  Xilla  (Oredsson)  Free- 
bers:,  natives  of  Sweden,  was  born  in 
Feleberga,  Sweden,  May  30,  1858;  edu- 
cated in  public  schools  and  college  in 
Christianstad ;  formerly  followed  book- 
keeping; came  to  Galesburg  in  1{>75,  and 
on  to  his  farm  in  1876 ;  joined  the  Lu- 
theran Church  in  1875.  Republican.  P. 
O..  Abingdon. 

Freeman.  Fred.  E..  was  born 
in  Lagrange.  Lorraine  co..  O. ;  is  the  son 
of  Rev.  F.  R.  and  Lucy  (Ritta)  Freeman, 
of  Xew  York :  he  was  educated  in  the 
Seminary  at  Xorwalk,  O.,  and  studied 
law  with  W.  F.  Hopkins,  of  Morris, 


Guernsey  co.,  O. ;  some  years  since  he  en- 
gaged in  railroad  business,  in  which  he 
is  now  employed ;  during  the  late  war  he 
entered  the  army  as  a  private  in  the  106th 
Reg.  X.  Y.  Inf.,  and  was  promoted  to 
Hospital  Steward  of  the  regiment;  he 
came  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1854;  was 
married  to  Annie  M.  Bunker ;  he  strongly 
opposed  the  great  railroad  strike  of  1877, 
being  ;hen  as  now  connected  with  the  C-, 
B.  &  Q.  R.  R  Republican.  Member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Frey.  Henry,  shoemaker,  Abing- 
don. was  born  in  Switzerland  June  29, 
1826;  is  the  son  of  Camper  and  Anna 
(Xateely)  Frey,  of  the  same  nativity; 
came  to  Abingdon  in  1855 ;  learned  his 
trade  when  young;  has  served  as  Mayor 
4  years.  Alderman,  City  Treasurer  and 
School  Director ;  was  married  April  26. 
1851,  to  Sarah  Bell,  who  has  borne  him  2 
girls.  Republican. 

Frost,  John  fL,  insurance  agent 
Galesburg. 

Fuller,  Franeis,  President  First 
Xational  Bank,  Galesburg. 

Fuller,  C.  H.,  train-dispatcher  C-. 
B.  &  Q.  R.  R .  Galesburg. 

Fulton.  Robert  A.,  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Catherine  Fulton,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  Indiana  co.. 
Pa..  Xbv.  27, 1838 ;  received  a  common- 
school  and  academic  education ;  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business,  afterward 
became  a  book-keeper,  then  farmer: 
served  18  months  in  late  war  in  63d  Pa. 
Inf.;  was  married  Dec.  31, 1868,  to  Mar- 
garet J.  Campbell ;  they  are  the  parents 
of  4  daughters :  moved"  to  Knox  co.,  HI., 
Jan.  19,  1869.  Republican.  In  1856 
united  with  Presbyterian  Church;  has 
been  very  successful  in  farming;  has 
s  rved  as  "School  Trustee  in  Salem  town- 
ship. P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Gale.  W.  JSelden.  residence, 
G  alesburg. 

Gardner.  B.  H..  farmer,  son  of 
William  and  Catharine  (Holland)  Gard- 
ner, of  Virginia;  was  bom  in  Louisa  co., 
Ya.,  July  14.  1811;  had  but  little  school- 
ing and  raised  on  a  farm;  moved  to  War- 
ren co.  in  1834,  and  into  Knox  in  1869. 
He  opened  a  coal  bank  in  Warren  co.  in 
1838  from  where  coal  was  taken  for 
miles;  it  was  the  first  bank  worked  in 
Warren  co.;  was  married  Jan.  1835  to 
Jemima  R.  Wallace,  and  again  in  1864, 
Aug.  23,  to  Mary  A.  Deatherage;  is  the 
parent  of  7  children;  joined  the  Chris- 
tian Church  in  1838;  baptized  by  Levi 
Hatchett.  P.  O..  Abingdon. 

Garrett.  Hary.  daughter  of  An- 
thony and  Marv  (Xelson)  Franklin;  was 
born"  in  Ohio  Xov.  21, 1822.  She  spent 
her  early  life  on  a  farm  and  was  educated 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


in  the  common  schools;  she  removed  to 
Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1852;  joined  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  1832,  and  has  been  a  member 
since.  P.  O.,  Knoxville.  Residence, 
Cedar  township,  sec.  12,  where  she  runs 
a  large  farm.  She  takes  great  interest 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  fully  com- 
petent to  manage  large  business  inter- 
ests, as  she  has  proven. 

Garrison,  Ralph  Richard, 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  Ann  Garrison, 
of  Orange  co.,  N.  Y.;  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  Feb.  21,  1847;  attended  the 
common  schools  in  New  York;  passed 
his  early  life  on  a  farm;  enlisted  in  Co. 
C,  12th  U.  S.  Reg.  Inf.;  again  in  Co.  G. 
21st  U.  S.  Regular  Inf.;  whole  term  of 
service,  6  years,  1  year  as  Corp'l  and  3 
years  as  Sergt.;  went  to  Arizona  Ter.  on 
duty  in  Indian  war;  was  active  in  the 
capture  of  Indian  Chiefs  Del  Shay,  Red 
Sash,  and  One  Eyed  Riley;  discharged 
as  trustworthy  and  reliable  June  30, 
1875;  was  sailor  6  years  and  7  months. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Gates,  Geo.  S.,  sec.  13,   Ontario 

wnship.    P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Gearheart,  Allen  R.,  son  of 
Thos.  and  Ellen  Gearheart,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Ken- 
tucky; born  in  Nelson  co.,  Ky.,  April  22, 
1826;  educated  at  St.  Mary's  College  in 
Kentucky;  early  life  passed  in  trading, 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  but 
not  proving  satisfactory,  retired  from 
that  business;  was  a  soldier  in  1st  Regt. 
Ky.  Vol.;  married  to  Eliza  Ann  Feather, 
Oct.  14,  1847.  They  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  8  children,  of  whom  6  are  living. 
P.  O.,  Galesburg.  Democrat. 

Wee,  David,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Fulton  co.,  111.,  Aug.  31,  1849;  his  par- 
ents, David  and  Sarah  (Morgan)  Gee 
were  natives  of  New  York;  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  spent  his 
early  life  on  a  farm,  and  continues  in  it 
from  choice.  He  moved  from  Fulton  to 
Knox  co.  in  1872.  He  married  Mary 
Monrose  Nov.  4,  1877.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Hermon. 

Geer,  Anson  C.,  farmer.  P.O., 
Douglas;  son  of  Winthrop  and  Sophia 
(Cram)  Geer,  natives  of  Connecticut; 
born  in  Windham  co.,  Conn.,  July  22, 
1834;  educated  in  common  schools  of 
Salem  township,  111.;  removed  from  Con- 
necticut to  Ohio  in  childhood,  thence  to 
Illinois  in  1840,  and  to  Knox  co.  in  1841; 
early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ;  learned 
carpentering  and  millwrighting,  but 
changed  to  farming;  was  Sergeant  in  Co. 
G,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.;  in  1865,  married 
to  Marie  A.  Hunt.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  1  child.  Greenbacker;  has  been 
School  Director,  School  and  Road  Com- 
missioner. 

Gehring,   Alexander,  son    of 


Anthony  and  Mary  (Moser)  Gehring, 
both  natives  of  Germany;  was  born  in 
Germany  Dec.  1,  1844.  In  1857  moved 
to  Knox  co.,  111.;  is  a  farmer.  May  30, 
1867,  was  married  to  Jerusha  Squires. 
They  have  3  daughters;  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  a  Trustee. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Gehring,  Haver,  farmer,  son  of 
Bennet  and  Elizabeth  Gehring;  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  Feb.  9,  1825;  he 
served  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  regular 
army  of  Germany.  He  immigrated  to 
America  in  1849;  remained  in  New  York 
till  1854,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Sparta  township,  Knox  co.  In 
1850  he  married  Elizabeth  Heminger. 
They  have  2  sons  and  1  daughter;  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Gibbs,  Jonathan, whose  parents, 
Martin  and  Hannah  Gibbs,  were  both 
natives  of  Burlington  co.,  N.  Y.;  was 
born  in  the  same  county,  Dec.  22,  1808; 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
among  the  Quakers;  when  12  years  of 
age  began  chopping  cord  wood  in  the 
pine  and  cedar  swamps;  at  15  appren- 
ticed to  a  cabinet  maker;  at  20  engaged 
as  window  glass  blower,  which  he  pur- 
sued for  9  years;  was  married  Aug.  13, 
1832,  to  Tamar  Norcross;  they  have  had 
9  children,  2  of  whom  are  dead;  removed 
to  Washington  City  in  1835;  came  to 
Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1838,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming.  Republican.  Has  served 
12  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
held  the  office  of  Supervisor  9  years.  P. 
O.,  LaFayette,  Stark  co.,  111. 

Gibbs,  Joseph  !>.,  sec.  35,  Lynn 
township.  P.  O.  LaFayette. 

Gibson,  Peter,  was  born  in  Swe- 
den, June  21,  1829;  was  educated  in 
Swedish  schools;  chose  agricultural  pur- 
suits; came  to  America  in  1854,  settling 
in  Bureau  co.,  111.;  remained  there,  how- 
ever, but  one  year,  when  he  came  to 
Knox  co. ;  was  married  in  March,  1859, 
to  Anna  Lyburg;  again  in  Dec.  25,  1863, 
to  Anna  Eng;  is  the  father  of  1  boy  and 
2  girls.  Mr.  Gibson  lives  an  exemplary 
Christian  life;  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  in  which  he  now  holds  the 
office  of  Clerk.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Gillaspie,  Wm.  H.,  J.P.,  Abing- 
don,  is  the  son  of  Simon  and  Juliette 
(Halloway)  Gillaspie,  natives  of  West 
Virginia;  was  born  in  Montgomery  co., 
Ky.,  Sept.  17,  1823;  spent  his  early  life 
on  a  farm  and  attending  'school  at  the 
old  log  school  house:  has  been  Mayor  of 
Abingdon  4  years,  City  and  Town  Clerk 
several  years  each,  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace  4  terms:  came  to  Abingdon  in 
1854 ;  joined  the  Christian  Cl  urchin  1841 ; 
is  clerk  of  Jefferson  Street  Cnurcn;  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Bradshaw  March  3, 1844 ; 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


6TY 


she  died  in  1852;  married  Martha  E. 
Bradley,  July  3,  1853;  she  died  in  1870; 
and  he  again  married  Dec.  7,  1871.  Re- 
publican. 

Givens,  Thales  H.,  son  of  James 
and  Martha  (Miller)  Givens,  of  Virginia; 
was  born  in  Madison  co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  25, 
1820;  had  but  little  education  at  school; 
raised  on  a  farm,  learned  cabinet  trade; 
came  to  Knox  co.  in  1865;  has  served  as 
Supervisor  in  Hancock  co.,  III.,  School 
Director,  Trustee  of  Abingdon  College, 
of  which  he  took  the  entire  charge  in 
building;  joined  the  Christian  Church  in 
1867  under  A.  J.  Thomson;  wag  married 
July  28,  1842,  to  Julia  Carter.  They 
have  7  children.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Givens,  Strawther,  son  of  T.  H. 
and  Julia  Givens,  natives  of  Kentucky, 
born  in  Monroe  co.,  Ind.,  May  23,  1843; 
was  educated  in  Indiana  State  Univer- 
sity; early  life  passed  in  farming;  has 
been  farmer  and  banker;  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1854;  married  Mary  Huston 
Dec.  25,  1882.  They  are  the  parents  of 
4  children;  established  the  Union  Bank 
at  Abingdon  in  1872,  and  is  now  banker 
at  that  place.  Democrat.  United  with 
the  Christian  Church  in  1864.  P.  O.,  Ab- 
ingdon. 

Goddard  E.,  Sparta  township.  P. 
O.,  Wataga. 

Godfrey  Peter,  farmer,  is  the  son 
of  James  and  Keziah  Godfrey,  natives 
of  Maryland  and  Delaware  respectively; 
was  born  in  Sussex  co.,  Del.,  Feb.  5, 1810; 
reared  on  farm  and  attended  common 
schools;  came  to  Illinois  in  1832;  has 
served  as  Supervisor  4  or  5  terms  from 
Orange  township,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  Trustee  of  Redding  College;  was 
married  Feb.  7,  1839,  to  Nancy  Sumner; 
have  2  adopted  children;  wife  joined  the 
M.  E.  Church  in  1836,  he  in  1862;  is  Stew- 
ard and  Trustee.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Abingdon 

Goff,  J  am os  F.,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  P.  O,.  Henderson.  Born  in  Knox 
co.,  Dec.  29,  1838;  son  of  James  and 
Martha  (Furgason)  Goff,  natives  of  Hart 
co.,  Ky.  He  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion from  subscription  schools;  was 
married  to  Mary  J.  Baxter  Feb.  6,  1867. 
They  are  the  parents  of  3  sons;  has  been 
Road  Commissioner  for  6  years,  also 
School  Director.  Democrat.  Has  been 
very  industrious  and  very  successful  in 
business,  and  is  now  wealthy. 

Goold,  Luther,  son  of  S.  S.  and 
Hannah  Goold;  was  born  in  Vermont 
Sept.  8,  1820;  attended  the  common 
schools  of  that  State;  was  raised  on  a 
farm  and  has  continued  the  business 
from  choice;  has  been  Postmaster,  Town 
Clerk,  and  Steward  for  20  years  in  M.  E. 
Church;  came  to  Illinois  when  23  years 
old.  Married  Alzina  Brooks.  They  have 
37 


4  children.    Republican.    P.  O.,  Yates 
City. 

Gordon,  Joshua  It.,  merchant, 
Galesburg;  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Perry)  Gordon,  of  Pennsylvania;  was 
born  in  Perry  co.,  Ohio.  His  parents 
moved  to  Muskingum  co.,  Ohio,  when  he 
was  5  yeais  of  age.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  his  only  opportunities  for  ed- 
ucation were  such  as  the  district  schools 
afforded.  He  came  from  Ohio  to  Gales- 
burg  in  1854,  where  he  at  once  engaged 
in  the  clothing  business,  and  is  the  old- 
est clothing  merchant  in  the  city.  In 
1859  he  married  Mary  A  Bundy,  who 
died  in  1874.  He  is  a  member  and  Trus- 
tee of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Demo- 
crat. He  has  been  Alderman  of  the  city. 

Gordon,  Peter,  Copley  township. 

Gould,  William,  born  at  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  May  17,  1808.  His  father, 
John  Gould,  was  a  native  of  the  s^me 
State.  His  mother's  name  was  Oliva 
Swanson,  whose  nativity  was  Massachu- 
setts. William  passed  his  school  days 
in  Onondagua  co.,  N.  Y.,  and  began  at 
an  early  age  to  learn  the  trade  of  house- 
carpenter.  Mr.  Gould  was  married  in 
Nov.,  1833,  to  Miss  Sallie  Ann  Mapes,  and 
ten  years  later,  1843,  came  to  Knox  co., 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since;  his  wife 
having  died,  he  was  married  again  in 
Knox  co.  in  1862;  joined  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  Church  while  a  boy,  and  at  the 
age  of  28,  joined  the  Latter  Day  Saints, 
or  Mormon  Church;  was  ordained  Elder 
and  High  Priest  by  the  prophet  Joseph 
Smith  in  fall  of  1840.  Mr.  Gould  still 
holds  to  that  faith  and  preaches  for  a 
small  number  of  the  disciples  who  wor- 
ship in  the  school-house  near  his  home 
in  Truro  township, 

Graves,  Rev.  John  Calling- 
ton,  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  of  Galesburg;  was  born  in  Cal- 
cutta, India,  in  1836.  His  parents  were 
Mitchell  and  Chainey  Graves,  who  were 
natives  of  the  West  Indies.  His  parents 
came  from  Calcutta  to  the  United  States, 
and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  when  John  was 
12  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  that  city;  went  to  Canada  in 
1863  and  spent  two  years  in  Knox  Col- 
lege, Toronto;  and  thence  to  London, 
Eng.,  and  spent  two  years  inSpurgeon's 
College.  He  conceived  the  idea  of  en- 
gaging in  the  ministry  in  1857,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  work  in  1858.  In  1862  he 
married  Miss  A.  Francis. 

Grice,  James  T.,  farmer,  son  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Thompson)  Grice,  the 
former  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Vir- 
ginia; was  born  in  Highland  co.,  O  ,Aug. 
25,1819;  spent  childhood  on  farm,  and 
was  educated  in  district  schools;  came  to 
Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1856.  He  married  Ma- 
hala  Davis  March  10,  1842 ;  been  a  mem- 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


ber  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since  1844;  Re- 
publican.   P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Griffith,  H.  H.,  residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Grose,  S.  BT.,  merchant,  Galesburg. 
Grubb,  SamnelW.,  printer,  and 
business  manager  of  the  Republican-Reg- 
ister, was  born  in  Washington,  D.C.,Aug, 
19,  1832.  His  parents  were  Samuel  and 
Nellie  (Wilson)  Grubb,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Shepardstown,  West  Va,,  and  the 
latter  of  Snow  Hill,  Md.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  spent  his  early  life  in  Wash- 
ington City,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  Circumstances  being 
favorable  to  it  he  learned  the  printer's 
trade,  which  he  has  followed  since.  He 
went  to  Milton,  N.  C.,  in  1854,  back  to 
Washington  in  1855,  thence  to  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  in  1857,  and  from  there  he  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1873.  Nov.  28,  1807,  he 
married  Jane  A.  Wright,  who  has  borne 
three  sons  to  him,  only  one  of  whom  is 
living.  He  filled  the  office  of  Alderman 
in  Atlanta,Ga.,in  1871.  He  joined  ihe  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Washington  in  1851 ; 
changed  to  the  Episcopal  in  1862 ;  was 
Vestryman,  and  for  five  years  has  been 
delegate  to  the  Diocesan  Convention  of 
Illinois.  Republican. 

Go  I  i her,  Isaac,  born  in  Christian 
co.,  Ky.,  June  23,  1815;  parents  were  Geo. 
and  Sarah  (Gibson)  Guliher.  He  received 
a  country  school  education;  in  early  life 
was  bound  to  a  hatter,  and-  learned  the 
trade,  but  changed  it  in  after  life;  moved 
to  Sangamon  co.,  111.,  in  1830;  in  1832 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Brown.  They 
are  the  parents  of  ten  children ;  moved  to 
Knox  county  in  1833;  was  a  private  with 
A.  Lincoln  in  the  Black  Hawk  War;  Re- 
publican; in  1848  united  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  P  O.  Biggsville, Warren  co. 
Gllllett,  J.  J.,  was  born  in  Putnam 
co.,  Ind  ,  June  12.  1823.  His  early  life 
was  passed  on  the  farm,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools ;  learned  the  trade 
of  a  blacksmith,  also  followed  farming 
and  gold  mining;  moved  from  Indiana 
to  Illinois,  then  to  North  Carolina,  and 
again  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Knox  county 
in  185i);  was  married  May  12,  184^,  to 
Delila  Upton.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children.  While  in  North  Carolina 
was  Captain  of  Light-house;  worked  in 
the  gold  mines  of  North  Carolina  from 
1843  to  1859,  dieging  down  998  feet. 
Democrat,  P.  O.,  Kooxville. 
Is?  Gutting,  Peter,  farmer,  son  of 
Christian  and  Ann  Margaret  Gutting,  was 
born  in  Germany  Jan.  18,  1807.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Germany;  and  spent  some  time 
in  teaching,  in  which  he  was  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  served  six  years  in  the  Ger- 
man army.  He  came  to  the  United  States 


in  1835;  settled  in  New  Jersey;  he 
came  to  Knox  county  in  1860.  In  1836 
he  married  Elizabeth  Dimpfer.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  since  1853.  Independent  in  poli- 
tics. P.  O.,  Elmwood,  Peoria  co. 

Hagan,  George  H.,  farmer,  son 
of  Leonard  and  Elizabeth  (Cook)  Ha- 
gan,  natives  of  Maryland,  was  born  in 
Nelson  co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  16, 1818;  was  raised 
on  farm  and  attended  common  schools ; 
came  to  Knox  co.  in  1850;  was  married 
to  Teresa  Onan,  May  12,  1850,  who  has 
borne  him  11  children,  7  of  whom  live; 
has  been  School  Director  many  years; 
member  of  Catholic  Church.  Democrat. 
P.  O.,  St.  Augustine. 

llali  11.  Moses.  His  father  Joseph 
and  his  mother  Abagail  (Bloomfield) 
Hahn  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York  respectively,  and  came  west 
at  an  early  clay  and  settled  in  Crawfords- 
ville,  Ind.,  where  Moses  was  born  Sept. 
18,  1329;  came(to  Knox  co.  1835,  where 
he  spent  his  school  days;  removed  to  Ore- 
gon and  back  to  Knox  co.  1872,  settling 
on  same  farm ;  married  Mary  Loveridge 
June  12,  1851 ;  3  sons  and  8  daughters 
have  blessed  this  union ;  joined  Hender- 
son Old  School  Predestinarian  Baptist 
Church  in  1858,  in  which  he  held  the 
office  of  Deacon.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Hall,  Vinton,  son  of  John  and  Sa- 
rah (Barton)  Hall,  of  Virginia,  was  born 
in  Jackson  co.,  O.,  Sept.  10,  1823 :  moved 
to  Iowa,  and  came  to  Knox.  co.  in  1847; 
married  Elizabeth  Smith  Aug.  13,  1844 ; 
11  children  have  been  born  to  them,  9 
living;  Mr.  H.  was  reared  on  farm  and 
attended  common  schools.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Hermon. 

Hall,  Harman,  farmer,  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Sloma  (Freemole)  Hall,  the 
former  of  Germany  and  Ihe  latter  of 
Pennsylvania ;  was  born  in  Canton,  Ful- 
ton co. ,111.,  Aug.  14,1857;  spent  his  youth 
on  a  farm  and  attended  the  district  school. 
In  1866  his  parents  removed  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  thence  to  Sandusky,  O.,  1867, 
thence  to  Knox  co.,  Ill ,  and  in  1873  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Nebraska, 
but  returned  to  Knox  co.  in  1874.  P.  O., 
Maquon. 

1 1  n  in  I>1  i  ii .  I>.  W.,  residence  Gales- 
burg. 

Hammond,  James,  son  of  Theo- 
dore and  Rebecca  (Farnham)  natives  of 
Connecticut,  was  born  in  Ohio  July  7, 
1824;  educated  in  the  log  school-house 
at  Hammond  Corners,  Bath,  O.,  where 
he  got  the  usual  amount  of  thrashings; 
has  always  followed  farming;  has  held 
the  offices  of  Supervisor,  Ro<ul  and  School 
Commissioner  and  School  Director ;  came 
to  Ontario  township  in  1844;  moved  to 
Galesburg  in  1848 ;  then  to  Knox  town- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 


679 


ship  in  1849,  and  back  to  Ontario  in  1851 ; 
married  Susan  P.  Powell  Oct.  7,  1847 ; 
they  Lave  had  6  children,  2  girls  and  4 
boys,  2  boys  are  dead ;  was  baptized  in 
infancy;  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church  in  1841 ;  circumstances  good. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Hammond,  Park  II ..  farmer,  P. 
O.  Ontario,  son  of  James  and  Susan  ( Pow- 
ell) Hammond,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  of  New  York,  was 
born  Oct.  19,  1849,  in  Knox  county;  his 
early  life  passed  on  the  farm ;  in  1872  he 
united  with  the  Baptist  Church  of  Onta- 
rio; he  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Wet- 
more  Dec.  25,  1873. 

Ham  rick,  JF.  Cw.,  son  of  John  and 
Rebecca  Hamrick,  natives  of  Virginia, 
born  in  Clinton  co ,  O.,  in  1826 ;  he  passed 
his  early  life  in  working  on  a  farm ;  he 
changed  to  mercantile  business;  moved 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1846;  he  was 
married  to  Sarah  A.  Ferris ;  has  been  Al- 
derman 8  years  and  Supervisor  8  years; 
was  Captain  of  Co.  G,  83d  111.  Regt.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Hannaman,  George  Luther, 
Circuit  Clerk,  is  the  son  of  R.  L.  and 
Hannah  (Plummer)  Hannaman,  the  for- 
mer of  Ohio,  his  mother  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts; he  was  born  in  Knoxville 
March  3,  1845;  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town  and  spent  1 
year  in  Lombard  University,  Galesburg; 
in  1863  he  left  it  and  entered  Eastman's 
Commercial  College,  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.,  and  from  there  went  to  New  York 
city  and  kept  books  for  about  3  years : 
returned  to  Knoxville  and  read  law  in  his 
father's  office;  was  elected  Circuit  Clerk 
in  1872  and  re-elected  in  1876;  he  filled 
this  responsible  position  satisfactorily  to 
those  who  had  business  relations  with 
him  and  beneficially  to  the  county ;  he 
is  pleasant,  and  thoroughly  understands 
the  workings  of  the  office ;  he  was  mar- 
ried Dec.  25,  1867,  to  Jennie  D.  M.  Mur- 
ray; they  have  1  child,  Jessie  Tonira, 
born  Nov.  11,  1868 :  joined  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  iri  1868.  Republican. 

Haiinaman,  Robert  L.,  attor- 
ney, Galesburg,  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Susannah  (Beebe);  he  was  born  near 
Portsmouth,  O.,  Sept.  5.  1803;  attended 
common  schools  until  16,  when  he  studied 
surveying;  in  1822  went  to  Indianapo- 
lis, near  where  he  taught  school;  he 
married  Hannah  Plummer  March  6, 
1823,  when  he  went  to  farming;  in  same 
year  Hamilton  co.,  Ind.,  was  organized, 
and  he  elected  Recorder  of  Deeds;  in 
January,  1825,  his  dwelling,  which  was 
his  office,  was  burned ;  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  the  same  year,  and  soon  thereaf- 
ter Surveyor,  when  he  taught  school  and 
read  medicine ;  he  then  began  the  study 


of  law,  and  was  soon  admitted  to  the  bar ; 
in  1831  engaged  in  dry-goods  business; 
in  1834  was  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
where  he  served  two  terms ;  in  1836  came 
to  Knoxville,  where,  till  1842,  conducted 
general  merchandising;  he  was  then 
elected  Probate  Justice  for  4  years,  and 
re-elected;  he  formed  partnership  with 
Julius  Manning  in  1844,  lasted  till  1851, 
when  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
P.  &  O.  R.  R.  Co.  Judge  H.  has  been  a 
successful  lawyer;  he  possesses  sound 
judgment,  is  just  and  conscientious;  he 
is  the  oldest  lawyer  in  the  county;  his 
wife  died  Jan.  24,  1876,  at  the  age  of  73; 
his  residence  is  still  at  Knoxville,  but  his 
office  since  1873  has  been  in  Galesburg. 
The  judge  is  a  distant  relative  of  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Hahnemann,  the  founder  of 
homeopathy. 

Hanson,  C.,    P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Hare,  Henry,  farmer,  son  of 
Henry  and  Mary  Hare,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  Wayne  co.,  O.,  April  17, 
1833 ;  he  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation ;  his  early  life  passed  on  the  farm ; 
he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  but 
changed  to  farming;  married  Elizabeth 
Marshall;  in  1855  removed  to  Illinois. 
Greenbacker.  P.  O.,  Elba  Center.  He 
has  been  very  successful  in  business,  and 
is  placed  in  good  circumstances. 

Harper,  Robert  H.,  farmer,  P.  O. 
Maquon,  was  born  in  Canton,  Fulton  co., 
111.,  Jan.  8,  1848;  parents  were  John  and 
Ellen  (Robinson)  Harper,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania; he  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Fulton  co. ;  his  early  life  was  passed 
on  the  farm ;  enlisted  in  the  llth  III.  Cav. 
and  served  the  last  two  years  of  the  re- 
bellion ;  Sept.  15,  1870,  was  married  to 
Aary  A.  Hunter;  they  have  been  the 
parents  of  3  children;  but  1  is  living; 
removed  to  Knox  co.  Jan.  1,  1870.  Lib- 
eral. P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Harshman,  David,  section  2, 
Rio  township.  P.  O.  Rio. 

II astir.  James,  son  of  JohnHas- 
tie,  ofLeadhills,  and  Jane  (Sloan)  Hastie, 
native  of  Lanarkshire,  Scotland ;  born  in 
Scotland  April  17,  1812;  was  a  weaver, 
but  became  a  farmer  in  1850 ;  School 
Trustee  for  3  years ;  moved  to  New  York 
in  1834,  in  1856  to  Knox  co.,  111.;  Feb. 
26,  1846,  was  married  to  Ann  McDon- 
ald ;  they  are  the  parents  of  2  sons  and  1 
daughter;  Nov.  23,  1851,  married  again 
to  Maria  Lyon;  united  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  1837;  Congregational 
now,  and  is  a  Deacon.  Republican. 

Mask  ins,  Mrs.  H.  P.,  residence 
section  24,  Ontario  township.  P.  O., 
Oneida. 

Haver,  .1  olm  W.,  cabinet-maker 
and  farmer,  son  of  Thomas  T.  and  Cloey 
(Woolsey)  Haver,  both  of  New  York,  was 


680 


HISTOKY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


bora  Jan.  7,  1817,  in  Albany  co.,  N.  Y. ; 
he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm ;  procured 
his  education  in  the  common  schools;  he 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-making  and 
followed  it  for  some  years,  then  turned 
his  attention  to  farming;  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Ohio  when  he  was  a  boy,  where 
he  remained  till  1854,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois.  He  married  Abigail  Brainard 
Jan.  1,  18 tO,  by  whom  he  had  11  chil- 
dren, of  whom  5  sons  and  3  daughters 
are  living;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
church  since  1837,  and  Elder  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  since  1860;  has  filled  several 
local  offices.  Republican.  P.  0.,Hermon. 
Haver,  George,  (Elder)  teacher, 
was  born  in  Portage  CO, O.,  Dec.  1,  1840; 
he  is  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Abigail 
(Brainard)  Haver,  the  former  ct'  New 
York,  the  latter  of  Ohio;  after  attending 
the  common  schools  George  finished  his 
education  at  Abingdon  College;  his  par- 
ents came  to  Illinois  in  1854;  since  he 
arrived  at  his  majority  he  has  spent  most 
of  his  time  in  teaching;  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  D,  64th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  on  the 
21st  Aug.,  1862;  he  was  in  numerous  bat- 
tles, and  was  taken  prisoner ;  he  suffered 
the  horrors  of  Andersonville,  remaining 
in  prison  almost  destitute  of  clothing, 
and  without  shelter  from  storm  or  sun, 
barehead  and  barefoot;  and  he  was 
among  those  who  were  put  up  as  targets 
for  soldiers  to  shoot  at,  at  Charleston, 
S.  C. ;  was  also  in  prison  at  Florence, 
S.  C. ;  was  paroled  and  furloughed  home 
Dec.  24,  1864;  returned  March  22,  1865; 
was  discharged  May  31,  1865;  he  mar- 
ried Lucinda  J.  Page  July  5,  1869,  by 
whom  he  has  1  son ;  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  since  1855,  an 
Elder  7 years.  Republican.  P.O.Hermon. 

Han  Uiu son.  Olof,  farmer,  son 
of  Hawkin  and  Hannah  Anderson,  was 
born  in  Sweden  May  7,  1837 ;  was  edu- 
cated  in  the  common  schools  of  Sweden ; 
his  early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and 
he  chose  farming  for  a  livelihood,  in 
which  he  has  been  quite  successful;  he 
came  from  Sweden  to  Knox  co.,  111.,  in 
1856;  March  21, 1866,  he  married  Louisa 
Erickson;  they  have  3  sons  and  2  daugh- 
ters; he  joined  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the 
old  country  Republican.  P.O., Galesburg. 

Hawkinson,  Mons,  section  13, 
Galesburg  township.  P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Hawks,  Richard,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Deerfield,  Mass. ;  he  is  the  son 
of  Silas  and  Mary  (Blodget)  Hawks,  na- 
tives of  England;  his  education  was  lim- 
ited to  the  common  schools  of  Massachu- 
setts; learned  the  wasronmaker  and  mill- 
wright trades  in  youth;  came  to  Knox 
co..  111.,  in  1845;  was  married  Sept.  24, 
1838,  to  Calnetia  F.  Wagner;  they  have 
2  sons  and  6  daughters;  live  on  section 


32,  Henderson  township.    Democrat.   P. 
O.,  Galesburg. 

Heath,  James,  son  of  Reuben 
Heath,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  75.  James  was  born  in  Kings- 
ville,  O.,  in  1829;  attended  the  common 
schools;  he  worked  on  a  farm  and  at 
blacksmithing;  moved  to  Niles,  Mich., 
then  to  Kansas;  after  remaining  there  9 
years  moved  to  Red  Oak,  la.,  then  to 
Galesburg;  grasshoppered  2  years  in 
Kansas  and  1  in  Iowa;  was  married  in 
August,  1350,  to  Miss  D.  Merriam;  is 
connected  with  the  Baptist  Church.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Heath,  William  !!.,  son  of  Sid- 
ney Heath  and  Phebe  (Foster)  Heath,  of 
Washington,  N.  Y.,  was  born  May  11, 
1815,  in  Washington  co.,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  of  an  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carriage  maker;  came 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Knox  county  as 
early  as  July,  1837 ;  and  was  married  Aug. 
3,  1837,  at  Knoxville,  to  Lucinda  Field. 
This  was  the  first  wedding  occurred  in 
Knoxville.  Their  family  consists  of  four 
boys  and  two  girls.  Address,  Wataga,  111. 
1 1  <M|  burg,  Andrew,  tailor,  was 
born  in  Sweden  Feb.  21,  1836.  He  came 
from  Sweden  to  Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1855. 
His  only  opportunities  for  education  were 
such  as  the  common  schools  afford.  When 
not  in  school  he  spent  his  time  in  the 
shop.  He  married  Ellen  Ericksou  Dec. 
6,  1862,  at  Knoxville.  They  have  two  sons 
and  one  daughter.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Second  Lutheran  Church  of  Gales-, 
burg.  Some  years  ago  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  remained  a  year  and  a 
half  for  the  benefit  of  his  hearing.  Re- 
publican. Residence,  Galesburg. 
Heizer  &  Howorth,  Galesburg. 
Heller,  Mrs.  M.  J.,  Abingdon. 
Hemstreet,  Philip  P.,  carriage 
manufacturer,  son  of  Peter  and  Rachel 
Hemstreet,  of  Scoharie  co.,  N.  Y.,  was 
born  Jan.  25,  1835,  in  Scoharie  co.,  N.  Y. 
His  childhood  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and 
his  education  limited  to  the  common 
schools.  He  went  to  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y., 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  learned  the 
carriage-making  trade  ;  in  1837  came 
west  and  settled  in  Oneida,  111.,  thence  to 
Galesburg  in  1859.  He  married  Maria 
Armstrong  in  1858,  who  is  the  mother  of 
one  son  and  two  daughters.  He  joined 
the  Baptist  Church  at  the  age  of  12. 

Henderson,  David,  farmer,  son 
of  Steward  and  Ann  Henderson;  his 
father  Irish,  mother  American.  He  was 
born  in  Fayette  co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  26, 1822.  His 
early  life  passed  on  farm,  and  obtained 
what  was  called  a  good  education;  came 
to  Illinois  in  1851 ;  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising;  in  the  fall  of  1852  mar- 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


681 


ried  Sophia  Paplett,  and  settled  in  Hen- 
derson township,where  have  been  born  to 
them  Nancy.  Harvey,  Aleary,  Jane,  Peter, 
Nellie,  Thomas,  Hattie  and  Alexander. 
The  last  two  are  dead.  The  first  purchase 
made  in  the  State  was  a  Bible,  of  a  Swede 
at  Galesburg.  He  joined  heartily  with 
the  movement  for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 
The  country  was  in  its  native  state  when 
he  came.  He  has  cut  the  prairie  grass 
where  Oneida  and  Wataga  now  are,  and 
also  hunted  deer.  He  has  been  School 
Director  and  Supervisor;  united  with  the 
Protestant  Methodist  Church  in  1842;  has 
served  as  Steward  and  Trustee.  Mr.  H. 
is  a  man  well  respected,  good  husband, 
kind  father  and  pleasant  neighbor;  liber- 
al in  giving.  Of  late  years  he  has  turned 
his  attention  to  tile  drainage  and  the  bet- 
ter cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  has  been 
successful,  and  now  owns  1,200  acres  of 
fine  land  in  this  county.  Greenbacker.  P. 
O.,  Henderson. 

Hermann,  Morris  M.,physician, 
Galesburg 

Heselden,  Fred,  born  Jan.31, 1853, 
in  New  York.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Ann  (Weaver)  Heselden,  natives  of  Eng- 
land. Fred  was  educated  in  common 
schools  of  Ohio ;  in  1865  went  to  Danville, 
111.,  and  in  1874  came  to  Knox  county; 
was  married  Nov.  8,  Ib77.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  St.  Augustine. 

H  ickman,  Mrs.  Mary  A .,  resi- 
dence, st  c.  2,  Henderson  township.  P. 
O.,  Henderson. 

Higgins,  Americns  C.,  farmer, 
son  of  Clark  and  Laura  (Markam)  Hig- 
gins;  was  born  Aug.  7, 18l5,in  Tompkins 
co.,  N.  Y-  He  spent  his  early  life  on  a 
farm,  and  obtained  his  education  by  at- 
tending the  district  schools  3  months  in 
the  winters;  he  came  to  Knox  co.  from 
New  York  in  June.  1 838 ;  was  14  days  on 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to 
Oquawka,  and  from  thereto  came  on 
foot  to  Galesburg.  In  1841  he  married 
Lucy  M.  Gridley.  They  have  3  sons,  all 
having  attained  their  majority,  and  are 
in  good  circumstances.  Mr.  H.  has  held 
some  local  offices,  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  "  First  Church"  of  Galesburg 
since  1839.  Was  a  strong  Abolitionist; 
now  Republican.  Residence,  Galesburg. 

Hill.  Isaac,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Duchess  co.,  N.  Y.,  May  23,  1821;  his 
parents  were  Ephraim  and  Content 
(Haynes)  Hill.  His  early  life  was  passed 
on  a  farm  and  in  attendance  in  common 
schools;  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1837;  mar- 
ried Hannah  More  Jan.  1,  1844.  They 
have  5  children  living.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Knoxville. 

Hill,  T.  J.,  residence,  Galesburg. 

Hinckley,  C.  A.,  farmer,  Gales- 
burg. 


Hitchcock,  Henry,  Div.  Super- 
intendent of  the  C.,  B.  &.  Q.  R.  R.; 
was  born  at  Old  Deerfield,  Mass.,  May 
25,  1816.  His  parents  were  Henry  and 
Betsey  (Kimberly)  Hitchcock;  his  father 
and  he  were  born  in  the  same  house. 
For  many  years  his  father  farmed  at  the 
old  homestead.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  school  and  academy 
of  Deerfield.  Till  the  age  of  24  he  worked 
on  his  father's  farm.  During  the  fol- 
lowing 6  years  he  was  agent  of  the  Rut- 
land &  Burlington  R.  R.,  at  Rutland, 
Vt;  then  was  with  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral R.  R.  Co.  at  Chicago.  Jan.  9,  1856, 
he  removed  to  Galesbuig,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Asst,  Supt.  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q. 
R.  R.  In  1866  he  became  Division  Supt., 
which  position  he  has  held  to  the  present 
time.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business 
qualifications,  and  during  his  connection 
with  the  company  has  transacted  its  bus- 
iness with  remarkable  precision  and  tact 
and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  trav- 
eling public.  His  success  may  be  attrib- 
uted to  his  having  received  careful 
training  through  childhood  and  youth, 
and  acting  from  noble  and  generous 
impulses.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising; 
his  habits  through  life  have  been  temper- 
ate ;  his  religious  views  are  those  of  the 
Congregational  denomination,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Galesburg.  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  director  of  the  Second 
National  Bank,  Galesburg,  and  a  Trustee 
of  Knox  College.  He  was  married  June 
9,  1841,  to  Miss  Martha  Arms.  They 
have  had  3  children,  but  have  lost  2.  * 

Hitchcock,  Charles,  grocer 
son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Ryer)  Hitch 
cock ;  was  born  in  Westche»ter  co.,  N. 
Y.,  which  was  also  the  native  place  of 
his  parents;  his  early  life  was  spent  in 
Saratoga  Springs,  dividing  his  time  be- 
tween school  and  working  in  a  store. 
Later  in  life  he  spent  some  time  at  run- 
ning an  engine,  and  afterwards  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business ;  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois Feb.  8,  1875 ;  he  married  Mary  A. 
Williams  Sept.  8,  1869,  by  whom  he  has 
2  sons  and  1  daughter.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Douglas. 

Hodge,  W.  J. 

Hoii;  Orrin  Wesley,  horticul- 
turist, Wataga;  was  born  in  Greenbush, 
N.  Y. ;  his  parents,  George  A.  and  Julia 
Ann  (Martin)  Hoff  were  also  natives  of 
New  York;  he  was  educated  in  common 
schools,  and  engaged  in  the  nursery  bus- 
iness, which  he  now  follows;  served  as 
School  Trustee  9  years;  came  to  Illinois 
in  1855,  to  Sparta  township  in  1863;  was 
married  to  Maria  Driggs  Aug.  25,  1869. 
They  have  1  daughter,  Rosa;  joined  the 


682 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Congregational  Church  in  1857.  Repub- 
lican. 

Hofflnnd,  Alexander,  grocer, 
son  of  John  and  Clary  Hofflund;  was 
born  in  Sweden,  Europe,  April  2,  1857; 
he  attended  the  common  schools  in  Swe 
den,  and  finished  his  education  in  the 
high  school  in  Knox  co. ;  his  childhood 
was  spent  on  a  farm;  his  parents  immi- 
grated to  Knox  co.,  111.,  from  Sweden 
when  he  was  17  years  old ;  he  enlisted  in 
the  151st  Regt.  111.  Vol.  in  Feb.,  1864; 
served  one  year,  and  was  mustered  out 
Feb.,  186o ;  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Galesburg  for  sev- 
eral years;  married  Tillie  Peterson,  of 
Oneicla.  Member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
for  11  years.  Republican. 

Hoit,  J  ames  Dewitt  Clinton, 
M.  D.,  son  of  Janit  s  8.  and  Abigail  Hoit, 
of  New  Hampshire ;  was  born  at  Laconia, 
N.  H.,  Aug.  25,  1842 ;  received  a  liberal 
education  at  Gilford  Academy,  New 
London,  N.  H.,  and  medical  department 
Harvard  University ;  has  been  President 
of  the  Board  of  Education;  was  in  Medi- 
cal Corps  U.  S.  army  in  the  late  war, 
was  stationed  at  St.  Louis  and  Jefterson 
City,  Mo.  Dr.  Hoit  moved  to  Boston, 
from  there  to  Yates  City;  was  joined  in 
matrimony  to  Mary  Taylor,  Oct.  15,  1868. 
They  have  4  children.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Yates  City. 

Holcomh,  William  H.,  Knox- 
ville,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Knox  co., 
and  has  done  much  toward  forming  the 
character  of  the  county;  he  was  born  in 
Richmond,  Mass.,  Jan.  16,  1797;  his 
parents,  Richard  and  Elsie  Holcomb, 
wire  natives  of  Connecticut ;  he  came  to 
Knox  co.  in  1838;  he  learned  the  harness 
trade;  was  married  to  Hannah  Hinckley 
Jan.  16,  1835;  4  sons  and  2  daughters 
have  been  born  to  them ;  he  made  a  pro- 
fession of  religion  in  1819,  and  has  lived 
a  good  Christian  life  for  60  years;  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Republican  and  anti-mason. 

Holcomb,  T.  C.,  residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Holmes,  James  B.,  farmer,  son 
of  Joshua  and  Irene  (Morehead)  Holmes, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  co.,  Va.,  Nov. 
10,  1810;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  a 
farm,  and  his  education  obtained  in  the 
district  school;  he  removed  to  Orange 
co.,  Ind.,  in  1835,  and  to  Henderson  town- 
ship, Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1848;  he  married 
Mary  Kirk  Aug.  31,  1837.  They  had  5 
sons  and  3  daughters;  four  of  the  sons 
are  now  dead;  he  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  for  many  years. 
Mr.  H.  died  March  26,  1872.  P.  O.  ad- 
dress of  his  daughter,  Mollie  A.  Holmes, 
is  Henderson. 


Holyoke,    Samuel  G.,  pattern 
maker,  Galesburg. 
Holyoke,   Hon.    Joseph  11., 

Wataga,  is  the  son  of  Wm.  and  Lucy 
Greenleaf  (the  former  of  Bangor,  Me.; 
the  mother,  of  Massachusetts).  He  was 
born  in  Marietta,  O.,  Nov.  29,  1819;  had 
but  a  limited  school  education;  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  has  worked  at  va- 
rious trades  and  vocations.  He  has 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  and  has  represented  this 
district  in  the  Legislature ;  came  to  Gales- 
burg in  1837  and  to  Watasra  in  1854;  was 
married  Aug.  27,  1844,  to^Ruth  M.  Dilly. 
They  have  3  children,  Mary,  William 
and  Adelaide.  Formerly,  Abolitionist; 
now  Republican. 

Honsh,  Andrew  C.,  dealer  in 
stocks  and  notes,  born  in  1834  in  Indiana. 
His  parents  were  David  and  Elizabeth 
Housh,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  his  early 
life  was  passed  upon  the  larrn.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  A.  E.  Ouderkirk  Nov.  11, 
1857.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children ; 
removed  from  Indiana  to  Illinois ;  has 
been  Alderman  3  years,  Road  Commis- 
sioner 9  years,  and  School  Director  for  a 
long  term  of  service.  Greenbacker.  P.O., 
Maquon. 

Honsh,  David,  farmer;  was  born 
in  Bourbon  co.,  Ky.,  July  25,  1800;  when 
3  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  the 
frontier  north  of  the  Ohio  river  and  set- 
tled in  the  wilds  of  Indiana  among  the 
Indians,  seldom  seeing  the  face  of  white 
men.  When  the  war  of  1812  was  de- 
clared the  whites  were  compelled  to  move 
into  forts  where  they  lived  3  years;  dur- 
ing this  time  he  witnessed  the  massacre, 
of  a  settlement,  arid  on  Good  Friday, 
1812,  another  massacre(  among  the  killed 
were  several  relatives)  after  which  he  and 
his  brother  took  the  forests  hunting  In- 
dians. He  heard  the  great  Chief  Tecum- 
seh  make  a  speech  before  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  and  thinks  he  was  the  finest 
orator  he  ever 'heard.  In  1826  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Thornburg  and  again 
moved  to  the  frontier,  where  he  lived  until 
1836,  when  he  moved  to  Knox  co.  and 
settled  on  the  land  in  Haw  Creek  town- 
ship where  he  now  lives.  Daniel  Meek, 
John  Dawdy  and  others,  were  his  first 
acquaintances  here.  They  were  all  fond 
of  hunting  and  fine  horses ;  quite  a  rivalry 
existed  between  them  to  see  who  could 
have  the  fastest  horse.  He  laid  out  a 
toile  track  which  became  a  great  resort 
for  patrons  of  the  turf.  He  raises  some 
fine  blooded  horses.  In  1851  engaged  in 
milling  and  distilling  business,  and  in 
1854  in  the  mercantile  trade.  He  cast  his 


HISTORY   OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 


683 


first  vote  for  Jackson  and  has  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket  at  every  Presidential 
election  since.  His  family  consists  of 
13  children.  He  has  retired  from  all 
business  save  farming,  and  is  now  en- 
joying a  ripe  old  age,  honored  and  re- 
spected. 

Houston, George,son  of  Alexander 
and  Elizabeth  (Mills)  Houston,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  born,  July  11,  1804,  in 
Steuben  co.,  N.  Y.  His  father  died  when 
George  was  7  years  old.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  his  early  life 
passed  on  the  farm.  He  was  Colonel  in 
the  Mexican  war ;  moved  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  about  1819,  thence  to  Peoria,  111.,  in 
1851 ;  was  married  Aug.  21, 1851,  to  Nancy 
J.  Harr,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  11 
children,  of  whom  10  are  living ;  removed 
to  Lynn  township,  Knox  co.  Democrat. 
He  always  followed  farming,  in  which  he 
was  very  successful ;  was  burned  out  Jan. 
17,  1873,  and  the  family  lost  nearly  all 
their  effects.  He  died  Dec.  22, 1874 ;  was 
the  late  husband  of  Mrs.  George  Houston, 
whose  P.  O.  address  is  Galva,  Henry  co. 

Hover,  J.,  teller  in  First  National 
Bank,  Galesburg. 

Howarter,  Benjamin,  farmer, 
son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Howarter,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1828.  His  early 
life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his  educa- 
tion obtained  in  the  common  schools.  He 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  in 
1837.  He  married  Elizabeth  Newman  in 
1854,  by  whom  he  has  had  6  children,  5 
of  them  now  living.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  School  Director  and  Road  Com- 
missioner for  a  number  of  years.  Has 
been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since 
1860.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Elba  Centre. 

II  ei  in o.  James  Davidson,  born 
March  16, 1848,  at  Newville,  Cumberland 
co.,  Penn. ;  his  parents,  Wm.  D.  and 
Hettie,  were  of  the  same  nativity.  James 
was  sent  to  the  district  schools,  and  early 
learned  the  trade  of  tanner ;  removed  to 
Jefferson  co.,  Tenn.,  in  1870;  served  as 
judge  of  election  same  year;  removed  to 
Knox  co.,  111.,  1871 ;  was  elected  Town 
Clerk.  Democrat.  Is  in  good  circum- 
stances. P.  O.,  Henderson. 

II  ii u(.  .1  oh i»  B.,  farmer  and  lum- 
ber dealer,  was  born  in  Bond  co.,  111.,  in 
May,  1820.  When  he  was  12  years  old  his 
parents  moved  to  Bushnell,  McDonough 
co.,  and  in  1834  settled  at  Burlington, 
Iowa;  was  married  Sept.  18, 1842,  to  Mary 
M.  C.  Love.  He  spent  the  years  1855  and 
'56  in  California;  returned  to  Illinois; 
settled  in  Knox  co.  in  1864.  His  marriage 
resulted  in  2  daughters  and  1  son,  Ransom 
C.,  who  acquired  his  education  at  Lom- 
bard College ;  studied  law  with  J.  C. 
Thompson,  of  Macomb,  and  is  now  prac- 
ticing law  in  Galesburg.  Mr.  Hunt,  Sr., 


was  Postmaster  at  Bushnell  4  years.  Dem- 
ocrat. 

Hunter,  Orville  Si.,  traveler,  son 
of  Joseph  and  Eunice  (Star)  Hunter,  was 
born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  March  13,  1821. 
His  educational  opportunities  were  lim- 
ited to  the  public  schools  of  the  city.  He 
was  engaged  in  farming  for  two  years; 
most  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  travel. 
He  settled  in  Knox  co.,  111.,  in  Feb.,  1856. 
He  has  been  3  times  married,  and  has  9 
children  living;  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church  early  in  life.  Liberal  Democrat. 
P.  O.,  Douglas. 

Hunter,  James  M.,  farmer,  is 
the  son  of  Robt.  and  Deborah  (McGown) 
Hunter,  the  former  of  Pennsylvania,  his 
mother  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia.  He  was 
born  in  Franklin  co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  31, 1811, 
reared  on  farm  and  educated  in  district 
schools;  was  married  in  1836  to  Eliza 
Hunter;  they  had  5  children;  came  to 
Knox  co.  in  1846 ;  in  1848  elected  J.  P., 
and  in  1850  Associate  Justice  of  Knox  co. 
Democrat.  P.  O.,  Douglas. 

Hnntington,  Reuben  R.,  son  of 
Reuben  and  Basheba,  born  at  Albany,  N. 
Y. ;  educated  in  the  public  schools.  His 
parents  were  poor;  apprenticed  to  a 
painter;  this  proving  distasteful,  changed 
to  farming ;  elected  Constable,  Pathmaster 
and  Assessor ;  served  with  honor  in  the 
Mexican  war  and  in  the  83d  and  139th 
111.  Inf. ;  wounded  at  Collinsville,  Tenn. ; 
removed  to  Michigan,  thence  to  Knox  co., 
111. ;  married  in  1849  to  Roxana  S.  James ; 
joined  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  in  1850; 
was  elected  Clerk  and  at  present  Trustee 
of  U.  B.  Church.  Democrat,  P.  O.,  Hen- 
derson. 

Htintley,  I^evi  A,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Oneida;  his  parents,  Asher  and  Phebe 
(Hitchcock)  Huntley,  are  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  Oct.  30,  1830;  re- 
ceived a  limited  education ;  moved  to  New 
York,  then  to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  then  to 
Knox  Co.,  111.;  married  Elizabeth  R. 
King.  Three  girls  have  blessed  the  union. 
United  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1862 ; 
joined  the  Adventists  in  1871 ;  is  Trustee 
in  that  church. 

Hnrlbntt,  Dean  C.,'farmer,  son 
of  Asa  and  Mary  Hurlbutt,  was  born  in 
Dalton,  N.  H.,  in  1834;  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools;  was  raised  on  a 
farm,  and  continued  a  farmer  from  choice. 
He  came  from  New  Hampshire  directly 
to  Knox  co.,  111. ;  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Lambert  in  1855.  They  have  two 
children.  Mr.  H.  has  been  quite  success- 
ful in  the  vocation  of  his  choice.  Re- 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Elba  Centre. 

Hnrlbntt,  Francis.  Alba  and 
Laura  Hurlbut,  his  parents,  were  natives 
of  New  Hampshire.  Francis  was  born 


684 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


at  Dalton,  in  the  same  state,  June  22, 1837 ; 
removed    to  Knox  co.  in  the  spring  of 

1843,  being  then  but  six  years  old ;  has 
been  closely  identified  with  the  develop- 
ment of  this  county,  having  been  a  resi- 
dent since  his  first  arrival  in  1843 ;  served 
his  country  in  the  war  for  the  union,  en- 
listing in  the  83d  111.  Inf.  Vol.,  August, 
1862;  was  united  in  matrimony,  July  11, 
1867,  with  Miss  Martha  C.  Wallack,  and 
the  union  was  blessed  with  five  children ; 
though  in  no  sense  a  politician,  acts  and 
votes  with  the  Republican  party ;  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  335  acres  of  land  in  Truro 
township;'?.  O.,  Victoria. 

1 1  in1 1  hurt.  F.  R.,  proprietor  of 
steam  dye  and  scouring  works,  Galesburg. 

Hard,  Henry  S.,  physician,  Gales- 
burg. 

Hard,  Charles  G-.,  station  ticket 
agent,  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  Galesburg. 

Ide,  G.  W.,  Oneida. 

Irwin,  George  M.,  (Elder)  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Cowan)  Irwin,  was 
born  in  Zanesville,  O. ;  received  most  of 
his  education  at  the  Wesleyan  University, 
O. ;  was  raised  on  farm,  and  entered  the 
university  as  soon  as  he  left  college ;  was 
Chaplain  of  the  44th  111.  Inf. ;  has  been 
Presiding  Elder  of  districts  in  M.  E. 
Church  for  some  years;  was  married 
Sept.  18,  1856,  to  Sarah  Trump.  Repub- 
lican ;  has  recently  moved  to  Normal,  111. 

I r win,  H.  IW., physician,  Galesburg. 

Jackson,  Kit  F.,  brick  mason  and 
gas  manufacturer;  is  the  son  of  Jesse  D. 
and  Mariam  (Montgomery)  Jackson ;  was 
born  July  4,  1822,  in  Erie  co.,  Pa.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  there  young  Eli 
spent  his  boyhood  days  and  received  his 
education ;  came  to  this  county  in  1839, 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since;  joined  the 
1st  Baptist  Church  of  Galesburg  in  1842 ; 
was  married  in  1845  to  Hannah  A.  Pur- 
rine ;  six  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
two  of  whom  are  not  living;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  in  Co.  H,  33d  111.  Inf.,  and 
was  wounded  at  Mobile ;  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Galesburg. 

Jackson,  J  antes,  farmer,  La  Fay- 
ette,  Stark  co.,  111. 

Jameson,  S.  W.,machinist,  Gales- 
burg. 

Jamison,  Robert  G.,  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Jane  (Warkman)  Jamison,  natives' 
of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  26,  1819;  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  changed  to  farming, 
also  following  other  kinds  of  business; 
was  married  to  Sarah  Barnes,  Jan.  17, 

1844.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living;  removed 
to  Fulton  co.,  111.,  in  1855,  and  thence  to 
Knox  county  in  1866;  was  Postmaster 
four    years,  and    J  ustice  of  Peace  three 


years  in  Fulton  county,  and  held  the 
same  office,  also  that  of  School  Director, 
in  Knox  county.  He  clings  to  the  Pres- 
byterian faith.  Republican.  P.O., London 
Mills,  Fulton  co. 

Jacob!,  Abraham,  clothing  mer- 
chant, son  of  Jacob  and  Rachael  Jacobi, 
natives  of  Baden,  where  he  was  born  in 
18M.  He  received  a  common-school  ed- 
ucation at  Baden,  and  began  a  mercantile 
life  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  choosing  the 
clothing  trade.  He  removed  from  Europe 
to  New  York,  thence  to  Peoria,  and  from 
Peoria  to  Knoxville  in  1850.  In  1853  he 
married  Clara  Schriesheimer,  and  the 
fruits  of  their  marriage  are  six  children. 
He  settled  in  Galesburg  in  1855.  Demo- 
crat; and  a  professor  of  the  Jewish  relig- 
ion. P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

John,  Elislia,  farmer  and  slock  - 
raiser,  son  of  Elisha  and  Elizabeth 
(Brown)  John,  was  born  in  Clinton  co., 
O.,  Nov.  24,  1832;  was  raised  on  the  farm, 
and  attended  school  in  the  log  school- 
house;  enlisted  in  7th  111.  Cav.,  Co.  K.,  in 
1862,  served  till  July,  1865 ;  was  wounded ; 
was  married  Aug.  12, 1854,  to  Rachael  A. 
Lewis.  They  have  had  seven  chi.dren, 
five  living  now;  member  of  Christian 
Church  since  1854.  Republican.  Mr.  J. 
deals  in  thoroughbred  stock, — short-horn 
cattle  and  fine  hogs.  P.  O.,Hermon. 

.lull  11*011.  Jonas,  farmer,  born  at 
Halsingland,  Sweden,  March  9,  1831. 
His  parents,  Jonas  and  Ellen  Johnson, 
were  of  the  same  nativity.  Jonas  was 
sent  to  the  common  school  of  Sweden, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  sailed  for 
New  York,  where  he  lived  seven  years, 
coming  to  Knox  county  in  1860 ;  was  mar- 
ried Jan.  13,  1857,  to  Mary  Allen  Lund- 
quist;  united  same  year  with  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  is  still  a 
communicant;  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  since  1861;  has  a  fine 
farm  in  Truro  township.  P.O.,  Truro. 

Johnson,  Bensaleer,  one  of 
Knox  county's  earliest  settlers,  was  born 
of  New  England  parentage,  Moses  and 
Mary  Johnson.  Rensaleer  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  Aug.  10,  1804;  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  school-boy  days  on  a  farm ;  came  to 
Knox  county  while  it  was  in  a  state  of  un- 
subdued nature,  settling  on  the  banks  of 
Spoon  river,  Truro  township,  as  early  as 
1836;  being  then  in  the  full  vigor  of  man- 
hood he  set  about  hewing  for  himself 
and  family  a  home  from  the  virgin  for- 
ests; but  death  found  him  even  here,  for 
he  was  married  in  1827  to  Eliza  Dilley, 
again  in  1840  to  Hannah  Livermore,  again 
in  1849  to  E.  G.  R.  Wilkins,  and  he  is 
now  a  widower;  is  the  father  of  fifteen 
children ;  and  now,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


685 


four,  is  enjoying  the  best  of  health ;  is  a 
member  of  the  Rochester  Christian 
Church.  P.  O.,  Truro. 
Johnson,  Steohen,  Galesburg. 
Johnson,  Williain,photographer 
Abiugdon,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
county,  coming  in  1835.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Charity  (Ryerson)  Johnson,  the 
former  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  born  in  Mercer  co.,  Ky., 
April  16,  1821 ;  attended  common  school 
and  Cherry  Grove  Seminary;  learned 
cabinet  trade,  and  in  1849  changed  to  art 
profession;  was  burned  out  twice;  was 
Mayor  of  Abingdon  in  1875;  married 
Catherine  Merix  June  6,  1846 ;  have  four 
children.  Republican. 

Jones,  Conley,  farmer,  son  of 
Stephen  and  Lyda  (Lanphere)  Jones,  the 
former  of  Vermont,  the  mother  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  born  in  Cayuga  co.,  N.  Y., 
June  26,  1819.  His  early  life  was  passed 
on  farm,  and  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing; came  to  Maquon  township  when 
nineteen  years  old.  He  was  educated  in 
common  schools  of  New  York ;  Jan.  2, 
1838,  married  Mary  Frink,  who  has  borne 
eleven  children,  nine  living,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Republican.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1875,  went  to  California  on  a  pleasure 
trip,  spending  a  year  on  the  Pacific  slope. 
While  there  traveled  all  over  the  State. 
He  now  resides  in  Maquon,  but  still  con- 
ducts his  farms.  He  has  800  acres  of 
fine  land. 

Jones,  Esech  O.,  miller,  son  of 
William  and  Nancy  (McCall)  Jones,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  born  Feb.  15,  1826,  in 
Crawford  co.,  Pa.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  common  schools.  He 
learned  the  miller's  trade  in  youth,  and 
followed  it  till  1867,  when  he  changed  to 
farming.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1839. 
Sept.  5,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Maria 
Brayton,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, seven  girls  and  three  boys  living, 
two  boys  dead ;  has  been  School  Director 
for  twelve  years.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Lon- 
don Mills,  Fulton  co.,  111. 

Jones,  James  E.,  farmer,  son  of 
Reece  C.  and  Angeline  (Willard)  Jones, 
natives  of  Ohio,  born  in  Knox  county  in 
1853.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  his  life  has  passed  in  farm- 
ing ;  removed  to  his  own  farm ;  married 
Kezia  Hunter,and  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  of  whom  one  is  living.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Jones, Walter,  sec.  32,  Haw  Creek 
township.  P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Junk,  John,  whose  parents  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  farmers,  was  born 
May  6,  1827,  in  the  same  State ;  attended 
the  public  schools;  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade;  was  elected  Assessor,  Road 
Commissioner  and  Supervisor;  married 
38 


to  Elizabeth  Robertson  in  1855,  who  bore 
him  two  children;  served  as  Major  in  1st 
Battalion,  Fayette  Inf.;  is  a  member  of 
Henderson  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  is 
Trustee.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Henderson. 

Junk,  Samuel,  a  native  of  Fayette 
co.,  Pa.,  born  Dec.  19,  1832,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
county.  His  parents,  James  and  Eliza- 
beth Junk,  were  both  born  in  the  same 
county;  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
but  now  a  farmer;  came  to  Illinois  in 
1856 ;  married  Anna  Henderson  in  1857. 
four  children  have  been  born  to  them. 
Democrat;  has  served  in  Green  Mountain 
Blues,  a  company  of  infantry  in  his  native 
county ;  has  been  both  School  Director  and 
Trustee.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Junk,  Thomas,  sec.  2,  Henderson 
township.  P.  O.,  Henderson. 

Kays,  James  Wesley,  farmer, 
is  the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Bracken)  Kays,  of  Kentucky;  he  was 
born  Nov.  17,  1831,  in  Indiana ;  his  early 
life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  educa- 
tion obtained  in  the  district  school.  He 
come  to  Abingdon-,  111.,  in  1834.  He  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army  in  Oct.,  1861, 
private ;  remained  till  the  close  of  the  war ; 
and  was  promoted  to  Captain,  Aug.  14, 
1864,  when  he  went  home  on  a  furlough ; 
he  married  Sabina  Reed,  by  whom  he  has 
1  son  and  1  daughter.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church 
since  1865.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Keith,  F.  O.,  butcher,  Abingdon, 
son  of  Edwin  and  Hannah  Keith,  of 
Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Norfolk  co., 
Mass.,  Oct.  21,  1846;  spent  early  life  in 
Quincy,  Mass. ;  came  to  Abingdon,  1876 ; 
married  Nellie  Jones  March  10,  1875; 
have  1  child.  Republican. 

Kellogg,  JDennis,  was  born  in 
Austerlitz,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  26,  1810 ;  he  is  the 
son  of  Elisha  and  Olive  (Mallory)  Kellogg, 
of  Austerlitz,  N.  Y.,  and  Cornwall,  Conn. 
His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his 
education  secured  in  the  common  schools ; 
learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and  followed 
it  a  portion  of  his  life ;  he  came  to  Oneida, 
May  28,  1855 ;  Oct.  30,  1836,  he  married 
Emeline  Son,  who  has  borne  him  2  sons 
and  1  daughter ;  his  oldest'son  enlisted 
in  Co.  D.  17th  111.  Inf.,  and  was  killed 
by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  musket 
in  the  hands  of  a  comrade.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Kellogg,  O.  B,,  residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Kellogg,  William  Marvin, 
son  of  Dennis  and  Emeline  Kellogg,  na- 
tives of  Austerlitz,  N.  Y.,  was  born  at  the 
same  place  March  19,  1851 ;  moved  to 
Oneida,  111.,  May  28,  1855 ;  was  brought 
up  on  the  prairies  of  Illinois ;  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Oneida.  Bee- 


686 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


keeping  has  been  his  principal  business, 
although  it  has  been  varied  with  other 
work,  until  the  last  two  years,  it  has  been 
a  speciality.  Removed  to  Oquawka.  Rad- 
ical Republican.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Kennedy,  Andrew  J.  Andrew 
T.  and  Mary  (Sheldon)  Kennedy,  his  par- 
ents, were  both  natives  of  Otsego  co.,  N. 
Y.  They  settled  in  Lorraine  co.,  O.,  where 
Andrew  J.  was  born  Oct.  4,  1832,  and  3 
years  later  came  to  Knox  co. ;  engaged  in 
farming,  and  now  owns  a  beautiful  farm 
of  200  acres ;  married  Catharine  Ramey, 
Feb.  12, 1857 ;  have  3  sons  and  1  daughter. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Kennedy,  George  W.,  farmer ; 
P.  O.,  Douglas;  son  of  George  and  Nancy 
Kennedy,  natives  of  Tennessee;  born  in 
1833  in  Indiana.  His  early  life  passed 
on  the  farm;  removed  from  Tennessee 
to  Illinois,  coming  to  Knox  co.  in  1844 ; 
has  been  School  Director  6  years.  In 
1857  he  was  married  to  Elisia  Darnell ; 
made  a  profession  of  religion  in  1865  or 
'66.  Democrat. 

Kennedy,  M.  G.,residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Kewley,  Edward,  farmer,  resi- 
dence Lynn  tp.,  son  of  Wm.  and  Jane 
(Carran)  Kewley,  natives  of  Isle  of  Man, 
Great  Britian ;  born  in  same  place  Sept. 
19,  1826.  His  early  life  passed  on  the 
farm.  In  1847,  he  was  married  to  Ann 
Craine ;  they  are  the  parents  of  9  children, 
of  whom  5  are  living ;  emigrated  to  New 
York  in  1850 ;  moved  to  Michigan  in  1855, 
thence  to  Knox  co.,  in  1856.  P.  O.,  Gal- 
va,  Henry  co. 

Kightlinger,  Andrew  Jack- 
son, farmer,  son  of  Jacob  and  Maria 
Kightlinger,  of  Pennsylvania ;  was  born  in 
this  county,  Dec.  29,  1845 ;  spent  his  early 
life  on  farm,  and  at  country  schools ;  was 
married  to  Anna  Shelton  Feb.  11,  1875; 
one  child,  Floyd,  has  blessed 'the  union. 
Democrat.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Kightlinger,  Jacob,  one  of  the 
old  settlers  of  Knox,  was  born  Nov.  15, 
1800 ;  came  to  the  county  in  1837,  settling 
in  Elba  township,  where  he  lived  for 
many  years,  being  a  live,  enterprising 
citizen.  He  then  moved  to  Yates  City, 
where  he  now  lives.  Respected  by  all. 

Kightlinger,  L,.  C.,  farmer ;  P.  O., 
Yates  pity ;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Maria 
Ann  Kightlinger,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
L.  C.  was  born  in  Knox  co.  in  1849; 
was  raised  on  farm,  and  has  continued 
the  business  with  success;  he  attended 
the  common  schools ;  was  married  in  1873 
to  Miss  Laura  E.  Hurlbutt. 

King,  Cornelius,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Knoxville;  is  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret 
King  of  Indiana ;  was  born  in  Morgan  co., 
Ind.,  Aug.  26,  1821 ;  has  been  Road  Com- 
missioner and  School  Director;  married 


Elizabeth  A.  Clark,  Aug.  8,  1852 ;  parent 
of  5  children ;  joined  the  M.  E.  Church  in 
1870.  Trustee. 

King,  James,  farmer,  sou  of  Jolm 
and  Mary  King,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania ; 
born  in  Richland  co.,  O.,  April  6,  1833; 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  was  educa- 
ted in  the  common  schools  of  Illinois; 
his  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm; 
married  Bertana  Parish ;  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  4  children;  was  a  soldier  in 
the  llth  111.  Cav. ;  he  united  with  the  Ad- 
ventists  in  1874;;  School  Director  8  years. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

King,  William,  son  of  John  and 
and  Mary  King,  born  in  Ohio  in  1817 ; 
he  was  educated  in  the  log  school-houses 
of  Ohio,  and  his  early  life  passed  on  the 
farm ;  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but 
changed  to  farming,  and  since  1841  has 
worked  the  same  farm  and  is  now  quite 
well  off;  removed  to  Knox  co.  in  1834; 
in  1841  was  married  to  Rebecca  Glad- 
fetder,  and  the  fruits  of  their  marriage  are 
7  children.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Elm- 
wood.  Has  been  School  Director  and 
Constable  each  12  years. 

Kirkhnif,  Jesse,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Maquon ;  born  in  Warren  co.,  N.  J.,  Jan. 
1,  1816 ;  his  parents  were  Jesse  and  Char- 
lotte Kirkhuft',  natives  of  New  Jersey ;  he 
received  a  limited  education,  and  his  early 
life  passed  on  the  farm ;  Oct.  15,  1836,  he 
was  married  to  Caroline  Kirkhuff ;  they 
are  the  parents  of  6  children,  of  wThom 
4  are  living ;  removed  from  New  Jersey 
to  Illinois  in  1848.  Democrat. 

Knapp,  William  €.,  Professor 
Hedding  College,  Abingdon,  is  the  son  of 
Amasee  and  Sally  (Carter)  Knapp,  natives 
of  New  Hampshire,  was  born  in  Littleton, 
N.  H.,  March  10,  1853 ;  educated  in  Ver- 
mont Seminary,  Newburg,  Vt.,  and  North- 
western University,  Evanston,  111.;  en- 
gaged at  preaching  and  teaching;  was 
married  to  Ellen  A.  Bronson,  Aug.  19, 1860, 
and  to  Amelia  Seybold  in  1866,  and  the 
third  time  to  Matilda  McDowell  in  Dec., 
1876 ;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  since  1852;  also  has  been  Deacon 
and  Elder. 

Knox,  James,  deceased,  and 
whose  portrait  appears  in  this  book,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  co.,  N.  Y.,  July  4, 
1807 ;  he  was  the  son  of  James  and  Nancy 
(Elile)  Knox ;  he  prepared  for  college  in 
Hamilton  Academy,  New  York,  and  en- 
tered Hamilton  College  at  Clinton,  N.  Y., 
in  1827,  and  then  went  to  Yale ;  where 
he  graduated ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1833 ;  in  1836  he  came  to  Knoxville,  111., 
where  he  soon  assumed  a  prominent  posi- 
tion, and  took  a  leading  part  in  developing 
the  interests  of  the  town  and  county,  and 
opening  up  avenues  of  communication 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


687 


with  other  portions  of  the  country;  he 
was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the 
construction  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
railroad,  and  was  its  first  President;  in 
1847  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention,  and  to 
Congress  on  the  Whig  ticket  in  1852 ;  he 
married  Prudence  H.  Blish  in  1840,  who 
died  childless  in  1846;  during  the  last 
years  of  his  life  he  made  a  number  of  very 
liberal  donations  to  collegiate  institu- 
tions; he  died  Oct.  9,  1876. 

Kiiox.  Kd  win.  P.  O.,  Ontario, 
farmer ;  born  in  North  Salem,  N.  Y. ;  his 
parents,  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hobly)  Knox, 
were  natives  of  New  York;  Edwin  was 
educated  at  New  Hartford;  moved  to 
Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  in  1840,  and  to  Knox 
co.,  111.,  in  1854 ;  married  Rachel  Stewart 
Wetmore,  Aug.  24,  1853 ;  they  have  2  chil- 
dren, son  and  daughter ;  united  with  Bap- 
tist Church  in  1850.  Republican.  Cir- 
cumstances moderate. 

Knox  College,  Galesburg. 

It  ru  u*.  €rCO.  E.,  son  of  Eric  and 
Anna  (Olson)  Krans,  was  born  in  Sweden 
Aug.  19,  1847 ;  came  to  this  county  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  and  moved  into  Walnut  Grove 
tp.  in  1864,  where  he  now  lives ;  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools  of  this 
county ;  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and  con- 
tinues in  the  occupation ;  he  is  desirous 
of  becoming  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  country  of  his  adoption ;  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1869,  to  Anna  Obrink;  they  have 
4  children ;  joined  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  in  1862.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Al- 
tona. 

Ladd,  Arthur  W.,  editor  Oneida 
News,  is  the  son  of  James  M.  and  Sarah 
G.  Ladd,  of  New  Hampshire.  Arthur 
was  born  in  Ontario  township,  Knox  co., 
July  29,  1858 ;  attended  country  schools 
and  high  school  at  Oneida ;  never  appren- 
ticed to  learn  printer  trade,  never  in  a  print- 
ing office  until  he  commenced  his  own 
publication.  Enlisted  in  1877  as  a  musi- 
cian in  the  4th  Regt.  I.  N.  G. ;  soon  after 
appointed  Drum  Major  of  regt. 

Lambert,  W.  S.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Truro  township,  Knox  co.,  111.,  March 
24,  1853.  He  is  the  son  of  Martin  and 
Adaline  Lambert,  the  former  of  Kentucky, 
the  latter  from  Ohio.  He  was  educated 
at  Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  111. 
He  chose  farming  because  he  believed  it 
the  most  independent  pursuit;  removed 
from  Truro  to  Elba  township,  wrhere  he 
now  lives.  In  1870  he  married  Julia 
Dixon,  by  whom  he  has  2  children.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  Elmwood. 

Latimer,  John  Carson,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Robinson  co.,  Tenn.,  Aug.  18, 
1812;  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Dobbins)  Latimer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  the  latter  of  South  Carolina. 


His  educational  opportunities  in  youth 
were  very  limited,  not  being  able  to  write 
intelligibly  until  after  he  was  married. 
He  was  encouraged  to  pursue  study  by 
County  Surveyor  Denny,  to  whom  he  feels 
greatly  indebted.  He  came  to  Knox  co. 
in  1831 ;  married  Ann  Pierce  Jan.  5, 1834. 
They  are  the  parents  of  4  sons  and  6 
daughters.  He  united  with  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  1834,  changed  to  the  Christian 
in  1842.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Super- 
visor and  J.  P.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Ab- 
ingdon. 

L-atimer.  J.  S.,  dealer  in  thorough- 
bred stock ;  P.  O.,  Abingdon ;  was  born 
in  Cedar  township,  Knox  co.,  in  1836. 
His  father,  A.  Latimer,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  the  county;  attended  the  log 
school-house  in  1846,  and  Cherry  Grove 
Seminary  in  1850.  In  1856  he  went  to 
Minnesota  with  an  ox  team ;  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Faribault  co.,  with 
Indians  as  neighbors;  engaged  in  the 
war  against  the  Sioux  in  1862 ;  detailed  to 
buy  cattle  for  the  Government ;  returned 
to  Knox  co.  to  the  farm  known  as  Cedar 
Farm,  which  he  bought  in  1867 ;  since  has 
been  foremost  in  raising  fine  cattle  and 
hogs. 

Latimer,  Hon.  Joseph  F. 
There  is  perhaps  no  family  more  widely 
known  and  respected,  living  in  Knox  co., 
than  that  of  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  an  honored  member.  For  nearly 
half  a  century  the  Latimer  family  has 
been  closely  allied  to  the  interests  of  this 
county.  In  1831  Elder  Joseph  Latimer, 
the  grandfather  of  Joseph  F.,  came  to  the 
county  and  settled  in  Cedar  township. 
Soon  thereafter — 1832 — came  Jonathan 
Latimer,  the  father.  He  also  located  in 
Cedar  township.  Jonathan  Latimer  was 
born  in  Robinson  co.,  Tenn.,  May  29, 1803, 
and  was  the  eldest  of  5  sons.  His  parents 
were  Joseph  and  Anna  (Dobbins)  Latimer. 
His  grandfather  was  Colonel  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  and  his  12  sons  served  un- 
der him.  Jonathan  Latimer  was  married 
to  Miss  Nancy  West  in  1825,  came  to  San- 
gamon  co.,  111.,  in  1829,  and  to  Knox  co. 
in  1832.  There  were  but  4  families  in 
Cedar  township  at  the  time  he  located 
there.  He  made  a  profession  of  religion 
early  in  life,  and  lived  a  consistent,  zeal- 
ous Christian  man  until  his  death.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  members  and 
Elders  of  the  Cherry  Grove  Presbyterian 
Church ;  was  the  prime  mover  and  one  of 
the  founders  of  Cherry  Grove  Seminary ; 
was  noted  for  his  large,  noble,  benevolent 
heart,  ever  ready  to  help  the  poor,  and  full 
of  sympathy  and  love  for  his  fellow  men. 
None  knew  better  than  he  and  his  de- 
voted, energetic  wife,  the  hardships  and 
sacrifices  of  pioneer  life.  On  the  same 
place  where  they  settled  they  reared  10 


688 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


children,  7  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Jonathan  Latimer  passed  from  earth  Aug. 
4,  1866,  leaving  as  a  rich  legacy  a  blessed 
memory. 

Joseph  F.  Latimer,  whose  portrait  is  in 
this  volume,  was  born  at  Abingdon,  this 
county,  April  15,  1840.  His  father,  al- 
though poor  when  he  came  to  the  county, 
had  accumulated  a  goodly  fortune  ere  his 
death.  The  early  life  of  Joseph  was 
passed  upon  a  farm  in  summer  and  in  at- 
tendance at  school  in  the  winter.  He 
then  entered  Knox  College,  graduating 
with  honor  in  the  class  of  1864.  Imme- 
diately thereafter — June  5 — enlisted  in 
Company  G,  137th  111.  Inf.,  as  3d  Lieut. 
On  returning  home  he  was  chosen  Prin- 
cipal of  Cherry  Grove  Seminary.  In  1866 
was  elected  to  fill  the  chair  of  Natural 
Science  in  Lincoln  University,  Lincoln, 
111.  This  position  he  resigned  after  one 
year,  owing  to  ill  health.  He  returned  to 
his  farm  in  Cedar  township.  He  was 
elected  member  of  the  Legislature  from 
the  22d  district  for  the  years  1871-2.  Again 
in  1877-8  he  served  an  honorable  term  in 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  is  again 
re-elected  this  fall.  He  was  married  to 
Joanna  Humiston ;  2  children  have  blessed 
this  union.  He  made  a  profession  of  re- 
ligion in  1862,  and  is  connected  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Abingdon.  Re- 
publican. 

Lawrence,  Geo.  A.,  lawyer, 
Galesburg. 

I  .an  soil.  J.  P.,  miller;  residence, 
Oneida. 

Leach,  Edwin  Hatch,  lawyer, 
rs  the  son  of  Clement  and  Laura  (Hatch) 
Leach,  and  was  born  in  Eaton,  Madison 
co.,  N.  Y.  His  early  life  was  chiefly  spent 
in  school.  He  took  a  course  in  Knox  Col- 
lege, where  he  graduated,  receiving  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  'in  1869  and  of  A.  M.  in 
1873,  at  which  time  he  delivered  the  Mas- 
ter's oration.  In  1869  he  entered  Harvard 
Law  School,  where  he  graduated  in  1871. 
He  started  in  his  chosen  profession  in 
Galesburg,  and  was  City  Attorney  in 
1875-6.  Republican. 

Leamons,  H.  A.,  farmer,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Nancy  Leamons,  of  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Highland  co.,  O.,  Oct.  29,  1838 ; 
was  educated  in  common  school ;  was  a 
member  of  the  Band  of  the  48th  Regt.,  and 
60th  Regt.  Co.  A,  and  was  a  private  in 
Co.  K  of  12th  Regt.  O.  Inf.  in  the  late  war. 
He  married  Ellen  Barrere.  They  have 
had  6  children,  1  dead.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Galesburg. 

Lee  Bros.,  Sparta  township.  P.  O., 
Wataga. 

Leflingwell,  Charles  W.,  rec- 
tor of  St.  Mary's  School,  Knoxville,  was 
liorn  Dec.  5, 1840.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev. 
Lyinan  and  Sarah  (Brown)  LefHngwell, 


natives  of  Connecticut.  He  prepared  for 
Yale  College  at  Temple  School,  New 
Haven,  but  entered  Union  College,  N. 
Y. ;  came  to  Illinois,  and  at  the  age  of  17 
taught  school;  then  went  to  Galveston, 
Tex.,  where  he  taught  a  select  school ;  in 
1861  returned  to  Illinois  and  entered 
Knox  College,  where  in  1862  he  gradua- 
ted. He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Fran- 
cis July  23,  1862.  He  soon  afterwards 
became  Vice-Principal  of  the  Military 
Institute,  New  York.  After  3  years  be- 
gan to  prepare  for  the  ministry,  and  com- 
pleted his  theological  course  in  the  Sem- 
inary at  Nashotah,  Wis.,  in  1867,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  B.  D.  After  his  ordi- 
nation by  Bishop  Whitehouse,  he  was 
elected  tutor  of  that  institution.  In  1868 
he  was  called  to  take  charge  of  St.  Mary's 
School,  of  which  we  give  a  sketch  in  edu- 
cational chapter;  since  then  he  has  con- 
ducted that  institution  successfully.  He 
is  also  editor  of  "The  Diocese."  In  the 
midst  of  his  labors  he  has  found  time  to 
study  the  fine  arts,  and  has  made  3  trips  to 
Europe,  visiting  principal  places  of  in- 
terest. He  is  the  parent  of  6  children,  4 
of  whom  are  living. 

Leigh,  Mary,  was  born  at  Mount 
Washington,  Mass.,  Sept.  14,  1805.  Her 
parents  were  David  and  Elizabeth  (Hull) 
Booth,  of  Connecticut.  She  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  She  came  to  Illinois 
in  1833,  where  she  has  lived  since.  Nov. 
2,  1826,  she  was  married  to  Robert 
Leigh,  who  was  born  June  24,  1792,  and 
died  in  1868.  Mrs.  L.  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  since  1823;  al- 
ways lived  on  a  farm  until  her  husband's 
decease.  P.  O.,  Hermon,  111. 

Leigh  ton,  John  A.,  sprang  from 
vigorous  Scotch  stock,  his  parents,  Wil- 
liam and  Isabel,  both  being  natives  of 
old  Scotland,  where  John  A.  was  born 
Feb.  10,1828;  married  May  26,  1849,  to 
Jessie  Russell ;  5  children  were  born  to 
them.  His  wife  having  died,  was  mar- 
ried again  March  21, 1860,  to  Jane  Brant; 
they  have  1  boy.  Has  served  as  Trustee, 
Collector  and  School  Director;  is  a 
farmer.  Address,  Oneida. 

Leonard,  John,  was  born  in  War- 
wick, Mass.,  June  13,  1806.  He  married 
Louisa  Jones  March  5,  1832 ;  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1828,  and  was 
Deacon  for  a  series  of  years.  He  died 
Jan.  13,  1865.  The  only  surviving  mem- 
ber of  his  family,  Henry  F.  Leonard,  was 
bora  in  LaSalle  co.,  l\l.,  -May  22,  1842; 
he  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm,  and  his  only 
educational  opportunities  were  such  as 
the  common  schools  offered.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Galesburg  in  1849;  he 
enlisted  in  1861  in  Co.  C,  42d  111.  Vol. ; 
was  wounded  at  Spring  Hill,  Tenn.,  Nov. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


689 


29,  1864.  He  served  4  years  and  6  months. 
Jan.  31,  1865,  lie  married  Sarah  J.  Bruner, 
who  has  borne  him-3  sons  and  1  daugh- 
ter. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  for  18  years.  Repub- 
lican. Is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Stone 
&  Leonard,  grocers,  Galesburg. 

L,eyalley,  Christopher  H.,  far- 
mer, is  the  son  of  John  and  Betsey  Ann 
(Durham)  of  New  York  State.  He  was 
born  in  Schoharie  co.,  N.  Y.,  May  7, 1815. 
He  has  spent  his  life  in  farming  and 
working  at  the  cooper's  trade.  He  mar- 
ried Harriet  Gaines  Jan.  18,  1837.  They 
have  a  family  of  7  daughters  and  1  son ; 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Copley 
township  in  1842.  Since  1843  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  a  Trustee  for  many  years.  Republi- 
can. P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Lewis,  Hon.  John  H.  But  few 
men  have  had  a  more  varied  life  expe- 
rience than  has  John  H.  Lewis,  of  Knox- 
ville,  and  who  is  yet  in  the  prime  of  life. 
He  was  born  on  the  21st  day  of  July,  1830, 
in  Tompkins  co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents 
were  Henry  and  Permelia  M.  (Shaver) 
Lewis,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  was  a  descendant  of  Francis  Lewis, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. His  mother  was  a  native  of 
New  York  State.  With  their  two  sons, 
George  and  John,  they  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  fall  of  1836,  locating  in  Ellis- 
ville,  Fulton  co.  This  wearisome  jour- 
ney was  made  in  a  wagon,  and  consumed 
51  days.  On  their  arrival  at  their  new 
Western  home,  several  Indian  wigwams 
were  still  in  existence  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Henry  Lewis  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  section,  and  built  the  first 
frame  house  in  that  town ;  but  he  was  not 
permitted  to  witness  the  wonderful  trans- 
formation that  has  taken  place  in  this 
State,  for  death  removed  him  from  earth 
on  the  25th  of  Sept.  1837,  leaving  a  widow 
and  3  small  children.  After  his  death 
his  widow  and  children,  in  due  course  of 
administration,  were  turned  out  of  house 
and  home  to  provide  for  themselves  as 
best  they  could  among  strangers  in  a  new 
and  strange  country,  and  with  a  mother's 
devotion  she  took  care  of  her  children  to 
the  best  of  her  ability,  until  they  were 
able  to  .provide  for  themselves.  The 
oldest  son  left  his  adopted  State  when 
young  in  years,  and  after  extended  travels, 
spending  several  years  in  Mexico,  found 
a  home  in  lower  California.  The  young- 
est son  also  left  his  home  early  in  life, 
and  after  traveling  extensively,  including 
a  trip  on  a  whaling  expedition,  he  located 
in  Australia.  Thus  the  three  surviving 
members  of  this  family  are  separated  by 
thousands  of  miles,  John  H.  residing  in 
Knox  co.  After  his  father's  death,  he  re- 


mained in  and  near  Ellisville,  sometimes 
working  on  a  farm,  and  at  other  times  in 
town,  until  the  fall  of  1841.  At  that  time 
when  only  11  years  old,  he  was  put  out  to 
work  on  a  farm  near  Farmington,  in  the 
edge  of  Peoria  co.,  in  the  family  of  a 
South  Carolinian,  for  a  period  of  6  years 
(under  the  impression  that  he  was  bound, 
but  no  papers  were  ever  executed),  the 
conditions  being  that  he  was  to  have  good 
clothes,  three  months'  school  ing  each  year 
and  a  horse  saddled  and  bridled  at  the 
close  of  his  servitude.  Even  these  hard 
conditions  were  not  complied  with.  At 
the  end  of  5  years'  hard  work  he  had  re- 
ceived but  41  days'  schooling,  during  that 
time  being  poorly  clad,  and  never  per- 
mitted to  eat  at  the  table  with  the  family. 
His  mother,  who  was  then  working  by 
the  week,  at  a  house  some  6  miles  dis- 
tant, attended  the  funeral  of  the  lady  of 
the  house  where  he  lived,  and  learned  the 
true  condition  of  he*  son.  She  deter- 
mined to  find  him  another  home,  which 
she  soon  succeeded  in  doing,  and  John 
H.  was  admitted  to  the  home  of  William 
Kent,  who  lived  near  the  present  town 
site  of  Yates  City,  where  his  mother 
lived.  He  remained  there  during  the 
winter  and  rttended  the  country  school, 
his  mother  providing  him  with  suitable 
clothing.  John  H.  was  a  favorite  of  Mr. 
Kent,  who  furnished  him  with  a  rifle  and 
ammunition,  with  which  he  spent  many 
pleasant  hours  in  the  beautiful  grove  that 
surrounded  the  house,  and  where  squir- 
rels and  other  small  game  were  in  abund- 
ance. In  the  spring  John  H.  hired  him- 
self to  James  Kent,  a  son  of  William 
Kent,  to  labor  on  his  farm,  receiving  $7 
per  month.  His  mother  also  went  there 
to  live. 

In  the  fall  of  1847  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  then  but  17  years  of  age,  went  to 
Knox  co.,  and  in  Knoxville  made  his 
home  with  the  generous  R.  L.  Hanna- 
man  for  2  years,  in  the  mean  time  attend- 
ing school  and  doing  chores  for  his  board. 

In  1848  his  mother  followed  him  to 
Knoxville.  The  spring  of  the  following 
year  found  him  without  money  and  cloth- 
ing threadbare.  At  this  critical  moment 
Mr.  Hannaman  procured  for  him  a  situa- 
tion in  the  store  of  G.  M.  Ewing  at  $50  a 
year,  and  board.  At  the  end  of  the  first 
year  he  came  out  $2.20  in  debt,  but  the 
following  year,  by  careful  and  judicious 
management,  which  has  always  charac- 
terized him,  he  saved  $12.60  out  of  a  sal- 
ary of  $75.  His  employer  desired  him 
to  remain  longer,  and  offered  him  $150 
for  another  year  of  service,  but  he  chose 
rather  to  attend  school,  which  he  did  until 
fall,  when  Alexander  Ewing,  who  had  re- 
turned from  California,  bought  a  large 
stock  of  goods,  which  John  H.  assisted  in 


690 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


marking ;  here  was  an  important  period 
of  his  life.  Mr.  Ewing  gave  him  a  small 
stock  of  goods  to  peddle  on  commission ; 
he  had  no  wagon  or  horse  with  which  to 
convey  his  goods,  and  had  but  $22  in 
money.  This  he  paid  on  a  $40  horse  and 
harness,  and  to  procure  a  wagon  he  gave 
his  first  note  for  $60.  due  in  60  days,  which 
was  paid  before  it  matured ;  he  continued 
in  this  business  until  the  summer  of  1853, 
when  shortly  afterward  he  went  to  Ab- 
ingdon  to  clerk  for  a  Mr.  Chesney ;  his 
business  connection  with  this  gentleman 
continued  until  he  sold  out,  which  was  a 
period  of  5  years. 

On  the  12th  day  of  December,  1857,  Mr. 
Lewis  was  married  to  Elizabeth  S.  Rus- 
sell, a  native  of  Virginia,  but  who  had 
been  reared  in  Knox  county,  her  parents 
being  among  the  pioneers  of  1837,  she 
being  then  in  her  first  year.  About  this 
time,  having  access  to  the  law  library  of 
A.  J.  King,  he  devoted  his  spare  hours  to 
the  study  of  law,  and  in  January,  1870, 
was  regularly  admitted  to  the  bar  as  an 
attorney  at  law.  In  politics  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  has  always  been  a  staunch 
Republican,  and  during  the  exciting  po- 
litical campaign  of  1860  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  issues.  He  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
and  ex-officio  Recorder  for  Knox  county 
at  that  election.  This  compelled  his  pres- 
ence at  Knoxville,  the  county  seat.  After 
his  term  of  four  years  expired  he  took  a 
vacation  to  recruit  his  physical  strength. 
He  traveled  considerably,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1868  again  entered  the  Clerk's  office, 
this  time  as  Deputy,  where  he  remained 
until  1874.  May  25th  of  that  year  he 
was  appointed  by  the  Governor  one 
of  three  trustees  of  the  "Illinois  In- 
stitution for  the  Education  of  the 
Blind,"  which  position  he  resigned  on 
being  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  the 
fall  of  1874.  As  Representative  he  la- 
bored hard  for  the  welfare  of  his  constit 
uency,  and  leaves  an  honorable  record. 
He  is  a  temperate,  moral  and  upright 
man.  He  is  not  disposed  to  agitate  differ- 
ences, and  has  had  but  few,  although 
having  business  dealings  with  large 
numbers.  He  belongs  to  no  church,  and 
accepts  no  creed,  yet  his  faith  in  the  mer- 
cy and  justice  of  God  is  great  and  immov- 
able. He  was  made  a  Free  Mason  as 
soon  as  he  arrived  at  the  proper  age, 
which  is  the  only  secret  society  he  ever 
connected  himself  with.  Mr.  Lewis  has 
been  eminently  successful  in  his  business 
career,  and  a  glance  at  the  county  records 
plainly  shows  that  his  profits  depend 
largely  on  the  success  of  the  agricultural 
interests  of  the  country.  Coming  to  Knox 
county  an  uneducated  boy  and  without  a 
penny,  he  has  by  integrity  of  character 


won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who 
know  him,  which  include  almost  all 
within  the  limits  of  the  county.  Here  is 
an  example  worthy  of  imitation  by  the 
young  men  of  this  day.  Be  energetic,  be 
studious,  be  honest,  be  upright,  be  pleas- 
ant, and  you  who  have  superior  advant- 
ages to  those  enjoyed  by  Mr.  Lewis  will, 
as  he  has,  merit  and  receive  the  confi- 
dence, good  will  and  esteem  of  thousands. 

Liden,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  mid- 
wife, residence  Galesburg.  Mrs.  L.  has 
a  diploma  from  the  Royal  College  of 
Midwifery  of  Stockholm,  Sweden,  which 
she  received  when  no  other  kingdom 
was  granting  such  honors  to  women. 
She  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  born  March 
9,  1838 ;  was  married  to  Stephen  S.  Liden, 
July  4, 1861.  He  is  a  coppersmith ;  form- 
erly was  Pastor  of  Swedish  Baptist  church, 
now  Deacon;  they  have  2  children  living, 
4  dead. 

Liebant,  Jein,  son  of  Jein  and 
Katie  Liebant,  natives  of  France.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Sept.  10, 
1813,  in  France;  has  been  School  Direc- 
tor; moved  to  New  York,  then  to  Illi- 
nois, in  1836 ;  returned  to  France ;  then 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  then  back  to  New  York, 
then  to  this  county.  Mr.  Liebant  is  well 
liked  by  his  neighbors;  he  lives  alone 
on  his  farm  in  Elba  township.  P.  O.. 
Douglas. 

I. in  11.  Prof.  Albert,  deceased, 
was  born  in  Adams  co.,  111.,  Feb.  25, 
1810;  his  parents,  John  and  Nancy  Linn, 
were  natives  of  Indiana ;  he  had  a  colle- 
giate education,  and  was  teacher  and 
principal  in  the  preparatory  department  of 
Abingdon  college,  and  for  many  years  was 
professor  of  mathematics ;  he  united  with 
the  Christian  Church  in  1868,was  baptized 
by  Prof.  Thomson.  He  died  March  11, 

1875,  in  the  very  prime  of  life.     His 
widow,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Linn,  nee  Lyon,  whom 
he  married  Aug.  29,  1865,  resides  at  Ab- 
ingdon.    She  is  a  graduate  of  Abingdon 
College. 

Llndberg,  Henry,  sec.  23, Walnut 
Grove  township.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Lindbnrff,  Charles  H.,  farmer, 
son  of  Gust,  and  Anna  (Yden)  Lindburg, 
was  born  in  Sweden  Nov.  22,  1858.  His 
parents  came  to  Fulton  co.,  111.,  in  1869. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  and 
high  schools  of  Sweden  and  Galva ;  was 
raised  on  a  farm,  and  became  a  farmer 
from  choice.  He  settled  in  Knox  co.  in 

1876,  where  he  now  lives.     P.  O.,  Galva. 
Little,  Albert  Cir.,  mechanic  and 

dealer  in  musical  merchandise,  Altona; 
was  born  Sept.  27,  1817,  in  Boscawen, 
Merrimack  co.,  N.  H.  His  parents  were 
Henry  and  Susan  Little,  of  that  State. 
His  education  was  confined  to  the  com- 
mon schools ;  followed  farming  in  early 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


691 


life;  afterwards  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  worked  at  it  till  1852,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  selling  musical 
instruments.  He  came  to  Peoria  in  1836; 
removed  to  Liverpool,  Fulton  co.,  in  1839, 
thence  to  Altona  in  1866 ;  he  has  held  the 
offices  of  J.  P.  and  Town  Clerk.  He  first 
married  Deborah  Bruck,  Nov.  10,  1842, 
by  whom  he  had  5  children,  4  living  ; 
married  Jane  Steel,  Dec.  5,  1850,  by 
whom  he  had  10  children,  4  of  whom  are 
living;  joined  the  Congregational  Church 
in  1835. 

I .oiiiiix.  E.  H.,  farmer ;  P.  O.,  Ab- 
ingdon;  born  in  Warren  co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  15, 
1815;  his  parents,  E.  H.  and  Rachel  (Hiat) 
were  natives  of  South  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia, respectively;  came  to  Knox  co.  in 
1842;  learned  trade  of  wagon-maker  and 
boat-builder;  was  married  Dec.  5,  1852, 
to  Rebecca  C.  Ferris;  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  Democrat. 

l.omax.  William  !>.„  farmer, 
son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Howard)  Lomax, 
of  Kentucky;  was  born  in  Indian1  Point 
township,  Knox  co.,  111.,  Oct.  8,"  1837. 
His  parents  settled  in  that  township  in 
1834.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the 
farm.  He  enlisted  as  private  in  the  late 
civil  war,  in  Co.  K,  55th  111.  Vol.,  in  1861, 
and  by  meritorious  conduct  was  pro- 
moted to  the  office  of  Captain.  He  re- 
moved from  the  farm  to  Abingdon  in 
1866,  and  served  as  Postmaster  there  until 
1873,  when  he  returned  to  the  farm;  was 
married  Dec.  8,  1864,  and  has  3  sons  and 
2  daughters.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Long,  T.  L<.    P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Longden.  William  Henry, 
born  June  19,  1827  at  Haywoocl,  Lan- 
cashire co.,  Eng. ;  attended  school  till  14, 
then  placed  in  a  cotton  mill,  followed 
this  till  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1850,  to  Salem  township,  this  co.,  1851. 
Man-led  Sept.  3,  1848,  to  Mary  Duck- 
worth. They,  have  2  children  living,  2 
dead.  Republican.  Visited  England  in 
1872.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

LiOtts.  Milton,  farmer,  born  Jan.  1, 
1823  in  Ohio,  and  spent  his  school-boy 
days  on  the  farm,  under  the  parental  roof; 
his  parents  were  both  natives  of  Virginia ; 
his  father  Isaac,  born  in  Greenbriar  co., 
and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Monroe 
cp. ;  came  to  Knox  co.,  1837,  where  he  has 
since  resided;  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Ward  March  13,  1875 ;  their  family  con- 
sists of  8  children.  P.  O.,  Gilson,  near 
which  place  he  owns  a  fine  farm. 

Love,  Richard,  R.  R.  conductor, 
son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Love,  natives 
of  England ;  was  born  in  the  year  of  1844, 
in  Toronto,  Canada;  his  childhood  was 
passed  on  the  farm ;  came  with  his  parents 
to  Aurora,  111.,  in  his  youth ;  started  rail- 


roading early  in  life,  and  has  continued ; 
has  been  a  conductor  on  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  for 
12  years ;  in  1869  he  married  Jennie  E. 
Displain;  the  union  has  resulted  in  1 
daughter,  Mary  E.  Mr.  L.  was  a  soldier 
in  the  late  war.  Republican.  Residence, 
Galesburg,  111. 

JLqwrie,  Rev.  M.  H.,  Pastor  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Galesburg. 

l.iicaii.  Charles,  son  of  Henry 
and  Anna  Mary  (Oesterhald)  Lucan,  na- 
tives of  Germany,  born  in  Germany,  June 
17,  1836;  educated  in  the  German  lan- 
guage ;  until  14  years  old  he  lived  on  a 
farm;  went  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade, 
which  he  changed  for  farming,  in  which 
he  has  been  successful ;  in  1854  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  thence  to  Canton,  Ful- 
ton co.,  111.,  living  there  18  years,  then 
moving  to  Knox  co.  in  1875 ;  Sept.  11, 
1851,  was  married  to  Philecia  E.  Loyd; 
they  are  the  parents  of  4  children ;  in  1865 
united  with  the  Christian  Church;  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  London  Mills,  Fulton 
co.,  Illinois. 

Lundeen  George,  farmer,  resides 
on  section  8,  Walnut  Grove  township; 
P.  O.,  Altona. 

l.v  iia  m.  Richard  II..  farmer, 
son  of  Wm.  H.,  and  Lovina  (Rice) 
Lynam,  of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  Pike 
co.,  111.,  Aug.  16,  1840 ;  his  eai'ly  life  was 
passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  education  ob- 
tained in  the  common  schools ;  his  par- 
ents came  to  Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1846 ;  he 
served  3  years  in  the  late  war  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Co.  G.,  89th  111.  Vol. ;  on  the  3d 
of  Oct.  1865,  he  married  Minerva  A.  Star- 
board ;  5  sons  and  1  daughter,  are  the 
fruit  of  the  union,  4  of  whom  are  living. 
Greenbacker.  P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Mackintosh,  €feo.  Donald,  far- 
mer, born  in  Bauffshire,  Scotland,  the  na- 
tive place  of  his  parents,  James  and  Sarah 
Mackintosh ;  educated  at  Merchiston  Cas- 
tle Academy  and  High  School,Edinburgh, 
Scotland;  went  to  India,  then  came  to 
America;  served  in  the  late  war;  was 
married  Sept.  5,  1871,  to  Grace  Kirk: 
learned  the  cabinet  trade.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Altona, 

Mackie,  John,  farmer,  born  in 
Scotland,  March,  1854.  His  parents, 
Mathew  and  Jane,  were  natives  of  the 
low  lands  of  Scotland ;  was  sent  to  private 
school  in  his  native  country,  and  while 
yet  quite  young  began  work  in  the  mines ; 
was  married  April  17, 1846,  to  Miss  Janett 
McFaydeu,  who  bore  him  9  children,  4 
boys  and  5  girls ;  came  to  America  in  1848 
and  settled  in  Knox  co.,  and  has  lived 
here  since ;  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  and  Road  Commissioner  in  Truro 
township ;  early  in  life  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  but  later  joined  the 


692 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


Christian  Church,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  Deacon.     Independent.     P.  O.,  Truro. 

Main,  E.  B.,  sec.  16,  Walnut  Grove 
township.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Main,  James,  farmer  and  black- 
smith, sec.  80,  Ontario  township.  P.  O., 
Ontario. 

Mansfield,  Thomas  .1 ..  son  of 
Jos.  and  Elizabeth  (Champion)  Mansfield, 
natives  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born  in 
Crawford  co.,  Ind.,  March  16, 1828 ;  came 
to  Henderson  township,  Knox  co.,  in  1833, 
where  he  was  educated ;  was  Supervisor 
for  that  township  in  1860,  and  has  been 
Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director 
in  Ontario  township,  where  he  now  lives 
on  a  large  farm ;  married  Sarah  A.  Wil- 
mot  Feb.  17,  1853;  they  have  3  boys; 
joined  the  Christian  Church  in  1850 ;  bap- 
tized by  Elder  Jno.  E.  Martin;  Deacon 
for  several  years.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Woodhull,  111. 

Markham,  Horace  L.,  whose 
parents,  Horace  and  Esther  O.,  were  na- 
tives of  Vermont  and  Kentucky  respect- 
ively, was  born  in  Peoria  co.,  111.,  Jan.  31, 
1827;  attended  the  common  schools  in 
Indiana  and  this  State;  took  a  profes- 
sional course  under  Dr.  O'Neil  atDaublin 
College;  practiced  veterinary  surgery; 
went  to  the  West ;  encountered  many  hair- 
breadth escapes;  served  in  the  1st  111. 
Cav.  as  Asst.  Quartermaster ;  married,  in 
1872,  Eliza  E.  Martin,  which  union  was 
blessed  with  3  sons.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Henderson. 

Marshall,  John,  Salem  township. 
P.  O.,  Farmington,  Fulton  co. 

Martin,  Oliver  J.,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Hamilton  co.,  O.,  Jan.  24,  1842. 
His  parents  were  Francis  and  Eliza  (Jones) 
Martin,  of  the  same  county ;  his  early  life 
was  spent  on  a  farm  and  education  con- 
fined to  the  common  schools ;  came  from 
Ohio  to  Illinois  in  Feb.,  1868,  and  settled 
in  Knox  co. ;  has  held  the  offices  of  Town 
Clerk,  Collector  and  School  Director; 
March  30, 1865,  he  married  Eliza  J.  Moon ; 
they  have  2  children;  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  since  1870, 
and  is  a  Deacon.  Democrat,  P.  O.,  Her- 
mon. 

Martin,  John  M.,  Principal  of 
Western  Business  College,  Galesburg. 

Mason,  Martin  B.,  farmer,  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catharine  Mason,  the  former 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
Martin  B.  was  born  in  Fayette  co.,  Pa., 
May  6,  1808 ;  was  schooled  in  log  school 
house  in  Ohio ;  moved  to  Ohio  in  1814,  to 
Illinois  in  1837;  married  Mary  Ann 
Slosson ;  they  have  7  children ;  has  held 
the  office  of  County  Commissioner  and 
Supervisor  a  number  of  years ;  is  a  Uni- 
versalist.  Greenbacker.  P.O.,YatesCity. 


Masters,  W.  M.,  Sparta  township. 
P.  O.,  Wataga, 

Mathews,  Robert  €r.,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1851.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Clara  Mathews,  he 
of  Ireland,  she  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
educated  in  common  schools  chiefly ;  his 
life  has  been  spent  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  ;  he  is  now  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. Republican.  P.  O.,  Douglas. 

Matson,  Lewis,  farmer,  son  of 
George  and  Catherine  (Olson)  Matson ; 
was  born  in  Victoria,  Knox  co.,  111.,  Nov. 
25,  1852;  removed  to  Wataga  in  1869. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Matteson,  Asa  A.,  Vice  Presi- 
dent First  Nat.  Bank,  Galesburg. 

Matteson,  C.  S.,  harness-maker, 
Oneida. 

Maxfteld.  William,  son  of  Jas. 
and  Hannah  (Batchler)  Maxfield,  natives 
of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  Maine  Jan. 
10, 1814 ;  was  educated  in  district  schools ; 
early  life  passed  in  different  vocations; 
learned  the  trades  of  carpenter  and  cooper, 
and  has  followed  farming,  which  he  con- 
tinues; moved  from  Maine  to  Illinois 
July  4,  1837;  married  Mariah  K.  Max- 
field  ;  they  are  the  parents  of  5  children. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

May,  S.  W.  See  article  on  wind- 
mills in  chapter  on  manufactories. 

May,  H.  H.,  son  of  Ellis  May,  a 
descendant  of  John  May,  who  came  from 
England  to  Boston  in  1640 ;  was  born  in 
Washington  co.,  N.  Y.  When  he  was  21 
years  old  he  joined  the  church,  and  has 
been  a  member  since.  To  show  the  drift 
of  his  genius  and  how  his  brains  drove 
his  hands,  we  will  name  some  of  the 
many  inventions  that  he  shows  by  drafts 
and  lettered  specifications  on  paper,  al- 
though in  some  cases  he  has  beautifully 
working  models.  He  says:  "Some  of  my 
experiments  proved  worthless  to  the  world 
but  not  to  me,  and  where  success  even 
exceeded  my  expectations,  the  cupidity 
of  man  has  repeatedly  prevented  nie  from 
being  the  almoner  of  the  bounties  of  my 
own  brains."  According  to  affidavits  be- 
fore us  of  eye  witnesses,  he  invented  in 
1824  a  reaper  which  cut  rye,  in  Aug.,  1826, 
at  the  rate  of  1  acre  per  hour,  and  casting 
it  back  upon  the  platform  nicely  with  a 
reel,  like  those  now  in  use,  and  was  drawn 
by  one  horse,  for  it  was  mounted  on  the 
hind  wheels  of  a  lumber  wagon.  But 
since  C.  H.  McCormick  has  claimed  pri- 
ority in  this  invention.it  appears  to  be  duty 
to  quote  his  own  testimony  to  show  his 
mistake,  and  so  let  honor  rest  where 
honor  belongs.  He  had  applied  for  an 
extension  of  his  patent,  and  the  Scientific 
American,  vol.  8,  page  70,  says :  ''  The 
testimony  of  C.  H.  McCormick  presented 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


693 


to  the  Board  of  Extension,  clearly  proves 
that  he  invented  and  put  in  operation  his 
machine  in  1831 ;"  hence  Mr.  May's  suc- 
cessful trial  of  his  reaper  above  was  5 
years  before  Mr.  McCormick's. 

After  his  father  had  decided  not  to 
assist  his  son  to  take  out  letters  patent, 
he  applied  to  several  of  his  friends  for  aid 
but  got  none.  Jan.  13,  1831,  we  find  a 
$500  bond  not  to  divulge  Mr.  May's  plans 
for  reaping  grain,  signed  and  sealed  \>y 
Timothy  Durkee.  Even  the  signing  of 
this  bond  was  some  months  before  Mr. 
McCormick's  first  trial  of  his  reaper.  To 
get  help  he  went  into  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  1832,  determined  to  take  out  let- 
ters patent  for  his  reaper  as  soon  as  he 
could  earn  enough  to  do  so.  But  in  1834 
he  saw  the  claims  of  C.  H.  McCormick 
to  a  "  great  invention"  in  grain  reaping. 
After  reading  a  few  lines  he  discovered 
his  grain-reaper  was  being  described ; 
his  vision  failed  him  so  that  he  could  not 
read  a  word.  After  waiting,  he  tried 
again,  and  again  the  third  time,  when  he 
called  his  brother  to  read  the  item  to  him. 
His  fond  hopes  being  thus  broken,  his 
health  declined,  and  he  finally  concluded 
to  sell  out  and  move  west,  and  go  to  farm- 
ing. He  started  in  March.  1836,  to  find 
a  new  home,  which  he  did  with  the  colony 
at  Galesburg.  For  the  invention  of  the 
steel  plow  we  refer  to  Chapter  XXII.  In 
1842  he  invented  a  wood-bender,  now  ex- 
tensively used.  When  Mr.  May  read  the 
account  of  the  Merrimac  sinking  the  Cum- 
berland, he  devised  a  horned  boat'or  ram; 
he  made  a  draft  and  specification  of  it, 
which  he  sent  to  President  Lincoln,  who 
said  he  liked  it  the  best  of  the  many  de- 
vices that  had  been  presented. 

He  has  taken  out  the  following  letters 
patent,  viz :  On  prairie  plows  May  2, 
1843 ;  old  land  plows,  Jan.  27, 184G ;  press 
to  form  moldboards  to  plows,  June  27, 
1846;  foundation  for  railroads,  Nov.  26, 
1850;  and  on  elevating  water  without 
pump,  Nov.  14,  1865.  He  has  5  caveats 
on  which  patents  can  issue  if  they  are 
deemed  worthy,  and  45  specifications  of 
inventions. 

McBride,  William,  sec.  22,  Lynn 
township.  P.  O.,  LaFayette. 

McCalmont,  John  B.,  son  of 
Henry  and  Ann  (Wilson)  McCalmont, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania;  was  born  Sept. 
7,  1807,  in  Centre  co..  Pa.;  he  was  educa- 
ted in  the  subscription  schools,  and  his 
early  life  passed  in  a  blacksmith  shop; 
moved  to  Venango  co.,  Pa.,  in  1818,  and 
to  Knox  in  1855 ;  was  first  married  May 
12,  1831,  to  Ann  Thompson,  and  again  on 
Dec.  9,  1851,  to  Sophronia  Stockham;  he 
is  the  parent  of  8  children,  of  whom  3  are 
living.  Republican.  Was  Justice  of  the 

39 


Peace  15  years  in   Pennsylvania,  and  4 
years  in  Knox  co.     P.  O.,  Altona. 

McClelland,  Dr.  M.  A.,  County 
Physician.  Residence,  Knoxville. 

McClyniont,  Peter,  farmer,  born 
in  Scotland  Dec.,  1816,  son  ot  Gilbert  and 
Mary  McClymont;  came  to  Pennsylvania 
in  1844,  and  to  Knox  co.in  1845 ;  married 
in  Nov.  1849,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  Miller. 
Parents  of  6  children ;  member  and  Trus- 
tee of  Presbyterian  Church.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Oneida. 

McCornack,  A.  F.,  Copley  town- 
ship. P.  0.,  Oueida. 

McDaimoels,  CJeorge,  farmer 
and  stocK-raiser ;  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
Louisa  McDannoels,  natives  of  Ohio. 
George  was  born  in  Macornb,  111.,  Feb.  7, 
1854;  attended  common  school  in  Knox 
co.  Has  been  very  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness. Republican.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

McDowell,  John,  farmer,  son  of 
John  and  Anna  (Livingston)  McDowell, 
natives  of  Kirkudbrightshire,  Scotland ; 
he  was  born  in  the  same  place  Oct  26, 
1816;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm;  emigrated  to  Knox  co.  July  26, 
1839;  returned  to  Scotland  in  1843  and 
married  Margaret  Gordon.  They  are  the 
parents  of  10  children,  of  whom  9  are 
living;  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Trustee  and  Supervisor  of  Copley  town- 
ship :  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  Trustee.  Repub- 
lican. P.  O.,  Victoria. 

McEldowney,  Hezekiah,  mil- 
ler, St.  Augustine,  is  the  son  of  Robt.  and 
Elizabeth  (Smith)  McEldowney,  former 
of  Scotland,  his  mother  of  Virginia;  he 
was  born  in  Bedford  co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  8,  1836 ; 
came  to  the  county  first  in  1867;  was 
married  Dec.  25, 1858,  to  oarah  Heckman, 
who  has  borne  2  children,  a  girl  and  a 
boy :  was  in  Co.  C.  22d  Pa.  Cav,  Democrat. 
McElrea,  W.  C.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Warren  co.,  111.,  Feb.  10,  1839 ;  he  is 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Peter- 
son) McElrea,  the  former  from  Ireland, 
the  latter  from  Pa. ;  his  early  life  was 
passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  education  ob- 
tained in  the  district  school.  He  has 
always  been  a  farmer,  but  has  also  oper- 
ated in  the  mercantile  business  in  St. 
Aucustine  for  a  number  of  years ;  settled 
in  Knox  co.  in  1852;  in  1866,  March  1, 
he  married  Melissa  Snare,  who  bore  him 
four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  St.  Augustine.  Serv- 
ed in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion;  enlisted 
Aug.  27,  1861,  in  Co.  C,  36  111.  Inf. 

McElwain,  Ed.  H.,  sec .  22,  Per- 
sifer  tp.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

McFarland,  Samnel,  farmer, 
son  of  William  and  Catharine  (Bowden) 
McFarland,  of  Va. ;  was  born  in  Richlaml 


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696 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools ;  learned  the  miller's 
trade,  and  has  followed  it,  Came  to  Ohio 
in  1832,  to  Indiana  in  1838,  and  to  Knox 
co.,  Ill ,  in  1856 ;  was  married  in  1858,  Jan. 
3,  and  has  3  sons  and  1  daughter.  Is  a 
Universalist.  Republican. 

Montgomery,  John  S.,  farmer, 
born  in  Knoxville,  Knox  co.,  in  1845. 
Parents,  David  and  Barbara  Montgom- 
ery, natives  of  Ind.  He  received  a 
limited  education  from  the  schools  of 
Knox  co. ;  his  early  life  passed  on  the 
farm.  On  Apr.  1, 1869,  he  was  married 
to  Phebe  J.  Kingan.  A  Republican. 

Montgomery,  Harvey,  farmer, 
born  in  Knox  township,  Knox  co.,  Jan. 
14, 1834 ;  his  parents  were  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Vaughn)  Montgomery,  natives  of 
Kentucky ;  who  came  to  the  co.  April,  10, 
1830,  settling  in  Knox  township ;  he  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools,  and  his 
early  life  passed  on  the  farm.  Nov.  15, 
1878,  he  married  Eliza  Maxwell ;  they  are 
the  parents  of  3  children.  His  father  died 
on  the  old  homestead  Dec.  4,  1872.  Is  a 
Jackson  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Moor,  Agnes,  section,  36  Rio  town- 
ship. P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Moore,  .J.  W.,  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Morse,  David  M.,  residence, Gales- 
burg. 

Morse,  T.  A.,  Maquon  township. 
P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Morse,  Mrs.  Sarah.  Her  hus- 
band, the  late  Dr.  John  M.  Morse,  was 
born  Oct.  13, 1823,  at  Bethel,  Windsor  co., 
Vt. ;  son  of  Calvin  and  Elvira  (Moody) 
Morse.  He  fitted  for  college  in  Bethel, 
but  turned  to  the  medical  profession,  and 
from  1846  to  1850  studied  medicine  under 
an  eminent  doctor,  when  he  graduated 
from  Vermont  Medical  College ;  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1854,  where  he  had  an  ex- 
tensive practice.  On  the  23,  of  Dec.,  1875 
he  died,  of  Apoplexy.  His  widow  re- 
sides in  Galesburg. 

Mosher,  Willi«m  Jay,  son  of 
Samuel  E.  and  Mary  (Crane)  Mosher, 
natives  of  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y. ;  was  born  in 
the  same  co.  Aug.  8, 1841 ;  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  and  his  early  life 
passed  on  the  farm.  Moved  to  Ontario 
township,  Knox  co.,  where  he  is  now  en- 
gaged in  farming;  married  Sarah  E. 
Wetmore,  Nov.  26,  1868,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  2  children,  of  whom  1'is  living. 
Republican.  P. 'O.,  Ontario.  Has  been 
School  Director  and  Trustee. 

Moshier,  Timothy,  capitalist, 
Galesburg. 

Moshier,  O.  S.,  farmer,  son  ot 
Timothy,  and  Sarah  (Garwood)  Moshier, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  York,  his 
mother  of  Michigan.  He  was  born  in 
Warren  co.,  111.,  Feb.  22, 1844.  Educated 


in  common  schools,  and  Knox  and  Lom- 
bard colleges,  enlisted  in  1st  111.,  Cav. 
in  1861,  wounded  at  Lexington,  Mo.  He 
was  married  to  Hattie  Meek  Feb.  23, 
1868;  they  have  4  children.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Mowrey,  Manuel,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Maquon ;  son  of  John  and  Eleanor  (Burt- 
nett)  Mowrey,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  May  16, 1831,  in  Knox  co.,  Ohio. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ; 
came  to  Knox  co.,  111.,  in  1840 ;  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools;  married 
Cemitta  E  Cook,  March  5,  1851.  They 
are  the  parents  of  8  children,  of  whom  6 
are  living ;  moved  to  Kansas  in  1857 ;  re- 
turned to  Knox  co.  in  1861 ;  united  with 
the  Methodist  Church  in  1848,  of  which 
he  is  Steward,  Trustee,  and  Class  Leader ; 
was  a  soldier  in  Co.  F.,  111.  Inf.  Repub- 
lican. 

Muiidwiler,  Frederick,  was 
born  in  York  co.,  Pa.,  April  16,  1807. 
Parents  were  Jacob  and  Anna  Mundwiler, 
the  former  a  native  of  Switzerland  and 
the  latter  of  Germany.  He  received  his 
education  from  the  German  common 
schools ;  early  life,  served  as  an  apprentice 
in  milling;  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller 
and  cooper,  but  finally  changed  to  farm- 
ing, which  has  been  very  satisfactory. 
Removed  to  Maryland,  then  returned  to 
Pennsylvania;  moved  again,  going  to 
Ohio ;  thence  to  Iowa,  and  thence  to  Knox 
co.;  in  1832  he  was  married  to  Eliza 
Hammal,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  13 
children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  Church.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Knox- 
ville. 

Mnnson,  A.  P.,  section  8,  Walnut 
Grove  township.  P.  O  ,  Altona. 

Murdoch,  G.  A.,  merchant,  was 
born  in  Elgin,  Scotland,  Aug.  31,  1834 ;  he 
embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business  early 
in  life.  Left  Scotland  and  spent  two  years 
in  London,  Eug.,  in  the  largest  dry-goods 
house  in  the  world.  While  there  he 
was  one  of  two  boys  who  sold  $50,000 
worth  of  goods  in  one  day.  He  came  to 
New  York  in  1857,  to  Chicago  in  1858 ; 
thence  to  Galesburg,  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  A.  Innes.  They  erected 
the  Caledonia  Block,  and  occupied  it  for 
10  years.  Four  years  ago  the  firm  was 
dissolved,  and  he  removed  to  the  fine  store 
he  now  occupies  in  the  Metropolitan 
block.  He  is  the  oldest  dry-goods  mer- 
chant in  the  city ;  he  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education. 

Murdock,  F.,  banker,  Oneida. 

Murphy,  Franklin  Stephen- 
son,  attorney,  Galesburg;  was  born  in 
Virginia,  Nov.  11,  1835;  he  is  the  son  of 
James  G.  and  Nancy  Murphy,  of  Vir- 
ginia. After  attending  the  common 
schools  he  spent  some  time  at  the  Normal 


HISTORY    OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


69T 


Institute  at  Woodstock,  111. ;  read  law  2 
years;  was  admitted  to  the  bur;  lias  been 
City  Attorney  for  two  different  cities ;  was 
married  in  1859  to  Mary  N.  Lard.  They 
have  2  children.  Independent. 

Iflnrphy,  Lr.  H.,  Abingdon. 

Ulyers,  Procter  F.,  farmer,  son 
-of  Abraham  F.  and  Hannah  (Penaweight) 
Procter,  natives  of  Virginia;  was  born 
in  Adams  co.,  O.,  Oct.  17,  1812;  he  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  and 
his  early  life  was  spent  in  learning  the  tan- 
ner's trade ;  and  in  milling.  Enlisted  in 
service  to  settle  the  question  about  the 
boundary  line  between  Michigan  and 
Ohio,  and  was  in  the  field  on  duty.  Re- 
moved from  Ohio  to  Indiana ;  thence  to 
Knox  co. ;  married  Sarah  Johns  Dec.  8, 
1836.  They  have  been  the  parents  of  11 
children,  of  whom  8  are  now  living. 
Democrat.  He  held  the  position  of  Con- 
stable and  Deputy  Sheriff  in  1843 ;  in 
Yermillion  co.,  111.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

\ ;i  tioii.  Vickrey,  farmerr P-  O  , 
Wataga;  son  of  Isaac  Nation,  a  native 
of  Randolph  co.,  N.  C.  He  was  born  in 
Barren  co ,  Ky.,  Dec.  14,  1818.  His 
mother  was  a  native  of  Halifax  co.,  Va. 
Came  to  Kuox  co.  in  the  fall  of  1835. 
His  education  was  somewhat  limited, 
receiving  the  greater  part  of  it  in  an  old 
log  school-house  in  .  Ind.  In  Oct.,  1844, 
he  was  married  to  Rosanna  Proe,  who 
died  in  1858.  They  were  the  parents  of 
7  children,  of  whom  4  are  living.  He 
was  again  married  on  April  3,  1874,  to 
Mary  E.  Denton.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  farming. 

Meander,  Miss  N.  B.  P.  O., 
Knoxville. 

Nelson,  Nels,  merchant,  Gales- 
burg,  was  born  of  Swedish  parents,  in 
Sweden,  July  13, 1840.  His  parents  were 
poor.  Came  to  America  in  1856,  arriv- 
ing in  Galesburg  July  15.  He  worked 
on  farms  and  for  the  "C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R. 
till  18:50,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  cabi- 
net trade.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C., 
43d  111.  Inf.;  was  Sergean*,  1st  Lieut,  of 
Co.  A.,  and  served  till  Nov.  30,  1865, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness ;  was  elected  City  Clerk,  and  served 
three  terms  and  part  of  the  fourth,  and 
resigned;  he  is  now  serving  as  City  Sup- 
ervisor, and  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  July  19,  1868,  he  married 
Sarah  Nelson,  by  whom  he  has  1  son.  Is 
a  member  and  a  Trustee  of  the  1st  Lu- 
theran Church.  Republican  in  politics. 

Nelson,  Peter  S.,  native  of  Blek- 
inge,  Sweden,  bora  Feb.  15,  1835;  came 
to  America  in  1852;  stopped  in  Chicago 
•one  year;  came  to  Galesburg  1853:  soon 
after  went  to  Altona;  acted  with  the 
Rep.  party;  was  elected  J.  P.,  School 
Director  and  Trustee.  Began,  in  1855, 


speculating  in  lumber,  lands  and  live 
stock ;  soon  accumulated  considerable 
property.  Married,  in  1863,  Nellie  G. 
Gibson,  who  bore  him  5  children;  vis- 
ited his  native  country  in  1868,  and 
again  wishing  to  take  his  family  abroad, 
sailed  in  1877  to  the  fatherland.  P.  O., 
Henderson. 

Nelson,  Josiali,  residence  Elba 
township.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

New,  Edward,  farmer,  son  of 
Thos.  and  Elizabeth  New,  natives  of 
England;  born  in  Wiltshire,  Eng.,  Sept. 
20,  1836.  Oct.  19,  1861,  was  married  to 
Ann  Whitlered;  emigrated  to  Oneida, 
Knox  co.,  in  1864.  For  6  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  tbe  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  he  is  Trustee.  Is  a  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Newman,  George  J.,  born  in 
Morgan  co.,  111.,  Feb.  18,  1831.  His  pa- 
rents were  George  and  Sarah  (Godfrey) 
Newman,  the  former  a  native  of  Va., 
and  the  latter  of  Md.  He  was  educated 
in  the  country  schools,  and  his  early  life 
was  passed  in  town.  He  chose  farming, 
but  changed  it  and  mined  in  Cal.,  where 
he  spent  17  years;  traveled  over  the  west- 
ern country  from  1860  to  1875.  He  is 
now  placed  in  quite  wealthy  circum- 
stances. Is  an  independent  thinker  and 
voter.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Nickolsoii,  J.  H.,  son  of  Nicko- 
los  and  Mary  Nickolson,  of  N.  Y.  and 
Ct.,  was  born  in  N.  Y. ;  attended  common 
school;  raised  on  a  farm,  and  lias  con- 
tinued at  farming;  has  held  several 
township  offices;  came  to  111,  in  1842; 
married  Catherine  King;  they  have  one 
daughter.  Be'ongs  to  M.  E.  Church; 
Democrat  in  politics.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Niles,  l>u  vid  P.,  born  in  Colum- 
bia co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  20,  1824;  spent  his 
younger  days  on  farm ;  came  to  Wataga 
in  1857,  where  he  engaged  in  milling, 
continuing  in  this  until  1864,  when  he 
went  on  the  farm.  His  parents,  Sill  and 
Louisa  Niles,  were  both  born  in  Colum- 
bia co.,  N.  Y. ;  in  politics,  a  Republican; 
married  Helen  C.  Johnson,  July  9,  1870. 
P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Nisley,  Daniel  W.,  farmer  son 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  Nisley,  both  of 
Franklin  co.,  Pa.;  was  born  in  same  co. 
Jan.  16,  1828.  His  education  was  con- 
fined to  the  common  schools  near  the 
farm  where  his  early  life  was  passed. 
He  came  from  Pa.  to  Knox  co ,  111.,  a 
number  of  years  ago.  March  17,  1853, 
he  married  Elizabeth  N.  Goff.  They 
have  4  sons  and  1  daughter.  Is  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

TVorval,  James  H..  parents  were 
Oliver  and  Polly  Norval,  natives  of 
N.  C.  He  was  born  Oct.  15,  1834,  in 
Ind.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm, 


698 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


and  he  has  always  followed  farming; 
removed  to  Knox  co.  in  1873 ;  was  mar- 
ried, Apr.  5,  187  !,  to  Argret  Elizabeth 
Sampson.  Jan.  2,  1842.  united  wilh  the 
M.  E.  Church.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Mid- 
way. 

Oberholtzer,  Mrs.  J.,  sec.  34, 
Truro  township.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

Oberholtaser,  O.  JT.,  "farmer,  born 
in  1844  in  Wayne  co.,  O.  His  parents 
were  Joseph  and  Anna  Oberholtser,  na- 
tives of  Germany.  He  passed  his  early 
life  on  the  farm ;  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Illinois;  married  Amelia  A. 
Smith  in  1869;  they  have  4  children;  was 
a  soldier  in  111.  llth  Cav. ;  has  been 
Esquire,  School  Director,  Assessor  and 
Road  Overseer.  Greenbacker.  P.  O., 
Elba  Center. 

Ogden,  Job,  son  of  the  late  James 
Ogclen,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Fulton  co. 
and  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  Sarah 
(Babbitt)  Ogden,  of  Indiana,  was  born  in 
Scott  co.,  Incl.,  Jan.  30, 1828 ;  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1851,  and  worked  in  the  mines 
for  10  years;  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Terry  in  1862 ;  they  have  5  children  living, 
one  dead ;  joined  the  Christian  Church  in 
1862.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  St.  Augustine. 

Ogden,  Hathew  B.,  farmer,  son 
of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Leonard) 
Ogclen,  of  Clearfield  co.,  Pa.,  was  born 
Nov.  5, 1827,  in  same  place,  in  a  log  cabin. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  the  hills  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  went  to  Philadelphia 
at  the  age  of  16  and  learned  the  carpenter 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  years,  but 
finally  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 
In  1850  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  to  Knox 
co.  in  1861.  Nov.  5,  1856,  he  married 
Johanna Lundquist.  Republican.  P.O., 
Victoria. 

Old  Hold.  Nelson,  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Nancy  (Fidler)  Oldfield,  the  former 
a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania,  wTas  born  in  Richland  co., 
O.,  in  1830.  He  was  educated  in  the  log 
school-houses  of  Richland  co.,  and  his 
early  life  passed  on  the  farm ;  learned  the 
trade  of  plastering  and  worked  at  it  29 
years,  then  changed  to  farming;  enlisted 
in  the  14th  Mo.  Home  Guards,  and  was  in 
service  for  3  years ;  April  3, 1854,  he  mar- 
ried Julia  A.  Spalding.  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Farmington,  Fulton  co. 

Olin  E.  C.,  Supt.  of  Bridges,  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  R.  R.,  Galesburg. 

Ol  instead,  Henry  B.,  farmer, 
came  to  Knox  co.  in  1857.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  New  York,  in  which 
State,  at  Schoharie,  Dec.  18,  1809,  Henry 
B.  was  born.  He  married  Sarah  Bemis 
in  1830,  by  whom  lie  had  3  children,  and 
again  married,  and  by  his  second  wife  he 
has  had  10  children.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church;  has  been  Steward  and 


Supt.  of  S.  School  for  20  years.    P.  O.r 
Victoria. 

Olson,  W.  J.,  Galesburg. 

Olson,  Swan  H.,  grocer,  Gales- 
burg, was  born  in  Sweden  Aug.  4,  1844. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and  Sisly  Olson. 
In  1854  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  and  to  Knox  co.  When  old 
enough  he  entered  the  grocery  business 
as  the  calling  of  his  choice.  Oct.  20, 1872, 
he  married  Clara  M.  Burke,  by  whom  he 
has  1  son.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  from  14  years  of  age ;  has 
been  Trustee  and  Supt.  of  S.  School ;  he 
served  3  years  in  the  late  war. 

O'Neill,  Frfink,  conductor  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  R.  R.,  Galesburg. 

Palm,  Peter,  Jr.,  farmer,  P.  O., 
Altona,  son  of  Peter  and  Carrie  (Olson) 
Palm,  of  Sweden ;  was  born  in  Rock 
Island,  111.,  May  19,  1860;  attended  the 
common  schools ;  removed  to  Henry  co., 
then  to  Knox  co.  in  1874.  Is  connected 
with  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Re- 
publican. 

Parker, .  Henry  E.,  Constable,. 
Galesburg. 

Parker,  Isaac  A.,  Williamson 
Professor  of  Greek  in  Lombard  Univer- 
sity, was  born  in  South  Woodstock, 
Windsor  co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  81, 1825.  His  early 
years  was  spent  in  the  labors  of  farm  life,. 
with  district-school  education.  He  was 
characterized  by  a  love  of  study,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  devoting  to  books  the  most 
of  the  leisure  moments  which  could  be 
spared  from  daily  labors;  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  College,  Hanover,  N.  H.,  in 
1853.  After  leaving  college,  he  was  for  5 
years  Principal  of  Orleans  Liberal  Insti- 
tute, an  academy  in  Glover,  Vt.  In  1856 
he  married  Sarah  A.  Labaree,  and  has  1 
daughter  and  1  son.  Came  to  Galesburg 
in  1858. 

Parker,  W.  P.,  miller,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Henrietta  Parker,  of  New 
Jersey;  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Feb.  3, 
1831.  Learned  the  miller's  trade;  has 
been  manager  of  a  corporation  store.  In 
1856  he  married  Julia  Hoycope;  they 
have  had  5  children,  3  of  whom  are  dead. 
Greenbacker.  Was  in  Co.  I.,  86th  111.  Inf. 

Parkinson,  John,  farmer,  born 
in  county  of  Cheshire,  England,  Oct.  21, 
1828;  son  of  Jonathan  and  Ann  (Pick- 
ford)  Parkinson.  Educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools;  is  now  a  farmer.  Removed 
to  NewT  York  in  1850,  to  Wataga  in 
1856;  15  Sept.,  1856,  married  to  Ann  Tay- 
lor; parents  of  7  children,  3  sons  and  4 
daughters.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Parsell,  W.  R.,  fanner,  son  of 
Joseph,  and  Ilettie  Parsell,  of  Ohio;  was 
born  in  Pcoria,  111.,  in  1S41.  He  spent 
his  youth  on  a  farm,  and  was  educated  in 
the  Elmwood  High  School;  came  from 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


699 


Peoria  to  Knox  co.  early  in  life.  He 
served  in  the  late  war,  as  a  member  of  the 
8th  Mo.  Regt;  enlisted  Sept.  21,  1861. 
Nov.  22, 1865,  he  married  Caroline  Dixon, 
of  Galesburg,  by  whom  he  has  3  children. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Patten,  P.  N.,  Galesburg. 

Patterson,  James,  mechanic,  son 
of  John  and  Sarah  Patterson,  of  Breck- 
enridge  co.,  Va. ;  was  born  in  the  same 
county  in  1825;  he  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Prebble  co.,  O., 
whence  his  parents  had  removed.  At  the 
age  of  20  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
followed  it  for  7  years,  and  changed  to 
farming;  he  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1852. 
In  1847  he  married  Elizabeth  Marshal, 
by  whom  he  has  had  3  children.  Repub- 
lican. P.  O.,  Elmwood. 

Pease,  M.  H.,  Salem  township.  P. 
O.,  Yates  City. 

Peck,  Rev.  George  Wesley, 
Ph.  B.,  belongs  to  a  large  family  of  an- 
cient and  excellent  extraction.  He  was 
born  Feb.  7,  1849.  in  Wyoming  Valley, 
Pa.,  where  his  parents  had  a  comfortable 
home.  While  he  was  yet  a  lad,  his 
mother,  a  woman  of  extraordinary  nat- 
ural endowments,  experienced  a  sad  mis- 
fortune, lost  her  reason  and  has  ever  since 
been  hopelessly  ill,  to  the  extent  that  the 
best  medical  aid  could  afford  no  relief. 
Thus  deprived,  the  family  seemed  tossed 
upon  the  waves  of  deep  affliction;  re- 
moved to  Pitcher,  N.  Y.  Life  struggles 
began  here  in  earnest.  The  boyhood 
days  spent  by  G.  W.  Peck  in  New  York 
were  well  improved ;  he  mastered  all  the 
common-school  branches  at  a  very  early 
age.  In  1865,  in  company  with  his 
father's  family,  he  removed  to  Marcel- 
Ion,  Wis;  here  he  began  to  accumulate 
funds  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  ed- 
ucation; he  began  teaching  at  the  age  of 
18,  and  earned  a  reputation  as  instructor 
and  disciplinarian  that  kept  his  services 
in  good  demand.  After  spending  3  years 
in  the  preparatory  school,  and  the  com- 
pletion of  the  studies  of  the  freshman 
year  classical  course  in  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity, Wis.,  he  was  elected  principal  of 
a  school  in  Marquette,  Mich.  He  ranked 
among  the  first  of  his  profession  in  that 
State.  Notwithstanding  liberal  offers  to 
remain  a  teacher,  he  resolved  to  take  a  4 
years'  course  in  Syracuse  University. 
Every  dollar  spent  in  the  pursuit  of  h'is 
studies  has  been  earned  by  himself  at 
teaching,  which  is  unusual  in  this  free 
and  easy  age,  when  many  young  men 
without  means  think  that  it  is  impossible 
to  put  themselves  through  college. 

In  every  contest  of  his  class  while  in 
the  University,  for  appointments  on  pub- 
lic exhibitions,  he  was  selected  as  one  of 
the  speakers,  and  he  shared  with  others 


at  his  graduation  the  highest  honor 
that  Syracuse  University  awards  being 
one  of  eight  to  deliver  an  oration  upon  the 
commencement  stage.-  While  in  college 
he  was  editor  of  the  University  Herald 
one  year,  superintended  for  the  New  York 
publishers  the  revision  of  Bishop  Peck's 
"  Great  Republic,"  and  associated  with 
his  uncle,  the  Bishop,  for  four  years  at  the 
Episcopal  residence,  in  other  literary 
work.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1874,  and  joined  the  Central  New  York 
Conference  in  1877,  being  stationed  that 
year  in  Syracuse.  His  public  ministry 
has  been  attended  with  great  success. 
When  called  to  Hedding  College,  he  had 
been  unanimously  elected  Professor  in 
Cazenovia  Seminary,  and  offered  another 
good  position  in  the  West.  He  is  now  the 
scholarly  and  energetic  President  of  Hed- 
ding College,  Abingdon ;  his  administra- 
tion is  both  wise  and  efficient;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Confer- 
ence of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Perkins,  Isaac  S.  As  a  repre- 
sentative business  man  of  Knox  co.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  stands  prominent. 
But  few  men  in  Illinois  have  larger  busi- 
ness interests  under  their  immediate  su- 
pervision than  he.  He  was  born  in  South- 
wick,  Mass,  June  4,  1832;  his  parents, 
Walter  and  Harriet  Perkins,  were  also 
natives  of  that  State;  bis  early  life  was 
passed  on  the  farm ;  he  attended  common 
district  schools  and  Southwick  and  West- 
field  Academies.  Attaining  his  majority, 
he  came  west  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where 
he  taught  school  one  year,  after  which  he 
took  a  tour  through  the  Northwest,  stop- 
ping at  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged  as  a 
commercial  traveler,  which  he  continued 
for  5  years.  Pri^r  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
rebellion  he  returned  to  his  native  State, 
where  he  engaged  as  commercial  traveler 
and  continuing  as  such  until  1863,  when 
he  came  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  where,  until 
1864,  he  was  connected  with  a  hardware 
firm.  During  that  year,  with  George  W. 
Biown,  he  made  an  engagement  to  be- 
come his  general  traveling  and  business 
agent,  and  with  whom,  for  a  period  of 
over  14  years,  he  has  been  engaged.  For 
the  first  5  years  Mr.  P.  did  almost  all  the 
traveling  for  the  manufactory,  which  in- 
cluded the  selling  of  the  products  and 
much  of  the  collecting.  As  the  business 
increased,  more  cares,  greater  difficulties 
and  closer  application  became  necessary, 
but  with  his  intimate  knowledge,  judi- 
cious judgment  and  unquestionable  in- 
tegrity, Mr.  Brown  found  much  of  the  bur- 
den taken  from  his  shoulders.  Through 
long  and  wearied  patent  litigations 
against  infringments  upon  Mr.  Brown's 
patents,  he  took  a  prominent  and 
successful  part.  July  31,  1866,  he  was 


700 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


married  to  Eliza  Clark,  of  Westfield, 
Mass.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Massachu- 
setts State  Normal  School,  and  a  lady  of 
high  social  standing.  They  have  only  1 
child,  a  sou,  Clayton  C.  Perkins,  born 
Nov.  24,  1873.  Besides  his  connection 
with  the  corn-planter  works,  he  is  a  Di- 
rector in  the  Second  National  Bank,  of 
Galesburg;  he  also  acts  as  agent  for  Eas- 
tern capital.  Republican. 

.Peterson,  Harper,  son  of  Felix, 
and  Mary  (Weaver)  Peterson,  of  Virginia, 
Was  born  in  Green  co.,  O.,  Feb.  14,  1845 ; 
reared  on  farm,  and  attended  common 
schools ;  went  to  California  in  1873 :  came 
to  Knox  co.  in  1877 ;  married  Emma  J. 
Reynolds  Nov.  22,  1877.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Peterson,  J.  P.,  section  17,  Wal- 
nut Grove  township.  P.  O.,  Alton  a. 

Phelps,  A.  A.,  Sparta  township. 
P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Phelps,  E.  Frisbie,  was  born 
June  18,  1840,  in  Burlington,  Conn.;  his 
parents,  Samuel  aud  Emeline  L.  Phelps, 
were  natives  of  Connecticut ;  educated  at 
common  schools  in  Connecticut,  and 
Academy  at  Elmwood,  111. :  spent  1  year 
in  Oberlin  College,  O. :  read  law  in  1865, 
in  Law  Department  of  Chicago  Univer- 
sity, and  the  following  year  in  Yale  Col- 
lege; located  at  Neosha,  Mo. ;  practiced 
law  5  years:  came  to  Galesburg  in  1872. 
Conducted  Daily  Register  for  9  months, 
and  then  organized  the  Galesburg  Print- 
ing Company,  in  connection  with  S.  W. 
Grubb.  Helped  organize  the  Cov.  Mu- 
tual Benefit  Associat  on  of  Galesburg,  and 
was  elected  Secretary,  which  posit  on  he 
yet  holds;  was  in  Co.  D.,  132d  111.  Inf.; 
was  Captain  of  Co.  B ,  4th  Regt.  I.  N.  G. 
Marr  ed  Emma  M.  Rouse  Sept.  29,  1869; 
has  1  child.  Republican. 

Phillips,  E.  JL.,  phys'c'an,  Gales- 
burg, came  to  Knox  co.  in  1856;  married 
Mary  L.,  daughter  of  John  G.  Sauburn; 
came  to  Galesburg  in  1865 ;  was  First  As- 
sistant Surgeon  in  9 1st  111.  Inf. 

Phillips,  William  BT.,  commis- 
sion merchant,  Galesburg. 

Pierce,  William  H.,  son  of 
Amos  and  Mary  Pierce,  of  Vermont ;  was 
born  in  that  State  in  1816 ;  had  a  good  ed- 
ucation, and  has  followed  teaching  some 
as  well  as  farming;  was  Postmaster  from 
1838  to  1840,  and  Postmaster  at  Mou- 
rnouth,  Warren  co.,  under  Lincoln.  Po- 
lice Magistrate,  Deputy  Sheriff  and 
School  Commissioner  several  years; 
came  to  Galesburg  in  1867.  Has  been  in 
public  life  for  30  years,  discharged  his 
duties  satisfactorily  to  all.  Republican. 
Residence,  Galesburg. 

Pigsley,  Prince  IV.,  merchant, 
St.  Augustine,  son  of  Welcome  and  Thirza 
(Clark)  Pigsley,  father  from  Rhode  Is- 


land ;  mother,  New  York  ;  came  to  Knox 
co.  in  1857;  married  Jerusha  A.  Roe 
Feb.  4,  1864;  has  7  children  living,  2 
dead;  he  was  in  Co.  E.,  32d  111.  Inf.; 
enlisted  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  was  wounded 
twice  at  Big  River  bridge,  Iron  Mountain 
R.  R.,  from  which  he  has  never  fully  re- 
covered. Republican. 

Pittard,  Job.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Martha  Pittard,  of  England, 
where  he  was  born  Aug.  2,  1815 ;  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  select  school  in 
his  native  land.  Job  has  always  followed 
farming,  in  which  he  has  been  success- 
ful; lives  in  Ontario  township,  where  he 
has  been  School  Director  for  several 
terms;  came  from  England  to  Chicago  in 
1847,  to  Ontario  in  1849;  man  led  Mary 
Thomas  Jan.  2,  1842;  1  girl  and  6  boys 
have  blessed  the  union,  2  boys  living; 
united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1847; 
elected  Deacon  in  1876  of  Congregational 
Church,  Ontario.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Oneicla. 

Pittman,  B.  F.,  farmer,  son  of  Jo- 
seph and  Catharine  (Lesher)  Pittman,  was 
born  in  Fulton,  Pa.  He  spent  much  of 
his  early  life  in  school,  and  obtained 
quite  a  liberal  education;  he  spent  some 
time  in  the  drug  business;  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  G,  205th  Pa.  Regt.  He  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Maryland ;  thence  to 
Wisconsin,  thence  to  Missouri,  and  from 
there  to  Knox  co.  in  1868.  He  married 
Alice  Patersou  in  1869,  by  whom  he  has 
1  daughter.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Yates 
City. 

Poe,  Mrs.  David  A.,  residence, 
Galesburg. 

P«ol,  Thoma*  H.,  farmer.  Ben- 
jamin and  Nancy  Pool,  his  parents,  were 
of  Southern  birth ;  removed  to  Clark  co., 
Ind.,  where  Thomas  was  born  Aug.  29, 
1830  AVhen  but  4  years  old  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Henderson  co.,  111., 
and  in  1841  settled  in  Knox  co. ;  was  mar- 
ried Dec.  4,  1850,  to  Nancy  McMurtry,  2 
sons  and  6  daughters  being  the  fruits  of 
the  union.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Potter,  Alyin  H.,  physician, 
Maquon ;  is  son  of  Sheldon  and  Wealthy 
(Baldwin)  Potter,  of  New  England ;  was 
educated  in  common  schools  till  14,  then 
at  Aurora  Academy,  then  at  Kingsville 
Academy.  O.,  and  graduated  at  Michigan 
Central  College;  studied  law  from  17  to 
20,  then  taught  school  some ;  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Colton ;  came  to  Maquon  in 
1850;  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Cor- 
oner, Supervisor,  Provost  Marshal ;  mar- 
ried July  5,  1847,  to  Thankful  Fowler. 
She  died  June  29,  1858;  married  June 
19,  I860,  Eliza  J.  Moore;  is  parent  of  3 
children.  Republican. 

Potter,  Mrs.  Charlotte,  sec.  19, 
Salem  township.  P.  O.,  Summit. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


701 


Potts,  Henry  H.,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Bradford  co.,  Pa.,  Sept,  24,  1828. 
He  is  the  son  of  Ephraim  and  Elizabeth 
(Munn)  Potts,  the  former  of  New  Jersey, 
the  latter  of  New  York ;  he  was  educated 
in  the  district  school,  and  until  20  years 
old  was  engaged  in  lumber  business,  after 
which  he  went  to  sea  3  years,  and  since 
has  been  farming;  He  came  to  Knox 
co.  in  185S ;  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
Commissioner  of  Highways,  School  Di- 
rector, Trustee,  and  Clerk  in  the  town- 
ship. June  7,  1834,  he  married  Julia  E. 
Wheeler.  They  have  had  5  sons  and  4 
daughters,  1  dead.  P.  O.,  Elba  Center. 

Powell,  .1  oil  11.  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Searls)  Powell,  was  born  Nov.  3, 
1796,  in  Herkimer  co.,  N.  Y. ;  he  went 
with  his  parents  to  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y., 
when  quite  young,  and  to  Knox  co.  in 
1851.  Sept.  1,  1819,  he  married  Maria 
Wilson,  by  whom  he  had  1  son  and  1 
daughter.  Feb.  11,  1829,  he  married 
Evelina  Brainard,  by  whom  he  had  7 
boys  and  1  girl ;  2  sons  and  1  daughter 
dead.  He  died  in  this  county.  His  wife, 
Evelina,  is  still  living.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Preston,  W.  H.,  Altona. 

Price,  Oscar  P.,  attorney,  Gales- 
burg,  native  of  Marion  co.,  O.,  was  born 
Sept.  19,  183G.  His  father,  Dr.  George 
Price,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  and 
his  mother,  Mary  Caris  Price,  was  born 
in  Ohio.  He  received  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion :  graduated  at  the  Michigan  State 
University;  began  while  young  to  read 
law,  and  continuing  in  this,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  about  1858,  and  soon  after,  en- 
tered the  Michigan  University  law  school, 
where  he  graduated  in  1860.  He  came  to 
Galesburg  with  his  parents  in  1840;  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sabina  Lanphere,  Nov.  26, 
1862,  which  union  has  been  blessed  with 
4  children.  He  has  always  acted  with 
the  Republican  party.  Held  the  position 
of  Alderman  in  1870,  and  was  chosen  to 
serve  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1871-2, 
which  position  he  filled  with  marked 
ability.  He  has  attained  a  high  position 
in  his  profession ;  has  conducted  some  of 
the  most  important  cases  ever  tried  in 
Knox  county. 

Rankiu,  Samuel,  born  in  Pa., 
March,  1844,  of  weakuy  parents,  William 
and  Eliza,  also  natives  of  Pa. ;  educated 
at  Duffs  Commercial  College,  and  Madi- 
son Inst.,  Pa.;  followed  farming  and 
school-teaching;  served  as  SchoorDirec- 
tor  in  Henry  and  Knox  counties,  and 
Assessor.  Married,  Aug.,  1866,  to  Mary 
D.  Henderson.  Enlisted  and  served  on 
the  frontier  in  the  1st  Colored  Inf.  Re- 
moved to  Henry  co.,  111.,  in  1868,  and  to 
Henderson  tp.  in  1875,  where  he  now 
lives. 

Ratekin,  George  W.,  farmer. 


P.  O.  Galesburg;  was  born  in  Pulaski 
co.,  Ky.,  in  1820;  came  to  Illinois  in 
childhood ;  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Han- 
nah Ratekin,were  natives  of  Virginia ;  has 
a  good  education,  obtained  in  common 
schools  and  at  Richland  Institute,  teach- 
ing and  studying  at  home,  and  in  early 
life  made  theology  his  principal  study; 
was  married,  in  1848,  to  Lydia  M.  Rus- 
sell. They  are  the  parents  of  11  chil- 
dren, 7  girls  and  4  boys.  Made  a  pro- 
fession of  religion  in  1832,  and  joined 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  strictly 
temperate.  Republican. 

Reese,  M.,  physician,  Abingdon. 

Regan,  John,  editor  of  the  Ma- 
quon  Times  and  Elmwoocl  Messenger, 
Elmwood,  111. 

Reynolds,  Alvah,  was  born  at 
Bedford,  N.  Y.,  May  22,  1830.  His  pa- 
rents, Enoch  and  Mariah  Reynolds, 
were  natives  of  New  York.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools;  chose 
the  occupation  of  farmer,  learning,  how- 
ever, the  trade  of  carpenter;  came  to 
Knox  co.  in  April,  1855;  married,  April 
10,  1859,  and  is  the  father  of  6  children, 
3  boys  and  3  girls.  Holds  Republican 
views.  Has  acted  as  School  Director  16 
years;  joined  the  Christian  Church  in 
1858 ;  has  been  a  very  successful  farmer. 
P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Reynolds,  George  F.,  farmer, 
son  of  Winthrop  and  Hannah  (Locke) 
Reynolds,  of  New  Hampshire,  was  born 
Oct.  10,  1799,  in  Barrington,  JST.  H. ;  he 
passed  his  early  life  on  a  farm;  he  came 
to  Knox  co.  in  1836,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Victoria  township.  Has  held 
several  important  local  offices,  and  has 
been  active  in  school  interests.  March 
2,  1825,  he  married  Abigail  Locke,  by 
whom  he  had  3  boys  and  1  girl ;  Sept.  3, 
1877,  he  married  Anna  E.  Woodward. 
Has  been  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  since  1832;  is  now  Dea- 
con. Republican.  P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Reynolds,  Capt.  Wm.  H., 
farmer,  Orange  township,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Ann  Jane  (Reed)  Reynolds,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  the 
latter  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Warren 
co.,  111.,  in  1837.  He  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana, Dec.  29,  1829;  received  a  country 
school  education,  and  his  early  life 
passed  on  the  farm.  Enlisted,  July  7, 
1861,  in  7th  111.  Cav.,  Co  D;  was  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenant,  and,  in  1862,  to 
Captain;  taken  prisoner  Dec.  5,  1862, 
and  exchanged  in  March,  1863 ;  was  in 
saddle  for  17  days  and  nights,  on  Grier- 
son's  raid ;  was  in  as  many  as  50  battles. 
Moved  from  Warren  to  Knox  co.  He 
was  first  married  June  2J.  185.*;  but  his 
first  wife  dying  Feb.  1,  18  T3,  he  again 
married  in  1874.  He  is  the  parent  of  4 


702 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


children.  Republican,  In  1855,  com- 
menced business  poor,  and  has  been  very 
successful  in  life.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Rhodes,  George  G.,  farmer,  is 
the  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Jane  (Good- 
rich) Rhodes,  of  Vermont.  He  was  born 
March  10,  1838,  in  Richmond,  Vt.;  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in 
an  academy  of  that  State;  settled  in 
Knox  co.  in  June,  1851.  Republican. 
P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Rhodes,  Miron  M.,  boot  and 
shoe  merchant,  Galesburg ;  born  in  Rich- 
mond, Chittenden  co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  22,  1842; 
his  parents,  Charles  W.  and  Jane  (Good- 
rich) Rhodes,  were  natives  of  the  same 
place.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  Knox  College;  removed 
to  Illinois  in  1851.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
138th  111.  Regt.  Republican.  Has  been 
very  successful  in  business. 

Rice,  Fantleroy.  Corban  and 
Elizabeth  Rice,  his  parents,  were  natives 
of  Kentucky;  and  Fantleroy  was  born 
in  the  same  State,  Sept.  23, 1840 ;  received 
his  education  in  the  old  log  school-house ; 
has  always  been  a  farmer.  Served  3 
years  in  the  late  war:  went  with  Sher- 
man from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  as  Division 
Wagon  Master.  Came  to  Knox  co.  in 
1857;  married  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Murray, 
March  11,  1869.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Altona. 

Richards,  William  R.,  patent 
solicitor,  Galesburg,  was  born  Sept.  27, 
1829,  in  Smithfield,  Pa. ;  left  home  at  the 
age  of  16,  and  prosecuted  his  favorite 
studies  alone;  has  made  teaching  a  pro- 
fession ;  has  taken  great  interest  in  busi- 
ness education,  and  has  done  much  to 
better  the  old  method  of  teaching.  He 
was  married  in  1851,  to  Louisa  Morris. 
As  a  patent  solicitor,  he  ranks  foremost 
in  the  United  States. 

Richardson,  James  Leroy, 
railroad  conductor,  Galesburg,  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Richardson,  was  born 
in  Cooperstown,  Otsego  co.,  N.  Y.,  April 
10,  1838.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  State ;  served  in 
the  U.  S.  army  during  the  late  war  as  a 
Sergeant  in  Co.  D,  3d  N.  Y.  Cav. ;  came 
to  Illinois  July  10,  1866 ;  is  a  conductor 
on  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  a  position  which  he 
has  held  for  a  number  of  years;  married 
Emma  M.  Burke,  by  whom  he  has  a  son 
and  a  daughter.  Republican. 

Richmond,  Henry.  Jesse  and 
Elizabeth  Richmond  are  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  and  coming  Avest  settled  in  Knox 
co.,  where  they  had  born  to  them  on  April 
3,  1860,  Henry  Richmond.  He  Avas  edu- 
cated in  Knox  College.  P.  O.,  Gilson. 

Riley,  H.  H.,  born  of  Kentucky 
parentage  at  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  Aug. 
19, 1821*;  educated  in  subscription  schools 


in  Crawford  co.,  Ind. ;  came  to  Knox  co. 
in  1833;  was  member  of  light  horse  cav. 
in  1834;  married  Amanda  Mayo  Oct.  11, 
1842;  they  have  1  son  and  8  daughters; 
united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1850; 
has  been  Collector,  Trustee  and  School 
Director  of  Rio ;  is  a  farmer  from  choice. 
Democrat.  P.  O..  Rio. 

Riordan,  Andrew  Jackson, 
farmer,  son  of  Thos.  and  Sarah  Riordan, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the 
latter  of  America,  was  born  in  Iowa  in 
1856.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Knox  co.,  and  his  early  life 
passed  on  the  farm ;  moved  from  Illinois 
to  Missouri,  thence  returning  to  Illinois; 
united  with  the  Methodist  Church  in  1872 ; 
in  1877  was  married  to  Lottie  Darthy 
Kennedy.  P.  O.,  Douglas. 

Ritchey,  Frank  t.,  editor  Ab- 
ingdon  Express,  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy 
Ritchey,  of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  1855, 
in  Abingdon,  111.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of"  that  place.  When 
old  enough  he  learned  the  printer's  trade, 
which  he  has  followed.  In  1875  he  started 
the  Abingdon  Express,  of  which  he  is  now 
editor  and  proprietor.  Democrat. 

Robbins,  H.  A.,  Galesburg. 

Rohbins,  L<evi,  farmer,  born  in 
Denmark,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  24,  1805 ;  came  to 
Knox  co.  in  1836 ;  Avas  married  Aug.  14, 
1853,  to  Julia  Fisher ;  have  5  sons  and  3 
daughters ;  professed  religion  in  1835 ;  is 
anAdventist.  Republican.  P.O., Wataga. 

Roberson,  H.  It.  F,  teacher,  St. 
Augustine,  is  the  son  of  Edward  C.  and 
Nancy  N.  (McCrite)  Roberson ;  was  born 
in  lefferson  co.,  111.,  Feb.  10,  1851 ;  when 
young  had  great  desire  for  obtaining  an 
education ;  after  many  hardships  gradu- 
ated from  Kansas  State  Normal  School  in 
1875  with  degree  of  B.  E. ;  was  married, 
Aug.  24,  1876,  to  Nancy  Jared ;  have  one 
child.  Republican. 

Roberts,  Charles  It.,  teacher, 
and  postmaster  Yates  City,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Brooks,  Waldo  co.,  Me. ;  his 
parents  were  natives  of  Oxford  co.,  Me. ; 
was  educated  at  Quaker  College,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. ;  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in 
farming  and  teaching ;  has  held  the  offices 
of  Postmaster,  J.  P.,  Town  Clerk  and  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  for  a  number  of 
years ;  married  Caroline  Metcalf,  Nov.  18, 
1856,  by  whom  he  has  had  5  girls  and  1 
boy.  Greenback  Republican. 

Roberts,  Rev.  Hiram  P.,  Wa- 
taga, was  born  in  Thomaston,  Ct.,  Sept. 
22,  1831;  his  parents  were  Albert  and 
Sally  M.  Roberts,  of  Northfield,  Ct. ;  was 
educated  at  Wilbraham  Academy,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  at  Wesley  an  University, 
Connecticut,  where  he  graduated  in  1857. 
His  life  has  been  devoted  to  teaching  and 
the  ministry ;  has  been  Principal  of  several 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX   COUNTY. 


703 


High  Schools ;  enlisted  in  the  U.  S.  service 
Sept.  1,  1862,  as  First  Lieut,  Co.  E,  84th 
111. ;  was  wounded  three  times  at  the  battle 
of  Stone  River ;  was  promoted  to  Chaplain 
June  9,  1863 ;  resigned  on  account  of 
wounds  March  19,  1864 ;  returned  to  ser- 
vice May  26,  1864,  as  Chaplain  of  137th 
111.,  and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Memphis 
Aug.  21,  1864;  after  leaving  the  army  he 
became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Cairo,  then  of  Congregational  Church 
at  Council  Bluffs,  la. ;  served  4  years  as 
traveling  agent  for  theB.  &  M.  Railroad; 
became  pastor  of  Congregational  Church 
at  Wataga  in  1876 ;  Sept.,  1877,  became 
Principal  of  the  schools  in  same  place. 

Robertson,  Larkin,  farmer, 
born  in  South  Carolina  in  1802 ;  died  in 
Knox  co.,  111.,  1869 ;  came  to  Knox  co.  in 
1836,  and  was  therefore  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers ;  married  Miss  Polly  Cox  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1823 ;  they  have  had  7  sons  and 
4  daughters;  joined- the  Baptist  Church 
in  1832 ;  always  lived  an  exemplary  Chris- 
tian life,  and  left  a  valuable  estate  on 
which  his  widow  now  lives;  served  as  J. 
P.  in  Rio  township  for  16  years.  P.  O. 
address  of  Mrs.  Polly  Robertson,  Rio. 

Robertson,  Creorge,  sec.  21,  Rio 
township.  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Rodgers,  James  T.,  farmer,  son 
of  John  and  Eliza  (McMurdy)  Rodgers, 
of  Ireland,  was  born  in  Peoria  co.,  111., 
Aug.  24,  1838 ;  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  common  schools;  came  to 
Knox  co.  in  1867;  was  married  May  4, 
1859 ;  has  devoted  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing and  dealing  in  stock;  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Democrat.  P. 
O.,  Farmington,  Fulton  co. 

Rogers,  Pitt  D.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Norwich,  New  London  co.,  Ct,  July 
18,  1818.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and 
has  followed  that*vocation  through  life ; 
came  to  Ohio  in  1845,  and  to  Knoxville, 
111.,  in  1853,  where  he  has  tilled  the  office 
of  Alderman  several  terms;  in  1849  he 
married  Effie  Ewalt,  who  bore  him  one 
child ;  in  1855  he  married  T.  P.  Hibbard, 
by  whom  he  has  had  4  children;  is  a 
member,  and  has  for  years  been  an  officer 
in  the  Episcopal  Church.  Res.,  Knox- 
ville. 

Rogers,  Thomas  W.,  dealer  in 
agricultural  implements,  seeds,  coal  and 
wood,  Galesburg. 

Rogers,  S.  W.,  farmer,  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Elizabeth  Rogers,  the  former  of 
Maryland,  the  latter  of  Virginia.  S.  W. 
was  born  in  Ohio  March  15,  1819;  at- 
tended the  common  school ;  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1837;  ^married  Jerusha  Hand; 
they  have  5  children.  Greenbacker.  P. 
O.,  Yates  City. 
Ronth,  Daniel  H.,  farmer,  was 


born  in  Clinton  co.,  O.,  May  6,  1819.  He 
is  the  son  ot  John  and  Jane  (Moon) 
Routh,  both  of  Tennessee ;"  his  education 
was  chiefly  obtained  by  study  at  home  on. 
the  farm ;  had  the  responsibility  of  pro- 
viding for  his  father's  family  quite  early 
in  life ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1851 ;  has  held 
the  offices  of  Trustee,  Supervisor  and  Road 
Commissioner;  was  married  Feb.  10, 
1842,  and  has  2  sons ;  in  1840  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  the  office  of  Deacon. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Hermon. 

Ronth,  Thomas  J.,  son  of  Joseph 
M.  and  Rutisha  (Morris)  Routh,  natives 
of  Ohio,  was  born  in  Clinton  co.,  O.,  May 
6,  1847;  removed  to  Knox  co.  in  1852; 
was  educated  at  Abingdon  College;  has 
followed  farming,  taught  school  3  years, 
and  run  a  tile  factory ;  was  in  Co.  K,  7th 
111.  Vol.  Cav. ;  married  Eliza  J.  Grice, 
Sept.  11,  1873 ;  they  are  the  parents  of 
one  child;  united  with  the  Christian 
Church  in  1872 ;  is  clerk  of  the  church  at 
Hermon ;  was  School  Director  5  years. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  London  Mills,  Ful- 
ton co. 

Rngar,  Mrs.  E.  A.,  residence, 
Galesburg. 

Rnssell,  John.  Sparta  township. 
P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Rnssell,  Samuel,  merchant,  Al- 
tona,  son  of  George  and  Martha  Russell, 
was  born  in  Cetter  Kenny  co.,  Province 
of  Ulster,  Ireland,  in  1805.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  a  private  school ;  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  in  1828 ;  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1856 ; 
has  devoted  his  life  to  mercantile  pur- 
suits ;  had  2  sons  serve  over  3  years  in 
the  late  war ;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  since  1831 ;  is  an 
Elder.  Democrat. 

Ryan,  William  A.,  City  Clerk, 
Galesburg,  son  of  Bernard  and  Maria  C. 
Ryan,  born  Jan.  19, 1852,  in  Detroit,  Mich. 
Moved  to  Illinois  in  1865 ;  attended  the 
common  schools  until  15  years  of  age, 
then  learned  the  trade  of  boiler-making, 
working  at  it  until  May,  1875,  when  he 
went  to  the  Western  Business  College  of 
Galesburg,  and  graduated  in  Oct.,  1875, 
then  engaged  in  bookkeeping  in  Chicago 
and  Galesburg ;  was  elected  City  Clerk 
on  the  "Citizens'  Ticket,"  April  3,1877. 
Democrat. 

San  born.  David,  President  of 
Second  Nat.  Bank,  Galesburg. 

Sanborii,  Lake  W.,  insurance 
agent,  Galesburg. 

Sanders,  It.  M".,  residence,  Gales- 
burg. 

Sanford,  Patrick  H.,  City  At- 
torney, Knoxville ;  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
Addison  co.,  Vt,,  Nov.  10,  1822.  His  par- 
ents were  John  and  Anna  (Peck)  Sanford, 


704 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX    COUNTY. 


of  same  co.  He  was  educated  at  Middle- 
bury  College,  Vt. ;  lived  on  a  farm  till  18 
years  old ;  he  chose  the  profession  of  law, 
and  read  with  Judge  A.  Peck,  of  Burling- 
ton, Vt.,  and  Julius  Manning.  He  came 
to  Knox  co.,  Knoxville,  in  1852 ;  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1853, 
and  has  practiced  in  Knox  co.  since.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  in  the 
27th  Gen.  Assembly  of  Illinois,  and  was 
•chosen  a  member  of  the  Judiciary  Com. 
in  that  body.  He  was  elected  a  member 
•of  the  Senate  in  the  28th  and  29th  Gen. 
Assemblies,  and  his  ability  was  recog- 
nized by  the  appointment  to  the  Chair- 
manship of  the  Judiciary  Com.  during 
both  sessions.  He  also  served  as  County 
Supt.  of  schools  3  terms  prior  to  1862.  In 
the  spring  of  1853  he  married  Jane  Griffin, 
who  died  in  May,  1863 ;  by  her  he  had  2 
children.  In  Oct.,  1864,  he  married  Helen 
M.  Peck,  by  whom  he  has  had  4  children. 
Eepublican. 

Sargent,  Daniel  B.,  farmer,  son 
•of  Theodore  and  Rachel  Sargent,  he  of 
Maine,  she  of  Ohio;  was  born  in  Farm- 
iugton,  Fulton  co.,  111.,  Aug.  12. 1832.  He 
was  educated  in  the  district  school ;  spent 
early  life  on  a  farm ;  came  to  Knox  co.  in 
1856.  In  March,  1854  he  married  Mary 
Jane  Brassfield,  by  whom  he  has  1  son. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 

Sannders,  C'harles,  veterinary 
surgeon,  Galesburg ;  was  born  in  Golden 
Square,  Parish  of  St.  James,  London,  Eng. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  London, 
finishing  with  an  academic  course.  He 
served  6  years  in  London  as  an  apprentice 
in  the  study  of  veterinary  surgery ;  came 
to  Galesburg  Sept.  28,  1870,  and  opened 
the  first  regular  shoeing  shop  in  Knox  co. ; 
has  elevated  the  construction  and  setting 
of  horse-shoes  to  a  fine  art.  He  has  been 
awarded  11  first  prizes  on  his  work  at 
State  and  other  exhibitions ;  Dec.  31, 1871 
he  married  Saloma  Snow  Brown. 

Scott,  Oaddial,  was  one  of  eleven 
children,  whose  father,  Andrew  Scott, 
was  born  Nov.  21,  1786,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, married  May  28,  1808  to  Anna 
Longest,  who  was  born  in  1791.  He  was 
born  Aug.  9,  1809  in  Jackson  co.  Tenn. ; 
was  married  July  25,  1833,  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  co.,  111.  to  Susan  Sex- 
ton, who  was  born  May  25,  1810,  in 
Knox  co.,  Ky. ;  was  married  again  to 
Sarah  M.  Hobbs  Nov.  9, 1876.  He  moved 
to  Knox  co.,  111.,  settling  4  miles  north  of 
Knoxville  Oct.  6,  1834;  they  had  6 
<'hildren— William  M.,  born  July  21, 1834, 
<lied  July  18,  1863;  John  W.,  born  March 
26,  1836,  died  Oct.  6,  1862;  Elizabeth  S., 
born  April  27,  1839,  died  Feb.  22,  1864 ; 
Enoch  S.,  born  July  25,  1841,  near  Gak's- 
burg;  James  M.,  born  May  5,  1843,  in 
Knox  co.;  Jacob  A.,  born  Oct.  14,  1846, 


died  May  3,  1865 ;  Nancy  L.  O.,  born 
April  21,  1852,  died  Aug.  24,  1867;  Mrs. 
Susan  Scott  died  Jan.  22,  1875.  Mr.  Scott 
was  in  Knox  co.  at  an  earlier  day  than 
any  man  of  whom  we  have  any  account. 
He  was  in  every  sense  a  pioneer,  for  of  all 
the  strong  hands  and  willing  hearts  who 
went  forth  to  conquer  the  wilds  of  the 
great  West,  none  did  more  to  advance  the 
agricultural  and  educational  interests  of 
Knox  c  >.  than  did  Gaddial  Sc  itt.  He 
turned  the  first  s  >il  ever  pi  wed  by  white 
man  in  Galesburg  t  wnship.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  P.  O., 
Galesburg. 

t"  Scott,  Walton  K.,  Abingdon, 
farmer,  son  of  Martin  and  Sarah  Scott, 
of  Kentucky ;  wa<  born  in  Kentucky  Jan. 
4,  1822;  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  McDonough  co  ;  Oct.  20,  1848,  he 
married  Sarah  J.  Stickel ;  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Prcsbyteriau  Church,  and  an 
Elder.  Republican. 

Scudder,  Spencer,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Galesburg.  recently  deceased. 

Seacord,  Wilkins,  superinten- 
dent Galesburg  and  Quincy  Stockyards. 
Resides  in  Galesburg. 

Sel  by,  Mrs.  Mary,  P.  O.,  London 
Mills,  Fulton  co. 

Selk,  Charles,  boot  and  shoe  man- 
ufacturer, Galesburg. 

Sellon,  Edward,  Supervisor,  sec. 
15,  Lynn  township.  P.  O.,  Galva. 

Shutter,  B.  F.,  farmer,  Truro 
township. 

Shaw,  A.  J.,  real-estate  dealer, 
Galesburg. 

Shear,  Henry  D..  was  born  in 
Schoharie  co.,  N.  Y.,  April  10,  1811 ;  his 
parents  were  Dauiel  and  Mary  (Zimmer) 
Shear,  natives  of  N.  Y. ;  attended  school 
but  little;  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter 
from  1833  to  1857,  then  went  to  farming; 
married  Eliza  Ann  Multer  Nov.  30,  1834. 
She  was  born  Aug.  6,  1810;  has  8  chil- 
dren, 7  boys,  1  girl ;  moved  to  Knox  co. 
in  1857;  is  a  member  of  fie  Dutch  Re- 
form M.  E  Church;  has  held  the  office 
of  Steward,  Trustee  and  Class-leader. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Shear,  Joseph  M.,  born  in  Scho- 
harie co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  27,  1837.  His  par- 
ents, Henry  D.  and  Eliza  Ann  Shear, 
were  natives  of  the  same  county.  He 
passed  his  early  life  upon  a  farm  and  in 
attendance  upon  the  common  schools; 
always  followed  farming.  Came  to  Knox 
co.  in  1857 :  resides  in  Walnut  Grove 
township.  P.  O.,  Oneida.  Married  Jan. 
28,  1864,  to  Mary  E.  Griffith ;  4  boys  and 
2  girls  have  blessed  the  union.  Joined 
the  M.  E.  Church  in  1867,  Steward  and 
Trustee. 

Sheets,    Andrew,  son  of  Jacob 


HISTORY    OF    RJNOX    COUNTY. 


705 


and  Nancy  (Sinks)  Sheets,  natives  of 
Norlh  Carolina;  was  born  in  Miami  co., 
O.,  Oct.  21, 1809 ;  came  to  Indiana  in  1824, 
and  to  Illinois  in  1853;  was  married 
April  12,  1846,  to  Martha  Elliott;  before 
this,  in  1836,  was  married  to  Margaret 
Conn,  and  afterwards,  Oct.  30,  1849,  to 
Mary  Conn.  He  was  educated  in  com- 
mon schools  and  reared  on  a  farm.  Re- 
publican. P.  O.,  St.  Augustine. 

Slieh an,  Mrs.  John,  sec.  34, 
Lynn  township.  P.  O.,  Qalva. 

Shelton,  Robert,  was  born  in 
Suffenham,  Rutlandshire,  Eng.,  March 
21,  1815;  his  parents,  Isaac  and  Mary 
Shelton,  were  natives  of  England.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1850,  stopped  in 
Indiana,  then  went  to  Michigan,  then 
followed  railroading,  then  went  to  farm- 
ing with  $25,  but  by  shrewd  manage- 
ment has  accumulated  a  handsome  for- 
tune ;  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jack- 
son in  1840  in  England.  They  have  5 
children,  2  boys,  3  girls ;  is  connected 
with  the  M.  E.  Church.  P.  O ,  Yates 
City. 

Sherman.  Isaac,  was  born  in 
Vermont  July  10, 1813.  His  parents  were 
Evi  and  Betsey  (Bennet)  Sherman,  both 
natives  of  Vermont;  removed  to  New 
York,  thence  to  Knox  co. ;  Dec.  31,  1835, 
was  married  to  Eliza  Wood.  They  are 
the  parents  of  8  children.  He  has  al- 
ways followed  farming  and  been  very 
successful.  Republican.  He  has  held 
the  offices  of  School  Director  and  Road 
Commissioner.  P.  O.,'Knoxville. 

Sherman,  Jay,  farmer,  son  of 
Isaac  and  Louisa  Sherman,  of  Vermont; 
was  born  in  Persifer  township,  Knox 
co.  Attended  the  country  schools.  He 
served  in  the  59th  111.  Inf.  in  the  late  war; 
has  held  the  office  of  School  Director  and 
Trustee;  was  married  Nov.  22,  1866,  to 
Miss  Mariah  Upp ;  they  have  5  children. 
Republican.  P.  O.,  Douglas. 

Shields,  George  A. 

Shrieyes,  Wesley,  farmer,  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Shrieves,  the 
former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Virginia;  was  born  Aug.  1,  1800, 
in  Landers  co.,  Va. ;  his  life  was  passed 
on  the  farm  until  17  years  of  age ;  learned 
carpenter's  and  tanner's  trades,  but 
changed  to  farming.  Was  married  to 
Mary  Willson  Nov.  17,  1825.  They  are 
the  parents  of  8  children,  of  whom  3  are 
living;  came  to  Knox  co.  in  Feb.,  1849; 
united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1832,  of 
which  he  has  been  Trustee,  Steward  and 
Class-leader;  was  first  a  Democrat,  but  is 
now  Republican.  Joined  the  temper- 
ance cause  in  1834,  and  still  clings  to  it. 
P.  O.,  Maquon. 

Shriver,  Solomon  13.,  son  of 
Geo.  W.  and  Melissa  A.,  both  of  Pennsyl- 


vania; born  in  Fayette  co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  16, 
1851;  came  to  Knox  co.,  May  10,  1875; 
attended  the  common  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  16  began  the  printing  trade.  His 
health  failing,  was  compelled  to  return 
to  the  farm  ;  is  at  present  in  the  lumber 
business;  was  married  June  1,  1876,  to 
Miss  Julia  Johnson ;  has  one  daughter. 
United  with  the  Christian  Church  Feb. 
1875.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Henderson. 

Simmons,  Dr.  l>owner  D., 
proprietor  Galesburg  Eye  and  Ear  In- 
firmary. 

Simpson,  D.  M.,  sec.  61,  Walnut 
Grove  township.  P.  O.,  Altona. 

Sipee,  J.  M.,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Lynn 
township.  P.  O.,  Galva. 

Sipes,  Henry,  farmer,  son  of  Geo. 
H.  and  Ida  Sipes,  of  Pennsylvania;  was 
born  in  that  State  Sept.  6, 1830.  He  spent 
his  childhood  on  a  farm.  Early  in  life 
he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  staid  only  a 
short  time,  returning  to  Pennsylvania; 
he  came  to  Illinois  in  1857.  In  1857  he 
married  Mary  Hausehalder.  Democrat. 
P.  O.,  Elba  Center. 

Sisson,  Henry  M,,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Clinton,  Oneidaco.,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
29,  1829;  he  is  the  son  of  Pardon  and 
Abbie  M.  (McCall)  Sisson,  the  father 
from  Newport,  R.  I.,  the  mother  from 
Lebanon,  Ct.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  common  schools,  and  a  par- 
tial course  in  Knox  College.  Reared  on 
a  farm  and  has  continued  at  it ;  has  made 
a  specialty  of  raising  fine  stock ;  he  came 
to  Knox  co.  in  184^;  has  held  a  number 
of  prominent  local  offices.  Dec.  25, 1860, 
he  married  Eliza  J.  Miller,  by  whom  he 
has  had  6  girls  and  2  boys;  both  sons 
dead.  P.  O.,  Galesburg.  Republican. 

Skinner,  Ralph,  farmer,  Gales- 
burg. 

Sloan,  John,  Salem  township.  P. 
O.,  Yates  City. 

Sm alley.  M.  S.,  Cashier  First 
National  Bank,  Galesburg. 

Smith,  Anthony  L<.,  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Clarrisa  (Gozso)  Smith,  born  in 
Ulster  co.,  N.  Y.,  June  24,  1840;  reared 
on  a  farm;  married  to  Maggie  A.  David- 
son Feb.  6,  1866;  has  one  boy,  joined  the 
Church  in  1870;  Trustee.  P.  O.,  Hen- 
derson. 

Smith,  Arthnr  J.,  farmer,  son  of 
Jacob  C.  and  Louisa  M.  (Gould)  Smith, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  latter  of  New  York ;  was  born  in  Wis- 
consin Aug.  11,  1858;  his  early  life  was 
passed  on  the  farm  ;  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Knox  co. ;  has  been 
quite  successful  as  a  farmer.  Democrat. 
P.  O.,  Victoria. 

Smith,  Franklin  C.,  City  At 
torney,  Galesburg,  was  born  in  Alle- 
ghany  co.,  N.  Y.,  July  22,  1824.  His 


706 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


parents  were  Cyrus  and  Lovina  Smith,  of 
Vermont;  bis  early  life  was  passed  on  a 
farm ;  he  received  an  academic  and  col- 
legiate education;  he  chose  the  profession 
of  law,  and  read  with  Attorney  Flint,  a 
former  partner  of  Millard  Fillmore.  He 
engaged  in  contracting  for  the  construc- 
tion of  public  works,  enlarging  canals, 
and  building  railroads  for  15  years.  He 
was  appointed  Assessor  of  Internal  Rev- 
enue, and  served  in  1856-7.  He  recruited 
Co.  I  of  the  102d  Regt. ;  was  elected 
Lieut.  Col.  Sept.  2,  1862,  and  afterwards 

gromoted  to  Col.;  was  wounded  at 
ine  Hill,  June  16,  1864,  by  which  he 
•was  disabled  6  weeks,  when  he  re-en- 
tered the  army;  was  promoted  to  Brevet 
Brig.  Gen.  In  1854  he  married  Sarah 
M.  Gilbert,  by  whom  he  has  had  3  chil- 
dren, 2  living;  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  Baptist  Church  since  18  years 
old.  Democrat. 

Smith.  Henry,  mechanic,  was 
born  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  in  1817;  his  pa- 
rents were  Nicholas  and  Anna  Smith, 
the  former  from  England,  the  latter  from 
Virginia;  he  lived  on  a  farm  until  16 
years  old,  when  he  began  the  black- 
smith's trade;  never  attended  school,  but 
obtained  some  education  by  study  at 
home ;  came  to  Illinois  in  ]  836,  and  to 
Knox  co.  in  1846.  He  has  held  many 
local  offices.  Was  married  to  Lucinda 
Melton  in  1838,  who  bore  him  2  children  ; 
in  1846  he  married  Rebecca  Bardoa,  by 
whom  he  had  5  children.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  since 
1840.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Elba  Center. 

Smith.  Ira  A.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  New  York  in  1822 ;  he  is  the  son  of 
Silas  and  Maranda  Smith,  the  former  of 
Connecticut,  the  latter  of  New  York; 
his  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm,  and 
he  chose  that  for  his  life  pursuit.  He 
came  from  New  York  to  Illinois  in  1850; 
married  Sarah  Rose  in  1842,  by  whom  he 
had  11  children — 8  living.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  church  since  1842,  and 
a  Class-leader  for  a  number  of  years. 
P.  O.,  Elba  Center. 

Smith,  I.  !>.,  photographer,  Prai- 
rie St.,  Galerburg. 

Smith,  J.  A.,  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1814;  son  of  G.  W.  and  Mary  Smith,  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Ohio.  Moved  from  Ohio  to  Illi- 
nois; was  educated  at  Knox  College, 
Galesburg,  and  Peoria  Business  College ; 
fanning  is  his  chosen  profession.  Was 
married  in  1871  to  Reenie  Ewalt.  Demo- 
crat. P.  0.,  Elmwood. 

Smit"?,  Joseph  M.  Parents  were 
Robert  E.  and  Eliza  J.  (John)  Smith, 
natives  of  Ohio,  where,  in  Clinton  co., 
Aug.  6,  1854,  Joseph  was  born ;  came  to 
Illinois  in  1856 ;  traveled  in  the  West  con- 


siderably; was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
attended  common  schools  of  this  county. 
Married,  Dec.  9,  1875,  to  Harriet  A.  Og- 
den ;  the  union  has  been  blessed  with  1 
girl.  Greenbacker.  P.  O.,  Hermon. 

Smith,  Rev.  O.  F.,  sec.  25,  Rio 
township.  P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Smith,  Phillip  Augustus, 
born  at  Victoria,  Knox  co.,  111.,  Dec.  5, 
1843,  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Smith, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came 
west  at  quite  an  early  day  and  settled  in 
Victoria.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  83d 
111.  Vol.  On  returning  from  the  war, 
was  married,  Aug.  22,  1866,  to  Miss  Ma- 
lina  Ebright.  Farmer.  P.  O.,  Wataga. 

Smith,  William,  born  in  the 
town  of  Elmore,  Vt.,  Sept.  15,  1816;  edu- 
cated in  common  schools  and  at  New- 
berry  Seminary,  Vermont;  his  parents, 
Samuel  and  Betsey  (Rood;  Smith,  were 
farmers  of  Vermont,  where  William 
spent  his  early  life ;  was  trader  for  22 
year->,  and  has  followed  farming  since ; 
moved  to  New  York,  then  to  Montreal, 
Ca.,  and  to  Ontario,  111.,  in  1859;  married 
Margaret  Boher,  Dec.  27,  1865 ;  they  had 
1  boy  and  2  girls.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Smith,  William  H.,  farmer, 
P.  O.,  Hermon,  is  the  son  of  Charles 
W.  and  Sinia  C.  (Moon)  Smith,  his  father 
of  Virginia,  mother  of  Ohio;  was  born 
in  Clinton,  Ohio,  March  27,  1848;  at- 
tended common  schools  and  Abingdon 
College.  He  is  Justice  of  Peace  and 
School  Director.  Married  Martha  B. 
Price  Feb.  2,  1871;  they  have  3  boys. 
United  with  the  Christian  Church  in 
1870;  is  Clerk.  Republican.  P.  O., 
Hermon. 

Snider,  Mrs.  Susan  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Hannah  Wright,  natives 
of  Vermont,  who  afterward  settled  in 
Saratoga  co.,  N.  Y.,  where  Susan  was 
born  Aug.  29,  1827,  and  ten  years  later 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Harkness 
Grove ;  in  1849,  came  to  Kuox  co.  Susan 
was  married  to  John  Snider,  March  1, 
1849,  and  was  blessed  with  7  children,  5 
boys  and  2  girls,  1  of  whom  is  dead.  Is 
a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church. 
P.  O.,  La  Fayette,  Stark  co. 

Soles,  James,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  27,  1820;  his 
parents  were  James  and  Mary  (Davidson) 
Soles,  of  Goft'stown,  N.  H. ;  his  early 
life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  his  tduca- 
tional  advantages  limited  to  the  common 
schools.  He  came  to  Peoria,  111.,  in 
1839,  where  he  worked  at  the  cooper's 
trade  for  15  years ;  came  to  Knox  co.  in 
1854.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Trustee, 
Supervisor  and  Sheriff.  Oct.  24, 1842,  he 
married  Anna  Maria  Knight;  they  have 
had  6  boys  and  2  girls — 2  boys  and  1 
girl  dead.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Galva. 


HISTORY   OF   KNOX   COUNTY. 


707 


Spencer,  Charles,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Erie  co.,  Pa.,  May  4,  1836;  his 
parents  were  Joshua  N.  and  Marian 
(Stevens)  Spencer,  the  former  of  Maine, 
the  latter  of  New  York.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  common  schools;  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  Truro  township,  Knox 
co.,  in  1840.  He  has  filled  the  offices  of 
School  Director  and  Road  Commissioner. 
Oct.  28,  1858,  he  married  Rosana  Welch ; 
they  have  3  sons  and  4  daughters.  P.  O., 
Truro. 

Stalker,  Thomas  H.,  farmer, 
son  of  Thomas  and  Maria  L.  Stalker, 
was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man  in  1821; 
he  came  from  the  Isle  of  Man  to 
America  in  1841.  He  married  Maria 
Corlett;  they  have  had  8  children,  4  of 
whom  are  living.  He  was  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Stalker  died  March  11,  1877,  and  his 
wife  died  March  18,  1877.  The  4  chil- 
dren have  since  lived  together,  and  one 
of  them,  Elizabeth  Stalker,  subscribed 
for  this  work.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

Standish,  Prof.  John  V.  >.. 
Professor  Lombard  University,  Gales- 
burg,  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Vt,  Feb. 
26,  1825.  His  parents,  John  W.  and 
Caroline  W.  (Myrick)  Standish,  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont, 
respectively.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  graduated  at  Norwich  University  in 
1847.  He  has  made  teaching  his  life 
work.  Is  of  Universalist  belief.  Repub- 
lican. Was  married  to  H.  Augusta 
Kimdall  in  1859. 

Steele,  William  Lr.,  teacher, 
Yates  City,  son  of  W.  L.  and  Anna 
Steele,  was  born  in  Adams  co.,  O.,  July 
22,1854;  he  got  his  education  at  Mon- 
inouth  College;  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  but  has  chosen  the  profession  of 
teaching,  with  marked  success.  He  has 
been  Principal  of  the  High  School  at 
Yates  City  for  3  years.  Republican. 

Stephenson,  Geo.  L-.,  merchant, 
Oneida,  born  in  Scotland,  Oct.  20,  1837, 
came  to  America  in  1850;  married,  in 
1855,  to  Grace  L.  Stewart;  they  have  4 
children,  2  boys  and  2  girls.  Republi- 
can. Has  been  Collector  and  Supervisor 
in  Ontario  township. 

Stephens,  J.  W.,  Cedar  town- 
ship, sec.  16.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Sterns,  Gardner  O.,  farmer, 
son  of  George  and  Fanny  (Arms)  Sterns, 
of  Franklin  co.,  Mass.,  was  born  in  Con- 
way,  same  county,  Feb.  9,  1836 ;  he  came 
to  Knox  co,  in  1858.  Enlisted  in  the 
United  States  service  on  the  22d  of  April, 
1861,  in  Co.  D  of  the  1st  111.  Cav.  lie 
was  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Lexington, 
Mo.,  Sept.  20,  1861,  and  was  discharged 
Feb.  19,  1862;  afterward  re-enlisted  in 
the  77th  111.  Inf.,  and  was  elected  First 
Lieutenant  in  August,  1862;  was  pro- 


moted to  Captain  February,  1864,  and 
continued  in  service  till  close  of  the  war. 
Oct.  2,  1865,  he  married  Lucy  Rukle,  by 
whom  he  has  4  children.  P.  O.,  Knox- 
ville. 

Stetson,  Charles  A.,  merchant, 
Yates  City. 

St.  John,  E.  C.,  sec.  35,  Ontario 
township ;  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Stevens,  Gilbert  A.,  marble 
manufacturer,  Galesburg,  was  born  in 
Fulton  co.,  111.,  Oct.  20,  1842 ;  early  life 
spent  on  a  farm  at  hard  work ;  he  follow- 
ed farming  until  1872  when  he  came  to 
Galesburg  and  engaged  in  the  marble 
business.  He  married  Susan  Pence. 

Stevens,  S.  O.,  section  30,  Walnut 
Grove  township.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Stevenson ,  T.  W.,  mechanic,  son 
of  Robert  and  Nancy  Stevenson,  of  South 
Carolina ;  was  born  in  Sangarnon  co.,  111., 
July  17,  1827.  He  never  attended  school ; 
spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm,  but  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed for  36  years.  He  served  during 
the  Mexican  war  under  Gen.  Shields. 
He  married  Rebecca  Neland,  by  whom  he 
has  3  children.  Republican.  P.  O.,  Ma- 
quon. 

Stilson,  Capt.  John  F..  sea 
captain  and  merchant,  Galesburg;  was 
,  born  in  Waterville,  Me.,  March  5,  1827. 
His  father  was  Lemuel  Stilson,  born  in  Sid- 
ney, Me.,  and  his  mother,  Rhoda  A.,  born 
in  Frankfort,  Me.  John  F.  was  educated  in 
the  Waterville  Liberal  Institute;  while 
young  he  evinced  a  taste  for  seafaring  life, 
and  at  the  age  of  16  sailed  for  the  West 
Indies.  The  brig  was  wrecked  on  this  first 
voyage  off  the  coast  of  the  Bahama  Is- 
lands, and  he  saved  his  life  by  clinging 
to  a  piece  of  the  wreck.  He  spent  13 
years  on  salt  water,  during  which  he  pass- 
ed through  many  severe  hardships  and 
hairbreadth  escapes;  five  years  he  was 
Captain.  In  1851  he  carried  the  specie  cars 
to  Aspinwall  in  which  the  treasure  from. 
California  to  New  York,  via  Panama,  was 
transported.  After  leaving  Aspinwall  the 
early  part  of  July  his  vessel  drifted  about 
for  19  days  with  all  on  board  sick ;  sev- 
eral of  the  hands  died,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  be  tumbled  overboard  without 
any  preparation  for  burial,  or  funeral 
ceremonies.  The  Captain  was  21  days 
without  taking  a  particle  of  nourishment. 
He  was  finally  picked  up,  and  taken  into 
Pensacola.  In  1853,  while  in  charge  of 
the  ship  Kate  Wheeler,  she  sprang  a  leak 
on  a  passage  from  Trinidad  de  Cuba  to 
London,  and  for  51  days  and  nights  the 
men  were  kept  at  the  pumps ;  landed  her 
safely  however,  and  after  needed  repairs 
were  made  sailed  for  home  with  4  men 
in  irons.  Soon  after  clearing  the  laud  the 
vessel  experienced  a  very  heavy  gale,  and 


708 


HISTOKY   OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


for  26  days  there  was  not  a  table  set  on 
board,  pockets  being  the  only  available 
tables  and  dishes.  In  1856  he  shipped 
from  New  York  to  Cuba,  expecting  to  sail 
from  there  to  Europe.  On  arriving  at 
Havana  he  found  the  yellow  fever  raging 
terribly;  business  was  demoralized,  and 
every  one  anxious  to  escape  from  the  dev- 
astating pestilence.  Mr.  Stilson  and  his 
brother,  who  was  First  Mate,  and  ten  of 
his  men  were  stricken  down  with  the 
fever,  and  of  the  number  he  is  the  only 
one  who  left  Havana  alive.  Bidding  good- 
by  to  the  sea,  came  west  in  Sept.,  1856,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  hardware 
trade  and  the  manufacture  of  agricul- 
tural implements  in  Galesburg ;  is  now  a 
member  of  the  firms  Babcock  &  Stilson 
and  Reed,  Babcock  &  Stilson,  who  in  ad- 
dition to  their  other  lines  of  business  are 
extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  drain  tile.  April  4,  1853,  he  married 
Mary  Ann  Wheeler, .  by  whom  he  had  3 
daughters  and  1  son.  He  joined  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  1858.  Republican. 

Stringham,  Mrs.  1^.  C.,  widow 
of  the  late  Chas.  P.  Stringham.  Gales- 
burg. 

Strode,  J.  B.,  teacher,  Principal  of 
South  Abingdon  High  School ;  was  born 
in  Fulton  co.,  111.,  Feb.  18, 1845.  He  is  the 
son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Parks)  Strode. 
He  passed  his  early  life  on  a  farm,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  Abingdon  Col- 
lege; has  followed  teaching  for  12  years. 
He  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1865,  where  he 
has  since  resided ;  has  been  a  member  of 
the  City  Council  of  Abingdon  for  8  years, 
and  one  of  the  School  Board  for  2  years. 
In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G.  of  the  50th 
111.  Inf. ;  discharged  July,  1865.  Oct.  10, 
1867,  he  married  Eunice  Smith ;  they  have 
1  son.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  12  years. 

Stncker,  Jacob  A.,  nieahanic, 
son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Fix) 
Stucker,  the  former  of  Kentucky,  the 
latter  of  Virginia ;  was  born  in  Jefferson 
co.,  Ind. ;  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
and  has  followed  it,  except  from  1871  to 
'76,  which  years  he  was  farming.  He  re- 
moved to  Knox  co.  in  1864 ;  was  married 
to  Rachel  Righthouse  in  1865,  by  whom 
he  has  6  children,  all  living.  He  was 
married  Oct.  7,  1869  to  Malinda  Joy,  by 
whom  he  has  1  child,  girl.  Is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church,  Abingdon,  since 
1869.  Republican.  P.  O.,  St.  Augustine. 

Stuckey,  Simon  Silver,  son  of 
Samuel  S.  and  Ann  (Silver)  Stuckey,  of 
Bedford,  Pa. ;  was  born  Dec.  8,  1833,  at 
the  same  place,  received  a  fair  common- 
school  education ;  was  raised  on  a  farm, 
and  has  continued  the  calling  ever  since 
with  reasonable  success;  married  Caro- 


line Border  in  1849 ;  has  5  sons  and  4 
daughters ;  came  to  this  co.  in  1855 ;  has 
held  the  office  of  Church  Trustee.  P.  O., 
Altona. 

S 11  m  no  r.  Calvin,  farmer,  son  of 
Palmer  and  Eufrecia  Sumner,  of  New 
York ;  was  born  in  that  State  in  1833;  he 
spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm;  removed 
from  New  York  to  Indiana  in  early  life; 
thence  to  Michigan;  thence  to  Illinois  in 
1866.  He  married  Catharine  E.  Wolf, 
by  whom  he  has  had  3  children,  2  living. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  since  1849.  Republican.  P.  O.r 
Eugene. 

Sn  in  in*'  I'M.  Eiving.  Parents  were 
Robert  Summers,  a  Kentuckian,  and 
Mary  Clark  (Peirce)  Summers,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  and  he  was  born  at  Water- 
ford,  Fulton  co.,  Ill ,  Feb.  28,  1836;  par- 
ents were  as  poor  as  the  law  would  allow ; 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  school 
and  at  home ;  early  lite  was  passed  on 
the  farm,  but  since  he  was  13  years  of  age 
he  has  been  on  the  farm  only  one-third 
of  the  time,  the  remainder  of  the  time 
being  spent  in  various  pursuits,  particu- 
larly school-teaching.  General  charac- 
ter in  youth,  studious ;  was  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  ministry  from  the  age  of 
19  to  26,  in  the  Central  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, but  withdrew  on  account  of  oppo- 
sition to  his  preaching  some  of  the  re- 
forms of  the  day ;  has  never  held  any  po- 
litical office,  has  had  no  "military 
record,"  has  "changed  residence"  too 
many  times  to  enumerate;  first  married 
to  Joanna  Colburn  in  1859,  of  whom  were 
born  two  children;  one  fe  now  living; 
then  married  in  1868  to  Sara  F.  Rice. 
He  is  a  Republican,  but  splits  tickets 
most  wofully !  At.  present  he  is  a  proof- 
reader, and  his  wife  is  physician  of  the 
Galesburg  "  Health  Institute."  P.  O., 
Galesburg. 

Swanson,  W.  P,,  resides  at  Gales- 
burg. 

Swanson,  S,  W.,  son  of  Peter  and 
Betsey  Swanson ;  born  in  Christianstad, 
Sweden,  June  14,  1833.  Removed  to 
Knox  co.  in  1852;  married  Nellie  Troed- 
son  April  3,  1855 ;  parents  of  7  children ; 
united  with  Lutheran  Church  in  1847;  is 
Trustee;  engaged  in  farming.  Repub- 
lican. P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Swartwotit,  Stenben  P.,  farm- 
er, son  of  Steuben  and  Judith  (Wildey; 
of  New  York ;  was  born  in  Westchester 
co.  N.  Y.,  Aug.  28,  1828.  He  was  liber- 
ally educated ;  he  followed  surveying  and 
book-keeping  before  coming  west;  since 
coining  to  Illinois  in  1861,  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  Postmaster 
in  Farmington,  N.  Y.  Dec.  25,  1850,  he 
was  married,  and  has  had  2  sons  atd  5 


HISTORY   OF    KXOX   COUNTY. 


709 


daughters;  one  son  dead.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
since  1852.  P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Swegle,  .Lafayette,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Sussex  co.,  N.  J.,  Sept.  24,  1824; 
his  parents  were  natives  of  that  State; 
his  opportunities  for  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  were  very  limited ;  his  early 
years  were  spent  on  a  farm ;  came  to  Knox 
co.,  in  1850.  He  married  Amelia  Mor- 
gan Feb.  7,  1850;  they  had  4  children. 
He  married  Mary  Ann  McElrea  in  1861, 
by  whom  he  has  had  6  children,  4  living. 
Republican.  Residence,  St.  Augustine. 
Swift,  Job,  retired  farmer,  is  the 
son  of  Erastus  and  Louisa  (Everest) ;  was 
born  in  Addison  co.,  Vt.,  May  9,  1811;  he 
was  educated  in  Shoreham  Academy,  Vt. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming 
chiefly;  spent  some  time  in  the  milling 
business.  He  came  from  Vermont  to 
Galesburg  in  1836;  has  held  the  office  of 
Alderman  of  the  city  for  years.  He  mar- 
ried Amanda  M.  Sumner,  Feb.  14,  1854, 
in  Granville,  N.  Y.  They  have  2  daugh- 
ters. Republican.  Residence,  Galesburg. 
Swigart,  William,  Maquon. 
Symons.  William,  tailor,  Yates 
City,  is  the  son  of  William  and  Sarah 
Symons;  was  born  in  England  Dec.  16, 
1830;  had  no  school  education;  came  to 
Illinois  in  1869:  served  5  years  as  soldier 
in  England.  Married  Elib  Conroy  in 
1853;  6  children  living,  4  dead.  Repub- 
lican. 

Talbot,  Thomas,  farmer,  sec.  21, 
Ontaiio  township.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

Tasker,  William,  farmer,  P. 
O.,  Maquon;  son  of  Wm.  and  Mary 
(Rooke)  Tasker,  natives  of  Ringrner,  Sus- 
sex co.,  Eng. ;  was  born  July  18,  1848,  in 
Sussex  co.,  Eng.  His  early  life  passed 
mostly  on  the  farm.  When  15  years  old 
he  went  to  sea  3  years;  emigrated  to 
America,  coming  to  Knox  co.,  Dec.  14, 
1866.  Married  Eda  Moore  April  6,  1873. 
They  are  the  parents  of  3  children. 
Greenback  er. 

Tate,  J.  W.,  stock  dealer,  Bedford, 
Iowa. 

Taylor,  A.  B.,  P.  O.,  Yates  City. 
Taylor,  James  Martin,  banker 
Yates  City,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Tay- 
lor; was  born  in  Clarksburg,  Pa.,  March 
24.  1844.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  College  in  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
In  youth  he  learned  the  printer's  trade; 
then  short-hand  reporting;  afterwards 
farmed  for  a  series  of  years,  and  finally 
engaged  in  the  banking  business  in  Yates 
City.  He  served  in  the  United  States 
army  during  the  rebellion.  Feb.  18, 
1858,  he  married  S.  J.  Davids,  by  whom 
he  has  2  sons.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Republican. 
40 


Taylor,  Warren,  farmer,  Salem 
townsliip. 

Taylor,  Mrs.  S.  E.,  sec.  4,  Lynn 
township.  P.  O.,  Galva. 

Taylor,  John,  farmer,  son  of  John 
and  Anna  Taylor;  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign, O.  His  early  life  was  passed  on 
the  farm;  received  his  education  from  the 
common  schools;  moved  to  Illinois; 
thence  to  Missouri,  stayed  3  years,  then 
moved  to  Knox  co.  in.  1848.  Married 
Eunice  Milum  in  1847  They  have  been 
the  parents  of  12  children,  of  whom  8  are 
now  living.  Democrat.  He  has  been  very 
successful  in  farming. 

Temple,  John,  druggist,  Gales- 
burg, son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Tem- 
ple; was  born  in  Yarrn  Branch  Station, 
Durham  co.,  Eng.,  Jan.  18,  1835.  He  is 
self-educated  from  the  age  of  10 years;  he 
came  to  America  in  1855,  and  to  Gales- 
burg in  1857 ;  engaged  for  a  short  time  in 
farming,  then  re-entered  upon  the  drug 
business;  he  enlisted  April  19, 1861,  as  a 
private  in  Co.  E,  17th  Regt.  111.  Inf. ;  was 
appointed  Hospital  Steward  May  14,  and 
held  that  position  till  mustered  out  June 
7,  1864.  Jan.  30,  1867,  he  married  Anna 
Peterson.  They  have  4  children ;  3  living. 
Terry,  Hiifiis  E.,  farmer,  son  of 
John  and  Nancy  H.  (Benson)  Terry,  of 
Greenbriar  co.,  Va. ;  was  born  in  Chest- 
nut township,  Knox  co ,  111.,  Aug.  20, 
1848.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  at  Abingdon  College.  He 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  continued 
farming  from  choice.  June  19,  1873,  he 
married  Alma  F.  Halten.  They  have  1 
boy  and  1  girl.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Her- 
mon. 

Terwilliger,  Philip  Kelson, 
farmer.  P.  O.,  Midway,  Fulton  co.,  111. ; 
was  born  in  Pickaway  co.,  O.,  June  13, 
1847;  parents  were  Abraham  and  Pency 
(Rector)  Terwilliger,  natives  of  Ohio. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ; 
moved  to  Fulton  co.,  111.,  in  1850;  at- 
tended school  at  Hedding  College,  Ab- 
ingdon. Married  Sosa  Welch  Jan.  1,1871. 
They  are  the  parents  of  4  children,  of 
whom  two  are  living ;  moved  to  Chestnut 
township,  Knox  co.,  Feb.,  1871;  was 
School  Director.  In  1863  united  with 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  was 
Class-leader. 

Thomas,  James,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Guernsey  co.,  O.,  Dec.  19,  1824.  He  is 
11  ic  son  of  Enoch  and  Anna  (Dilley) 
Thomas,  the  father  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
mother  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools ;  spent  his  early 
life  on  a  farm ;  came  from  Ohio  to  Knox 
co.,  111.,  in  1856 ;  has  held  the  offices  of 
J.  P.,  member  of  the  School  Board  and 
Trustee  in  Victoria  township ;  Sept.  14, 
1847,  he  married  Caroline  Creighton,  by 


710 


HISTORY   OF   KSOX   COUNTY. 


whom  he  has  7  sons  and  3  daughters.  4 
dead :  has  been  connected  with  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  Church  since  1851.  P.  O., 
Abingdon. 

Thomas.  James  Edwin,  me- 
chanic, son  of  Edward  and  Laurena  (Kid- 
well)  Thomas,  of  Indiana,  was  born  in 
Wayne  co..  Ind.,  Dec.  8. 1843.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools ;  learned  the 
wagon-maker's  trade,  and  has  followed  it ; 
in  the  fall  of  1858  came  to  Wataga;  served 
in  the  U.  S.  army  during  the  rebellion  as 
a  member  of  Co.  B.  138th  111.  Inf.:  in 
Sept..  1868,  married  Elvira  Morrison,  by 
whom  he  has  2  children :  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Republican. 

Thomas.  Hi  lam.  farmer,  Rio 
township.  P.  O..  Rio. 

Thomas,  W.  H.,  carriage  manu- 
facturer. Abingdon,  the  son  of  Edward 
and  Laurena  <  Kidwell)  Thomas,  of  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Madison,  Ind.,  in  1842.  He 
came  to  Knox  co.  in  1860 :  settled  in  Ab- 
ingdon in  1875 :  served  3  years  at  the  car- 
riage trade  with  Sheldon  «fc  Harrison  in 
Galesburg :  traveled  2  years  before  settling 
in  business  for  himself:  in  1873  married 
Ellen  Morley.  Greenbacker. 

Thomas,  William  Xewton. 
son  of  Edward  and  Laurena  (Kidwell) 
Thomas,  of  Indiana,  was  born  in  Wayne 
co..  Ind..  May  14. 1842 :  learned  the  black- 
smith trade*  which  vocation  he  has  fol- 
lowed; came  to  Knox  co..  111.,  in  1858; 
during  the  late  war  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  9th 
Mo.,  but  was  transferred  to  the  59th  111. ; 
was  married  in  Dec.,  1869.  Independent. 
P.  O..  Wataga. 

Thompson,  George  Wallace, 
attorney.  Galesburg,  of  English  parentage, 
born  near  London,  Canada,  Aug.  9,  1851 : 
educated  at  Upper  Canada  College  and  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Toronto, 
taking  the  degree  of  B.  A*,  and  the  Uni- 
versity gold  medal  in  1874:  studied  law 
in  Toronto  and  was  admitted  to  practice, 
1*77.  and  came  to  Galesburg  immediately 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  William 
Davis:  early  life  passed  on  a  farm:  his 
parents  live  on  a  farm  near  Galesburg; 
selected  the  profession  from  a  liking  for 
it,  and  to  make  money  and  have  an  occu- 
pation. 

Thompson.  David,  farmer,  born 
in  Indiana  Dec.  6, 1835.  His  father,  John 
Thompson,  born  in  Pennsylvania;  his 
mother,  Catharine  Thompson,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  David  spent  his  early  life 
on  a  farm,  and  has  never  had  reason  to 
engage  in  anything  else;  was  married 
July "2,  1868, "to  Catharine  Richmond: 
they  have  5  children.  3  boys  and  2  girl- : 
when  our  country's  flag  was  fired  upon 
he  showed  his  devotion  by  enlisting,  and 
served  3  years.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Al- 
tona. 


Thomson.  Prof.  Adoniram 
Judson.  is  the  son  of  Herbert  C.  and 
Louisa  W.  (Hail)  Thomson,  the  former  of 
Virginia,  his  mother  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  born  in  Cumberland  co., 
Ky..  Sept.  3.  1835 ;  his  parents  came  to 
Illinois  when  he  was  about  3  vears  old ; 
at  the  age  of  14  his  mother  died*;  he  soon 
entered  a  dry-goods  store  as  clerk,  remain- 
ing over  3  years ;  in  the  meantime  he  con- 
fessed his  'faith  in  Christ,  and  was  bap- 
tized by  Elder  Ziba  Brown  and  united 
with  the  Christian  Church  at  Macomb, 
which  then  had  hopes  of  making  him  a 
preacher,  and  but  few  preachers  of  the 
gospel  have  done  more  efficient  labor 
than  he ;  many  have  confessed  Christ  un- 
der his  preaching,  and  scores  of  our  sub- 
scribers were  baptized  by  him :  in  1853 
he  entered  Abingdon  Academy,  and  in 
1858  graduated  from  Abingdon  College, 
and  until  1865  was  connected  with  the 
college  as  tutor  and  professor,  when  he 
was  Principal  of  Hiram  Colleee ;  in  1866 
he  was  recalled  to  the  chair  ot  languages 
in  Abingdon  College ;  severed  his  connec- 
tions with  the  college  in  1877 ;  has  served 
a  number  of  times  as  Alderman  and  once 
,vor  of  Abingdon :  was  married  Jan. 
1,  I860,  to  Aldula  'Gertrude  Price :  2  sons 
and  2  daughters  have  been  born  to  them ; 
3  now  living.  Republican.  Residence, 
Abingdon. 

Thnrman,Elisha,  farmer,  P.O., 
Maquon,  was  born  July  1,  1812,  in  High- 
land co.,  Ohio.  Parents  were  Thoma* 
and  Feba  (Goard)  Thurman,  natives  of 
Virginia.  His  early  life  was  passed  on 
the  farm:  moved  to  Illinois  in  1830, 
settling  in  Knox  co.,  and  has  been  out  of 
the  county  only  three  years'  lime  since. 
Dec.  25,  1834,  was  married  to  Anna  Hail. 
They  are  the  parents  of  9  children,  of 
whom  7  are  living.  Was  first  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  now  be- 
longs to  the  Christian,  which  he  joined 
in  1838  or  '39.  Has  been  School  Direc- 
tor and  Trustee.  Republican.  Owns  592 
acres  of  land. 

Thurman.  W.  H.,  farmer,  son  of 
Philip  and  Jane  Thurman,  from  Vir- 

S'nia,  was  born  in  Highland  co.,  O., 
arch  27,  1822;  only  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  a  few  terms.  Came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1841 ;  worked  the  first  3  years  for 
his  board  and  a  3-year-old  colt;  and  the 
next  summer  for  $9  per  month.  Jan.  3, 
1845.  he  married  Phebe  Jane  Thurman. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  for  many  years ;  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  of  the  township. 
Republican.  P.  ().,  Yates  City. 

Townsend,  Henry  P.,  farmer, 
was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  co.,  N.  Y.. 
July  11,  1816;  he  is  the  son  of  Richard 
and  Eliza  M.  Townsend,  of  New  York. 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


711 


His  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm;  was 
educated  in  Bishop  Peck's  School,  of  St. 
Lawrence.  X.  Y.  He  removed  from  New 
York  to  Pennsylvania,  thence  to  Wiscon- 
sin, thence  to  Illinois;  settled  In  Knox 
co.  in  1851.  He  learned  the  tanner's 
trade ;  followed  it  for  a  time,  then  turned 
liis  attention  to  teaching,  then  to  selling 
goods.  He  was  the  lirst  Assessor  in 
Chestnut  township:  has  also  been  Trus- 
tee of  the  township.  Feb.  22,  1854,  he 
married  Helen  Hickey.  Has  been  a 
member  of  the  M.  E  Church  since  1869. 
Republican.  P.  O..  Hermon. 

Tribbey.  Virginia  C.,  was  born 
in  Clinton  co.,  Ohio,  Sept  3,  1831 ;  she  is 
the  daughter  of  Asahel  and  Catharine 
Tribbey,  of  Lancaster  co.,  Va.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  physician.  She  was  educated 
in  the  Female  College  at  Hamilton.  O. 
Her  life  has  been  spent  largely  in  domes- 
tic labors.  She  came  to  Abingdon,  where 
she  now  lives,  in  1865. 

Trnitt.  Elijah,  farmer,  was  born 
Oct.  14,  1817,  in  Ross  co.,  O.;  he  is  the 
son  of  Gilley  and  Xancy  Truitt,  the  father 
from  Georgia,  the  mother  from  Virginia : 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  school, 
and  reared  on  a  farm.  Came  to  Illinois 
in  1856 ;  in  1842,  he  married  Eliza  Jane 
Taylor;  they  have  11  children.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  M.E.  Church  since 
has  been  Class-leader  for  a  number 
of  years.  Republican. 

Tucker.  Ephraim,  son  of  Jon- 
athan and  Elizabeth,  who  were  farmers, 
was  born  Jan.  15,  1831,  in  Richland  co., 
O.;  received  a  good  education;  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  X."B.  Jaques.  May  25.  1854, 
and  came  to  Knox  co.  in  the  Fall  of  the 
same  year,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  later,  in  the  manufacturing  of  tiles; 
will  make  of  the  latter,  this  year,  about 
400,000;  is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm. 
Democrat.  Was  elected  Road  Commis- 
sioner in  Truro  township  in  1860,  and 
has  since  held  the  same  office  in  Elba, 
where  he  now  resides.  P.  O.,  Eugene. 

Tucker.  Josiah.  farmer,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Sells)  Tucker,  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  co.,  O.,  Nov.  12, 
986;  his  only  educational  opportunities 
were  those  of  the  district  school.  He 
served  in  the  United  States  Army  as  a 
private  during  the  Mexican  war.  He 
went  from  Ohio  to  Michigan  in  1<52 ; 
thence  to  Illinois,  in  1855.  Nov.  12, 
1848,  he  married  Catharine  Baughman, 
who  had  6  children :  in  1862  he  married 
Xaney  Catharine  Akins.  who  is  the 
mother  of  6  children.  He  joined  the 
Baptist  Church  in  1841.  Republican. 
P.O..  Kuoxville. 

Tulli*.  Rev.  Amos  K..  Presid- 
ing Elder  ot  this  district  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  was  born  Jan.  10,  1837,  in  La 


Salle  co..  111.;  he  is  the  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Hannah  (Odle)  Tullis:  his  early  life 
was  passed  on  a  farm ;  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  public  schools,  at  Wheaton 
College  and  Garrett  Biblical  Institute; 
he  became  converted  and  united  with  the 
M.  E.  Church  in  1858.  During  the  war 
he  was  Chaplain  of  the  103d  111.  Inf.,  and 
of  the  134th  Inf.  He  lived  ia  La  Salle 
co.  till  23  years  of  age.  Has  officiated  as 
Pastor  12  years,  and  has  been  Presiding 
Elder  1  year.  In  1860  he  married  Lou- 
isa D.  Dixon;  they  have  7  children. 
Republican.  Residence.  Galesburg. 

Tnnnieliff.  John  J.,  State's  At- 
torney of  Knox  co.,  and  whose  portr/iit 
appears  in  this  book,  was  bora  in  Penn 
Tan,  Yates  co.,  N.  Y.,  March  17.  isil; 
he  is  the  soa  of  Nelson  and  Mary  (Smith) 
Tunnicliff,  of  the  same  county.  He  was 
educated  at  Hamilton  College,  Oneida 
co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Albany  Law  School ; 
he  was  elected  State's  Attorney  in  Nov., 
878,  and  re-elected  in  1876."  July  13. 
1866.  he  married  Catharine  L.  Burrows, 
who  died  Aug.  10,  1871,  leaving  I  son. 
Frederick  B.  Tunnicliff.  Mr.  ~T.  was 
married  again  in  1873.  to  Margaretta 
Duffield.  of  Saginaw,  Mich.  They  have 
3  children.  Republican.  Residence, 
Galesburg. 

Tupper.Rev.  Henry  JIartyn. 
son  of  Marlyn  and  Porsis  S.  'Peck)  Tap- 
per, both  of  Wen  Stafford,  CL  He  was 
born  in  Hardwick,  Worcester  co..  Mass., 
June  10,  I'SSO;  attended  high  school, 
Hartford  Academy.  Ellington,  (X  Wil- 
lis'on  Seminary,  East  Hampton.  Mass., 
and  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  where  he 
graduated  in  1850;  prepared  himself  for 
the  ministry  at  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inarv.  New  Yo~k  Citv.  graduating  in 
1856;  married  Nov.  13,  1860,  to  Maggie 
Ellen  Cree.  They  have  had  2  sons  and  3 
daughters;  1  son  dead.  In  1849  united 
with  Yale  College  Church,  Congrega- 
tional. Republican.  P.  O  ,  Ontario. 

Turner.  Israel,  farmer  and  me- 
chanic: was  born  in  Chester  co..  Pa., 
March  22,  1812.  He  was  the  second  son 
of  Henry  and  Susannah  i  Haider  man  ^ 
Turner,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
of  German  ancestry ;  his  father  was  born 
April  2,  1790;  his  mother  May  13.  17-1 : 
his  father  married  at  the  age  of  19 ;  he 
was  a  stone  mason.  Israel  enjoyed  no 
educational  advantages,  except  such  as 
the  district  school  afforded.  He  hired 
out  as  a  boat  hand  at  the  age  of  16,  and 
worked  at  that  business  3  yeaiy.  when  he 
began  to  learn  the  stone  and  brixk  ma- 
son and  stone  cutter's  trades.  After  com- 
pleting the  trades  he  was  employed  till 
he  came  west  in  building  bridges  on 
railroads,  and  other  public" w-vks.  much 
of  the  time  in  charge  of  a  corps  of  nie'i . 


;  his  nan**  ww*  Hanrer  aad  JIB- 
eai     dnd  tftraak  a  alii  i?  of  YirshuoL    Dr- 
Yirioa passed  his  «arhr  life  at  a 


rovsr  at  Itaamgmm.  KT, 

1^3*;   kt 
ikt  |«aHke  of  kk 


t.>  Mi*  Maria  J. 
Sept.   a.    1S3C;   ther  have  3 
i;  is  a  BM*aber  of  the  Chretiaa 
After     ChBicb;  was  bandied  ia  186; 
•i  Sept. 


- 
(  Wrtter 


aaiaakai  n  afcii  •  ifaainj  afll  rM      ••!•)  Tnhaiaa.  ••llirr  nf  Tanlia    •  i 


£««•».  Dec.  25.1833. 

€•  the  farm.    la  1S74. 
•T  21  aad  » jnn.     caaw  ftaai  Svcdrs  to  Kaox  ex    He 

- 


RDel- 

Buard  with  the  «.  Pcnifer  towBBBJBL    P.Os 

wbkbbeatte*  Wallirk.  Jacob    J..  -.1  ::   Ja- 

ofHawCkccktowB-  cab  aad  Martha  (McGee)  WaBck,  aa, 

r!Qt-I.    FipBBlaai  HVCB  off  Pa_  was  bon  ia  Pa-,  Dec.  i 
ISflL    ffis  earijr  fife  was  pasatdoa  the 

yK^fiMBwr^washoiBi  fatal;  rrawned  to 


5  T,  5«pt.  9t  fflK.    He     sum*  m  Co.  A.  HL  laf ;  farmiBc 
of  Harror  aad  ABBBB  fMasoa>     hetBi  his  chnfff  B  |BnftffiiiBi,  JB 


E  Aadnrwm,  Jm&S,  MK, 

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P.  O,  Wa 

:  H.---    -  :  A  'Wa 


-^  -     *  -»  ""P*-  **  —      ~  — —  -ff~ 

-:-"./ -"-"•-'  J    :--   :-:-'  --  -- .-  ---  --/--^  -.-  •-- 

' was  Biiiiiiil  ia  1«1  to  Powj  * 


ai "     '    — BherBfirtrwBiCbFafthlB-Befr, 


•*  "BBC  •»  "ManiaB  R*&J*T-   has  3     asd  took  part  IB  eiciT  battle  the 

^^^^^_.  J»^L       ^-  --••        •—      -  ••     »  ••    -MMK 

HSZz  has  beBa  D^acaa  ok  chaccm  at  Ab- 


or  KXOX  corsrr.  713 

Walsh.  Michael-  farmer,  •«.  20.        We**.  Jfaam**  IVengn«er  C,R 


..ard.  Amm  Fraaklinu  bis 
patents,  Amos  and  Ebza.  of  Ct;  was  former  of  Yermeaft,  his  mother  a  native 
born  at  Forrington,  (X  Xor.  2*.  1S»;  of  Tennessee-,  was  bom  at  BiQqpDve; 
attended  eomm^nTachool  in  Knox  e»-;  McI>ono^heo.TIIL,  Frb.  S,  tiMt  De- 
be  was  an  honest  and  indodrioos  boy  tennined  to  brrnmr  a  lutumutite  engi- 
worlrin»onafannTwhiehhehasconlin-  neer  he  left  home  in  18K,  came  to  Gales- 
lied  with  success;  came  to  Knox  co  when  bur*  and  obtained  employment,  and  Feh- 
a  cnfldi  married  May  30. 18ST.  Maria  H-  g,  MM, was  pmmt*r d  to  ingimci,  which 
Eefls.  and  Nor  »T  1897r  Cornelia  ;v  Aber-  hebnunirinn  beengnenET  losing  a  day. 
nethy;  has  4  children;?  boys  and  twirls;  or  daring  these  years  no  penon  has  hem 
has  held  the  office  of  C^Oector,  Oerk  of  is  jored  on.  or  by  his  train.  He  is  lem- 
township,  and  School  Director;  Repob-  perale  m  aU  things;  never  know*  to  utzer 
Bean.  P.  O,  Attona  an  oath  or  take  a  drink  of  whisky.  Sept. 

Waraer.     Darfd.    teacher   and  18,  Wt,  he  maxried  Oara  Gofer:  they 

farmer,  Elba  Center,  is  the  son  of  Jacob  hare  a  son  and  nnn^hlii.    Joined  the 

and  Jane  Warner,  and  was  bora  in  Pa.,  M.  E.  Cnorch  at  18;  now  eouaecied  with 

April  19, 1819.  His  early  life  was  posted  1st  M.  E.  Cuneh.  Galesburg. 

on  a  farm  and  in  school:  has  taught  Webb.     Mr*.    Kara*    Eliza  - 

sehool  f or  »  wintess  in  succemna;  has  bet*,  daughter  of  Eraocus  and  Baehel 

been    School    Trustee,    Director,    and  (Footer)  Child,  was  boa  in  Whitestown, 

Assessor;  came  to  Knox  co- in  185;;  was  Oueida  eo.,  5.  Y^  May  14.  18ML    She 

married  to  Kaney  Ann  Wefls  Ang-  28.  came  to  Oneida.  11^.  with  her  parents  a 

1844;  joined  Che  Presbyterian  chnreh  in  18S;  mmii  d  Fieading  B.  Wiehh,  of  Bed- 

184«     B-publican              _  ford,  Taylor  co,  Iowa,  5or.  g,  1IB7; 

jeweler  and   watch  maker;    was   born  Bedford,  where  she  stiD 

in  Akron.  Summit  co-.  O-    His  parents  Weir*.    E«ge*e 

were    Leander    and  Eliza   Washbnne.  GaksSiarg.    son  of 

He  was  educated  in  the  pnbtic  schools,  Welch,  the  former  of  X.  Y.,  las 

He  leaned  the  jeweler's  trade  and  has  n  native  of  Me-,  was  bora  at  LA 

followed  it.     He  located  in  Galesbcrg  UL,  Oct.  3*.  IS5*.  edaented  at  St.  Pat- 

^185&;  Feb.  9.  18PS,he  murifcd  rick's  Academy  and  r 

Lock  wood:  they  hare  1  son;  his  foDuwed  tend 

1  riews  are  Benuiican-     Bea-  bar;  came  to  < 
dence,  GakaboK. 


.  Williamu  Aho-        We^t.  M 

of   Joseph  and  Mar/  Waiaon.  ter  of  Wau  and  Tobitha « 

was  born  in  Albany  co.  X.Y-.Sept  IT.  was  ban  in  Ohio  in  MM, 
1830L    In  the  fifth  year  of  his  age  his 
parents  lemoied  to  Warren  eo  ,  Dl;  his 

eariy  life  was  pnaed  on  the  farm;  was  owns  a  section  of  hind  near  Tales  Citj- 

edneated  in  the  common  schools  and  She  has  had  safe  charge  ot  ~ 

Bock  Birer  Seminary  of   HI;  from  a  17 yean,  an 

befiefof  duly  he  feM  called  to  be  ami*-  qualified  u>< 

ister  of  the  gospel,  and  he  is  now  a  pan-  este.    She  is  the  mocherof  11  __ 

tor  of  the  M.^E1chnTch;  Oct.  3S.  lS8.be  5  SVK  jidned  tfe  M.  E.  Choch 


married  Lucy  M.  Curtis,  of  Fulton  co,  14:  P.  O..  Ya 

-        -ITT  i--  -_    -  ,:vi>     :"    II-.-I-.T^  We»4.L 

Way.  Ha*  nannu  son  of  David  and  spring  of  18X  the  advance  grnafd  of  the 

Bebeccat Baldwin)  Way,  natires  of  X  Galesbnrg  cofeniehi  reached  lag  CiSy. 

Y .  was  bom  in  Portage  co>  O  ,  Feb.  19.  Amonr  the  company  woe  Sehemiah 

1815;    wu  educated    in  the    common  Went,  Catherine,  hs  wife,  and  their  5 

schools;    his    eariy    fife    was    passed  children.    Hew.  m  aloft  honse,  Jnty  31, 

Fifiahrth  Wibon,  Jan.  1.  1817.    They  -  loe  hooae  •  stffl  in  exislence.  and  is  now 

aretbeparentaof  9  children,  of  whom  8  occupied  by  Mr.  Crascnnfs  hens.    Mr. 

are  living-,  mored  to  Knox  eo.  in  1841;  Westsoan  mmmul  to  hit  new  house  m 

was  School  Director  9  years  in  Cheatent  Ciluhuic.  inn  hut  Mi  iimhlii   L_IL» 

township;  is  Repnbliean;he  has  followed  to' 
_  .::  ;.     --.       :_    •--  '.    :,::-_i_-      .-  .  _  - 

"--I    i-:    r  ". .  1   ."    ".; . :     .1  1  :':-.-.  -7- 

jearsanerkiiled  from  1C  to!8  deer  each 

winter;  he  has  kiDed  between  300  and  300  mrtiun  ot  her  rhsinLlri       Ther  a 

sincehecameto  theco.  P.  O.  Henaoa  rind  Puritan  foK  who  farmed  dutU 


714 


HISTORY    OF    KXOX    COUNTY. 


colony,  and  although  they  loved  all  the 
bright  and  pleasant  things  of  life,  yet 
placed  the  interests  of  religion  and  edu- 
cation before  everything  else. 

When  Miss  West  was  13  she  passed  the 
required  examination  to  enter  Knox  Sem- 
inary, but  the  rules  of  that  institution 
admitted  no  pupil  under  the  age  of  15. 
Prof.  Hitchcock,  much  to  her  amuse- 
uieut,  advised  her  to  teach  a  year  or  two. 
This  she  did;  entering  Knox  Seminary 
as  soon  as  permitted,  she  graduated  at 
17,  and  immediately  entered  upon  what 
has  since  proved  to  be  the  great  work  of 
her  life,  the  work  of  a  teacher;  for  a 
teacher  she  pre-eminently  is,  whether  in 
the  school-room,  the  superintendent's 
office,  at  her  desk,  or  in  society.  With 
the  exception  of  3  years,  she  taught  con- 
stantly, until  her  election  as  Co.  Supt. 
A  characteristic  episode  of  her  teaching 
was  her  connection  with  the  colored 
school.  During  the  first  years  of  the 
war  a  great  number  of  contrabands 
flocked  to  Galesburg ;  they  were  anxious 
to  learn  to  read.  Miss  W.  offered  to  teach 
the  colored  school,  and  did  so  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  working  under  great  difficul- 
ties. Her  pupils  often  numbered  more 
than  a  hundred,  of  all  ages. 

When  Miss  W.  was  little  more  than  a 
girl  she  wrote  an  article  on  "The  Use  of 
Wine  in  Cooking."  This  was  published 
in  one  of  the  Galesburg  papers,  and  was 
her  first  attempt  at  writing  for  the  press. 
Since  then  she  has  found  time  in  her 
busy  life  to  do  much  of  such  work,  wri- 
ting occasionally  for  the  Christian  Union 
and  other  papers.  For  2  years  she  edited 
'Our  Home  Monthly,"  of  Philadelphia. 
But  in  her  literary  work,  as  in  everything 
else,  she  has  shown  that  she  is~pre-emi- 
nently  an  educator.  She  has  written 
largefy  for  various  educational  journals, 
often  giving  her  articles  to  some  strug- 
gling publication  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  education,  when,  if  sent  in  other  di- 
rections, she  would  have  received  liberal 
pay  for  them.  the  has  been  offered  po- 
sitions on  various  editorial  staffs,  and  is 
now  Illinois  correspondent  of  the  New 
England  Journal  of  Education,  Boston. 
We  understand  that  she  is  engaged  on  a 
literary  work  of  a  more  permanent  char- 
acter. 

April  3,  1873,  the  Legislature  passed  a 
law  making  woman  eligible  to  all  school 
offices  in  the  State.  Immediately  lead- 
ing gentlemen  besought  her  to  become  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  Co.  Supt.  <  f 
Schools.  This  she  refused,  and  was  great- 
ly astonished  to  find,  at  the  close  of  the  Re- 
publican Convention,  that  the  nomina- 
tion had  been  given  to  her.  She  was  elected 
over  two  opposing  candidates  by  a  good 
majority.  She  was  again  nominated,  in 


1877.  this  time  by  acclamation,  and  re- 
elected  by  a  large  majority. 

We  have  not  space  to  speak,  even  su- 
perficially, of  all  that  Miss  W.  has  done 
for  the  co. ;  we  refer  the  reader  to  chap- 
ter on  "Education."  She  has  read  papers 
at  the  State  Teachers'  Institute,  and  at 
the  State  Association  of  Co.  Supts.,  and 
has  been,  ever  since  its  formation,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Examining  Committee  of  the 
State  Teachers'  Ass'n.  She  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  International  Council  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  Permanent  Exposition  in 
Phil.     It  was  the  aspiration  of  her  girl- 
hood to  be  a  missionary,   but  she  has 
striven  to  work  for  her  Master  in  the 
place  He  has  given  her.    She  has  been 
for  several  years  Pres.  of  the  little  mission 
band,  Prairie  Gleaners,  from  whose  num- 
ber have  already  gone  4  foreign  mission- 
aries,  and  3  to  work  among  the  Indians 
and  f  reedmen.    She  has  ever  been  a  hard 
Sunday-school  worker,   conducting    for 
many  years  a  large  Bible  class  for  young 
ladies  in  the  S.  S.  of  the  First  Church, 
and,  since  the  removal  of    the  jail  to 
Galesburg,  working  every  Sunday  after- 
noon among  its  inmates.    Miss  W.  has 
always    been    deeply  interested   in  the 
temperance  cause.    She  organized,  and 
has  since  superintended  the  Cen.  Div.  of 
the  Band  of  Hope.    She  has  been  active 
in  the  local  Temperance  Union  and  Vice 
Pres.  of  this  organization  in  the  9th  Con- 
gressional Dist.    She  has  also  delivered 
many  temperance    addresses,    and    has 
been  heard  to  declare  that  whenever  it 
is  too  stormy  for  the  gentlemen  to  keep 
an  appointment  in  a  country  neighbor- 
hood, the  committee  always  come  to  her, 
knowing,  by  experience,  that  neither  rain, 
cold  or  Knox  co.   mud  will  keep  her  at 
home  when  there  is  work  to  be  done  for 
temperance.    Galesburg  was  not  behind 
in  sending  her  soldiers  to  the  ranks  dur- 
ing the  late  war  or  caring  for  them,  and 
high  up  on  the  list  of  those  who  did  in- 
dispensable work  at  home,   stands  the 
name  of  Mary  Allen  West.     She  was, 
during  the  entire  existence  of  the  Soldiers' 
Aid  Society,  either  its  Rec.  or  Cor.  Sec- 
retary.   It  was  her  work  to  look  after 
Galesburg  boys  wherever  they  were,  par- 
ticularly the'  sick  and  wounded;  and  her 
correspondence  was  very  large,  not  to 
mention  the  constant  appeals  and  reports 
which  came  from  her  pen.     To  the  4 
days'  Sanitary    Fair  that  was  held  in 
Galesburg,   Attorney  General  Bates  sent 
his  photograph,  with  the  following  writ- 
ten on  the  back,  as  his  autograph:      "To 
the  best  woman  at  the  Galesburg  Fair: 
from  the  old  fogy,  Edward  Bates  of  Mo." 
This  was    unanimously  voted  to   Mis^ 
We.-t.     She  has  represented  her  city,  co. 
and  State  in  various  State,  National  and 


HISTORY    OF    KXOX    COUNTY. 


715 


International  Conventions.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Woman's  Centennial 
Commission,  and  was  one  of  the  Com. 
that  presented  the  petition  for  home  pro- 
tection to  the  State  Legislature.  She  is 
much  interested  in  the  "Social  Science" 
movement,  and  is  Vice  President  of  the 
association  for  this  Congressional  Dis- 
trict. She  is  always  ready  to  give  her 
thoughtful  advice  and  more  substantial 
aid  to  all  who  come  to  her;  and  although, 
perhaps,  it  is  not  fitting  to  dwell  upon 
such  things  here,  yet  there  are  many 
young  girls  through  the  county  who 
would  be  glad  to  acknowledge  that  she 
has  helped  them  to  attain  not  only  a 
higher  education  but  also  a  higher  life  in 
•every  way. 

Her  abilities  as  a  housekeeper  are  great. 
She  is  also  something  of  an  artist,  and 
enjoys  spending  her  spare  hours — of 
which  she  has  not  found  any  of  late — 
with  pallet  and  brushes.  That  she  has 
been  able  to  accomplish  so  much  in  her 
lite,  is,  as  she  herself  often  says,  largely 
owing  to  the  fact  that  she  never  lets  a 
moment  go  to  waste. 

Wesl,  Isaac  S.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Highland  co.,  O.,  Oct.  21, 1811;  his  par- 
ents were  Harmon  and  Mary  (Smith) 
West,  the  former  a  native  of  Va.,  and 
the  latter  of  N  C;  was  a  natural  mechan- 
ic and  worked  at  different  trndes,  but 
changed  to  farming;  was  married  Dec. 
25,1834;  moved  to  111. in  1841.  Republican. 
Was  brought  up  a  Quaker,  but  prefers  the 
church  of  United  Brethren.  P.  O.,  Yates 
City. 

Westerdale,  William,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Leicestershire,  Eng.,  in  1809; 
his  parents  were  James  and  Sarah  (  Har- 
by )  Westerdale,  natives  of  Eng  ;  moved 
to  Copley,  Knox  co.,  Aug.  1850;  married 
Sophia  Wilson  Feb.  10,  1853.  They  are 
the  parents  of  3  children;  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Republican  in 
politics.  'P.  O.,  Altona. 

Wetmore,  I*aac  Stiller,  far- 
mer, P.  O.,  Ontario,  was  born  in  White- 
borough,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  6,  1809;  his  par- 
ents were  Ashu  and  Olive  (Miller) 
Wetmore,  natives  of  Middletown,  Ct.; 
his  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm 
and  in  milling;  was  educated  in  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.  In  1832  he  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Louisa  Morse;  was  a  mer- 
chant but  changed  to  farming;  moved 
from  N.  Y.  to  Knox  co  ,  in  1836;  united 
with  the  Baptist  church  in  Whites- 
borough,  and  was  elected  Deacon  of  the 
Ontario  Baptist  church  in  1854;  he  was 
again  married  in  1869  to  Mary  A.  Stick- 
ney;  he  is  the  parent  of  8  children,  of 
whom  7  are  living.  Mr.  Wetmore's  por- 
trait appears  in  this  volume. 

Wetmore.  T.  A.,  druggist,  Oneida. 

Weimore.Theodore  Palmer, 


born  at  Whitestown,  X.  Y.,May  14, 1811; 
attended  common  schools  and  worked  on 
a  farm  and  in  a  cotton  factory  when  a 
boy;  his  parents  were  Ezra  and  Susan 
(Palmer)  Wetmore,  natives  of  Ct.  and 
R.  I;  moved  to  Ontario,  111  ,  July,  1838; 
married  Eveline  C  Morse  Dec.  9,  1841; 
they  have  2  sons  and  2  daughters ;  con- 
nected with  the  Congregational  church 
Sept.  1852;  was  elected  Deacon  and  held 
the  office  till  he  died,  in  Aug.  16,  1876; 
was  School  Director  many  years.  Mrs. 
E.  C.  Wetmore's  P.  O.  is  Ontario. 

Whitaker,  Wm.  H.,  born  in  O., 
Jan.  7,  1838;  married  Dec.  4, 1859,to  Mar- 
garet Adair;  they  have  a  familyof  5  chil- 
dren ;  his  parents,  Ephraim  K.  and  Mary 
Whitaker,  were  farmers  in  Ohio  William 
H.  joined  the  Christian  church  in  1861, 
and  in  1838  was  Sunday  School  Supt.  at 
Union  chapel ;  served  as  School  Direc- 
tor at  Indian  Point  in  1875 ;  is  a  farmer 
from  choice,  in  politics  a  Republican.  P. 
O.,  Gilspn. 

White,  Charles,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Salem  township,  Knox  co.,  111., 
July  17, 1846 ;  he  is  the  son  of  James  and 
Sketurah  White,  of  Gloucester  co.,  N. 
J ;  his  early  years  were  spent  on  a  farm, 
and  education  limited  to  the  district 
school ;  he  followed  farming  from  choice. 
Political  views,  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Farm- 
ington,  Fulton  co. 

White,  Chancy,  physician,  Gales- 
bure. 

White,  31  rs.  J.  L<.,  sec  4,  Onta- 
rio township.  P.  O.,  Oneida. 

White.  Samnel,  farmer  and  lum- 
ber dealer ;  son  of  John  and  Ellen  White ; 
was  born  in  Scott  co .  111.,  May  5. 1840; 
began  a  course  at  the  Lombard  Univer- 
sity at  Galesburg,  but  was  interrupted 
by  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Co  K.  2nd  111  Cav., 
July  13,  1861,  in  which  he  served  with 
distinction  and  was  advanced  to  the 
rank  of  Major;  was  mustered  out  March 
20,  1866;  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist 
church :  was  married  to  Miss  H.  B-  Grant, 
June  28.  1864,  the  union  being  blessed 
with  3  children.  P.  O.,  LaFayette,  Stark 

CO.,  111. 

Whiting,  H.  K..  farmer,  sec.  21, 
Walnut  Grove  township.  P.  O  ,  Altona. 

Whiting,  Samuel  P.,  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Altona  Herald :  son 
of  Allen  and  Mary  ( Alford)  Whiting, 
natives  of  Ct  ;  was  born  in  Ct..  Sept.  21, 
1822 ;  was  educated  in  the  district  schools; 
followed  various  vocations;  was  married 
in  1846  to  Lucre tia  Morse;  removed  from 
Ct.  to  Knox  co.  in  1850:  is  a  Republican. 

Whiting.  Cot.  William.  Col. 
4th  Regt.  I.  N-  G.,  Altona 

lYikoft*,  Henry  L.,  farmer,  sec. 
19,  Ontario  township.  P  O.,  Ontario. 

Wikoft".  Oarrett,  farmer,  son  of 


716 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


Jacob  and  Alice  ( Green )  Wikoff;  was 
born  Nov  5,  1804,  in  Monuionth  co  ,  N. 
J. ;  he  worked  at  the  wheelwright  trade 
for  5  years ;  the  rest  of  the  time  has  been 
a  farmer :  he  came  to  Knox  co.  in  1838 ; 
went  to  Fulton  co.  in  1841 ;  came  back  to 
Ivuox  co.  in  1846;  Nov.  16,  1881,  he  mar- 
ried Phebe  Coon ;  they  have  had  4  sons 
and  4  daughters,  2  girls  dead ;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Wilcox,  William  Henry, 
farmer,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  K.  (Mee- 
cham)  Wilcox,  of  Eng.,  was  born  N.  Y. 
State,  Jan.  9,  1836;  was  educated  in  the 
public  school  of  Galesburg.  He  served 
3  years  in  the  U.  S.  army  during  the  re- 
bellion; was  taken  prisoner.  Oct3, 1866, 
he  married  Eliza  P.  Kellogg.  They  have 
5  children  ;  political  views,  Republican; 
P.  O  ,  Galesburg. 

Wiley,  Wm.  H.  farmer,  son  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  A.  (Hall)  Wiley  was  born 
in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  April  5,  1845;  has 
lived  in  Knox  Co.  since  1849;  married 
Nancy  Jane  Haynes,  Nov.  28,  1867 ;  they 
have  2  children;  joined  the  P.  M.  church 
in  1872;  Sunday-school  Supt.,  Class-lead- 
er; Steward  and  Trustee.  He  enlisted  in 
Co.  D.,  7th  111.  Cav..  in  1863;  was  dis- 
charged Nov.  18,  1865.  P.  O.,  Knox- 
ville. 

Willard,  Thomas  R.,  profes- 
sor in  Knox  college,  Galesburg. 

Williams,  George  Bj.,*  farmer, 
sec.  3,  Rio  township;  P.  O.,  Rio. 

Williams,  .1  ohii,  son  of  W.  S. 
and  Elizabeth  Williams,  was  born  in 
Canton,  111.,  in  1831;  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  common  schools;  has 
worked  at  various  trades;  is  now  farm- 
ing; has  traveled  considerably;  was  mar- 
ried in  1866  to  Miss  A.  J.  Weir;  have  1 
child  living,  2  dead.  P.  O.,  Tales  City. 
0  Williams,  J.  E.,  student  at  Bed- 
ding College,  Abingdon;  prominent 
member  of  the  Lincolnian  Society. 

William*.  I>r.  Joseph  C., 
chemist,  Galesburg,  was  born  in  Gro- 
ton,Ct.,June  29,1820.  After  obtaining  the 
rudiments  of  an  education  in  the  com- 
mon school,  he  pursued  study  without 
teacher.  He  came  to  O.  in  1822,  where 
he  learned  the  carriage-making  trade; 
meantime  he  qualified  himself  for  the 
medical  profession,  and  practiced  sever- 
al years  in  Wis.  and  in  Chicago,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  chem- 
icals, and  was  burned  out  by  the  great 
fire.  He  came  to  111.  in  1847;  lived  in 
Canton;  was  appointed  to  a  position  in 
the  chemical  department  at  Washing- 
ton in  1861  where  he  remained  till  1865, 
during  which  time  he  spent  considera- 
ble time  in  the  hospitals  in  the  field.  At 
the  solicitation  of  Gov.  Kellogg  he  went 
to  New  Orleans  in  18G6  and  took  a  posi- 


tion in  the  custom-house;  came  to  Gales- 
burg in  1872.  March  4,  1841,  he  married 
Charlotte  Carter. 

Williamson,  Moses  O.,  har- 
ness-maker, Wataga,  was  born  on  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  July  14,  1850.  His  par- 
ents, William  and  Margaret,were  natives 
of  Sweden,  and  it  was  while  coming  to 
America  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born.  He  married,  Oct.  18,  1871,  to 
Mary  Driggs;  they  have  2  children,  1  boy 
and  1  girl. 

Williamson.  W.  S.,  physician, 
Rio. 

Willsie,  Horace  H.,  was  born 
in  Hemmingford,  Canada,  Jan.  27,  1827. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Sabra  (Hen- 
derson) Willsie.  He  left  home  at  14  and 
has  provided  for  himself  ever  since.  He 
learned  the  tanner's  trade  and  continued 
in  the  business  till  1853.  He  came  to 
Galesburg  in  1854.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Deputy  Sheriff  and  Constable  for 
16  years,  4  years  of  the  time  was  City 
Marshal.  In  July,  1862,  he  recruited  a 
company  for  the  U.  S.  service,  and 
went  out  as  its  Capt.  Resigned  from 
ill  health  in  1863.  He  recruited  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  County  again,  and  went  to  the 
front  as  Lieut-Col,  of  the  139th  Inf.  The 
third  time  he  filled  the  quota  of  Knox 
co.  was  in  Feb.  1865,  when  he  went  to 
the  field  as  Col.  of  the  148th  111.  Inf.  Col. 
W.  was  noted  as  one  of  the  finest  drill- 
masters  in  the  army,  always  manifesting 
great  consideration  for  the  welfare  and 
good  will  of  his  men.  June  5,  1855,  he 
married  Betsey  A.  Nichols.  They  have 
4  sons  and  1  daughter.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  livery  business.  Galesburg. 

Wilmot,  Amos,  son  of  Jesse 
and  Hannah  B.  AVilmot,  Cheshire,  Ct.; 
born  same  place,  March  2,  1862;  after 
working  at  harness  and  shoe-making, 
settled  down  at  farming;  has  been  School 
Treasurer,Trustee  and  Director  in  Sparta 
township;  came  to  Sparta  June  5,  1836, 
first  to  settle  on  the  prairie  there;  mar- 
ried, June  25,  1828,  to  Betsy  Crawford; 
they  have  had  6  girls  and  4  boys,  one 
boy  and  one  girl  dead;  member  of  Con- 
gregational Church,  Ontario;  Republi- 
can. Mr.  W.  died  Aug.  28,  1878;  he  was 
an  active  and  valuable  promoter  of  ed- 
ucational and  religious  interests. 

Wilson,  Francis,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Butler  Co.,  Pa.,  March  1,1809. 
He  is  the  son  of  Francis  and  Priscilla 
(Gray)  Wilson,  the  former  from  Ireland, 
the  latter  from  Md.  He  removed  to 
Champaign  co.,  O.  when  small;  lived  on 
a  farm  and  went  to  district  school  but 
little.  Learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and 
worked  at  it  a  number  of  years.  He  came 
to  Knox  co.  in  1836.  He  married  Nancy 
McPkerrin  in  Jan.,  1853,  who  died  in 
1838.  Nov.  26,  1840,  he  married  Eliza- 


HISTOKY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


.717 


beth  McPherrin.  He  had  3  children  by 
1st  wife,  5  by  3d;  1  girl  and  1  boy  dead. 
Political  views,Democratic.  P.  O.,  Knox- 
ville. 

'Wilson,  .roll  11,  farmer,  son  of 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  (McPherrin)  Wil- 
son, was  born  in  Knox  co.  Sept.  23, 
1841 ;  reared  on  a  farm  and  in  common 
schools;  married  Anna  Carr,  Sept.  5, 
1865;  have  2  sons,  1  daughter.  Democrat. 
P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Wilson,  H.,  farmer,  Sec.  30,  Per- 
sifer  township.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Wilson,  Samuel.    Hermon. 

Winchell,  H.  P.,'/esidence,  Rio. 

Winter,  John  S.,  County  Clerk, 
Galesburg,  was  born  Aug.  9,  1822,  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.  His  father,  John  Winter, 
was  a  Baptist  minister,  who  came  from 
Bradford,  Eng.,  in  1818,  and  settled  in 
Pittsburg,  where  he  lately  died.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city,  and  at  his 
home,  under  the  tuition  of  his  father. 
When  23,  he  traveled  west,  settling  in 
Fulton  co.,  111.,  and  establishing  himself 
in  the  printing  business.  After  the  Mor- 
mon troubles,  which  for  so  long  a  time 
had  excited  Illinois,  he  went  to  Nauvoo, 
where  he  edited  a  paper  for  nearly  a  year; 
he  then  removed  to  Knox  co.,  settling 
in  Knoxville  in  1849,  where  he  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Knoxville 
Journal.  For  a  short  time  after  his  with- 
drawal from  its  management,  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits.  During  the  stir- 
ring campaign  of  1856,  he  established  the 
Knoxville  Republican ;  in  1857  was  elected 
County  Clerk.  With  the  exception  of  an 
interval  of  one  term  he  has  continued  in 
that  office,  and  has  fulfilled  all  itar  res- 
ponsible duties  with  integrity  and  ability, 
and  to  the  fullest  acceptance  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  has  been  an  active  partisan,  and 
has  obtained  large  influence  as  a  leading 
citizen  of  this  county,— not  simply.by 
party  zeal,  but  by  his  public  spirit,  which 
has  made  him  an  energetic  worker  in  all 
movements  for  the  public  weal.  In  1847 
he  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Brewen. 

Wood,  J.  W.,  Yates  City. 

Woodmansee,  James,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Green  co.,  Pa.,  March  24, 
1812;  his  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Mary  (  Taylor )  Woodmansee,  the  father 
of  N.  J.,  the  mother  of  Md. ;  he  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools  of  O. ; 
came  to  111.  in  1852;  he  married  Jane 
Cook  Dec.  27,  1832 ;  they  have  6  sons  and 
3  daughters ;  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  M.  P.  church  for  many  years.  Rep. 
in  politics.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Wookey,  Alonzo,  gun  and  hard- 
ware dealer,  Galesbure,  is  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Hannah  (Jones )  Wookey, 
the  former  of  Eng.,  his  mother  of  O. ;  he 


was  born  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1849;  from 
there  he  came  to  Galesburg,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  hardware,  gun~and  gen- 
eral repair  business;  was  married  to 
Emma  Carrington;  has  2  girls  and  1  boy; 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Church ;  confess- 
ion made  in  1865.  Republican. 

Woolsey,  Daring,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  June  9,  '48 ;  his  parents  Hez- 
ekiah  and  Hannah  Woolsey,  who  were 
farmers  in  moderate  circumstances ;  he 
followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father, 
engaging  in  farming  and  stock-raising ; 
married  Miss  Emma  Wolf;  their  family 
now  number  3  children.  P.  O.,  Gilson. 

Woolsey,  David,  farmer,  son  of 
Hezekiah  and  Hannah  Woolsey,  of  N. 
Y. ;  was  born  in  that  State  in  1828 ;  came 
to  111.  in  1849 ;  married  Elizabeth  Fry 
in  1850;  Rep.  in  politics;  has  served  as 
School  Director;  reared  on  a  farm;  ed- 
ucated in  common  schools,  and  has  fol- 
lowed farming  successfully.  P.  O.,  Gil- 
son. 

Wyckoft',ThoinasS.,son  of  John 
and  Temperance  ( Shanon  )  Wyckoff,  of 
Pa. ;  was  born  in  O.  Sept.  14, 1828 ;  has 
traveled  west  considerably  and  seen 
much  of  frontier  life;  has  been  City 
Marshal  of  Abingdon,  and  School  Di- 
rector; was  married  Feb.  9,  1849;  in  pol- 
itics a  Dem.  P.  O.,  Abingdon. 

Wykoff,  J.  F.,  farmer,  sec.  36, 
Rio  township.  P.  O.,  Ontario. 

Wyman  Edward  J.,  farmer, 
son  of  Arthur  and  Anna  Wyman,  of  N. 
Y.,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1833.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  school,  and  spent 
his  early  days  on  a  farm.  He  left  Ohio 
and  came  to  Knox  co.  1853.  He  has 
held  the  offices  of  School  Director,  Con- 
stable and  Treasurer.  In  1857  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Bradford,  by  whom  he  has 
7  children.  He  has  been  connected  with 
the  U.  B.  Church  since  1863,  and  is  a 
Trustee.  Rep.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Wyman,  Richard  V.,  farmer, 
son  ot  Stephen  and  Catharine  Wyman, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Indiana,  was  born  in  Knox  co., 
Sept.  7,  1857;  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools ;  his  early  life  was  passed 
on  the  farm.  In  1875  was  baptized  by 
Rev.  Dunn,  and  united  with  the  Church 
of  United  Brethren.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

Yocnm,  W.  M.,  son  of  W.  S.  and 
Mary  Yocum,  the  former  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  latter  of  Indiana,  was 
born  in  Clay  co.,  Intl.,  May  28,  1846;  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  the 
county;  his  early  life  passed  on  the  farm, 
and  he  has  always  followed  farming. 
Removed  to  Warren  cp,,  111.,  thence  to 
Mercer  co.,  finally  coming  to  Knox  co. 
Was  in  Co.  H,  14th  111.  Inf.;  Aug.  20, 
1871,  married  Elizabeth  Meeks;  they 


718 


HISTORY    OF    KNOX    COUNTY. 


are  the  parents  of  1  child.    Republican. 
P.  O.,  Knoxville. 
Yooimet,  F.  V.  and  Chas.  II. 

Their  father,  Francis  Xavier,  was  born  in 
France  in  1765;  their  mother,  Martha 
Vail  (Yoonnet),  born  in  New  York  in 
1779.  F.  V.  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in 
1800 ;  Charles  M.  was  born  in  the  same 
city  in  1817 ;  he  attended  school  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Mass. ;  F.  V.  graduated  at  Union 
College,  N.  Y.,  in  1819;  was  clerk  in  a 
bank  in  New  York,  and  also  clerk  in 
War  Department,  under  Jackson.  Moved 
from  New  York  to  Washington  in  1836; 
to  Knox  co.  in  1844.  Is  a  believer  in  the 
Christian  religion.  Both  Democrats. 
P.  O.,  Galesburg. 

Young,  Henry,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Young,  the  former  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  the  latter  of  New  York, 
was  born  in  Warren  co.,  O.,  Jan.  II,  1825. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm ; 
learned  the  trade  of  a  mason,  which  he 
has  followed,  and  has  also  followed  farm- 
ing; was  married  March  26,  1846;  is 


a  member  of  the  Church  of  United 
Brethren,  and  held  the  office  of  Church 
Trustee  in  1872.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  business.  P.  O.,  Knoxville. 

You  it",  Robert,  farmer,  P.  O. 
Abingdon,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Harper)  Young,  the  former  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  of  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Warren  co.,  O.,  Aug.  26,  1840;  his 
early  life  passed  on  the  farm ;  educated 
in  common  schools;  moved  to  Knox  co. 
in  1845;  married  Elizabeth  Young  Nov. 
3,  1861;  they  are  the  parents  of  8  chil- 
dren. Republican.  Served  12  months 
in  the  army. 

Young*.  Win.  W.,  was  born  in 
Knox  co.  June  24,  1856 ;  parents  were 
Nathan  and  Sarah  Youngs,  natives  of 
Ohio ;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm.  Removed  from  Knox  co.  to  Kan- 
sas, thence  to  Missouri;  finally  returned 
to  Knox  co.  His  chosen  profession  is 
that  of  a  farmer,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful.  Democrat.  P.  O.,  Knox- 
ville. 


®ite 


APRIL  8,  1893. 


OUR    PORTRAIT    GALLERY. 


Another   in   The   Mail   Series  of  Sketches 
of  Well-known  Citizens. 

The  citizen  whose  portrait  it  is  our 
privilege  to  present  to  our  readers  today  is 
one  who  requires  no  introduction  to  the 
people  of  Galesburg  or  Knox  county.  As 
one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Knox 
souuty  bar — a  bar  which  easily  stands  first 
n  the  state  for  the  high  ability,  legal 
acumen  and  unimpeachable  integrity  of  its 
nembers — and  for  the  extended  period  of 
twenty  years  State's  Attorney,  he  has  been 
prominently  and  constantly  before  the  eyes 
of  all,  and  it  is  sufficient  criticism  of  his 
official  career  that  he  has  from  first  to  last 
retained  the  respect  of  his  legal  associates 
and  the  undiminished  confidence  of  the 
people. 


HOX.    J   J.   TUXNICLIFF. 

John  J.  Tunnicliff  was    born    in    Penn 
Yan,  N.   Y.,  March  17,   1841.     Here    his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed,  his  educa 
tion  bei,ng  completed  by  a  course   at  Ham 
ilton  college,  Clinton,    N.    Y.,  whence  h 
graduated  in  1863,  graduating  subsequent 
ly  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1864. 

In  September,  1865,  Mr.  Tunuicliff  re 
moved  to  Galesburg,  where  in  the  follow 
ing  spring  he  formed  a  law  partnershi 
with  Hon.  T.  G.  Frost,  at  that  time  th 
Nestor  of  the  Knox  county  bar,  this  mu 
dually  satisfactory  and  lucrative  connect  ion 
icing  continued  until  1871,  when  th 
/euior  member  of  the  firm  decide 
'to  remove  his  law  practice  t 


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